I have the same problem.  Thank god it was happening at the allergist once right before they were doing a breathing test.  The test showed that my breathing was bad so they gave me an albuteral treatment and then re-tested it got better.  They send me home with an inhalor to use as needed.  The best part was someone actually witnessed this and believed that I was having an issue.

If your ribs are affected (trying to fuse) it will make that happen.  Very important to do deep breathing exercises regularly.

Do you ever have pain when breathing in?  I know I had costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage between your sternum and ribcage.  It was horrible breathing in, and also made me short of breath.  Also a previous commentor mentioned anemia, sometimes the meds we take for AS can cause that, have you had recent bloodcheck on iron or B-12 vitamin?  Just a thought.  Hoping that symptom gets better

There are lots of things that can cause sudden shortness of breath. Having this symptom when you've done nothing to trigger it (working hard, falling, etc) is worrisome, though. Yes, asthma or some sort of lung inflammation may be one cause. I doubt that this would be one of your first symptoms if you had cancer, though - and as you pointed out, an X-ray has ruled out that cause. Blood clots, however, may be a cause, especially if "not doing anything" is a habit (sedentary lifestyle = increased blood clot risk).

And I just heard about something else yesterday while visiting a friend with cancer. His doctor is warning against him using ice or being anywhere near the refrigerator. Apparently the cold or the freon triggers a sudden sensation like the patient can't breath - they can - but that isn't what it feels like.

If none of this is helpful, you might want to keep a diary so you can see if there is any trends that you can pick up. Did you exercise the day before? Were you lying down? Did you eat spicy food a few hours before? Stomach acid and gases can also trigger lung spasms, for instance.

Like the others I agree it can be your ribs bneing unable to expand fully, it can also be the result of reactions to some drugs, AS can also affect your lungs, you might also be anemic.

I speak from experience,  my breathing got so bad by walking accross a small room I would be puffing and panting. I had to stop Enbrel as it can do this, so it  had to be excluded, tested everything else, tried using an inhaler, did not good. After months they dicovered that my hiatus hernia had gone mad and my whole stomach and part o upper colon was in my chest cavity. Now combine that with poor chest expansion, I am very bent with the AS and my lungs were being strangled!!! Have had an op to put everything back in the right place,and although still in a lot of pain, I can breath normally now. I thought initially it was anemia as this always csued breathing problems for me- no reason has been found for the recurring anemia except probably to do with AS! So you need to stick with it and find out what the problem is and stop it getting any worse. Good Luck

Hi Julie -

I'm having some concern about that also.  A month ago, I started getting a daily migraine,which is unbearable.  My blood pressure which was always low (107/70) shot up to heart attack danger level (182/134).  I have to call the doctor tomorrow as I am only 38!  My mom noticed the shortness of breath.  I'll let you know.

Definitely agree with Kathy about the importance of deep breathing exercises.  And joining a choir and singing regularly gets you even more breathing exercise, if you like to sing.

Happens to me too.  I don't have any fusion (knock on wood).  I understand the shortness of breath happens because the inflammation on your spine is pushing on the ribs.