Congestive heart failure. (Enlargement of the heart.)
Your heart isn’t pumping enough blood to your lungs; you take a full breath of air, see your chest move...and you STILL feel like you’re holding your breath underwater.
Edema from lack of circulation of the blood from the heart.
I’ve had both these things. (Not the lung problem, though.)
Do what they’re telling you: Get to a doctor, a different one. He’ll want to refer you to a cardiologist, pronto. Check into an emergency room if you must—the shortness or breath and edema point to the heart.
Additional question: Are you overweight? Do you snore? You won’t know it—trust me—but is your breathing suspended during sleep? You’ll need a sleep study—DO NOT LAUGH THIS OFF, friend. If they recommend a CPAP, just DO IT. Don’t fight ‘em. You’ll sleep better, and four months after that, you’ll be shovelling gravel like I was. My neighbor couldn’t keep up! ;)
...and I’m DREAMING once more! After ten years!
Sauron
Oh, forgot: The dizzy/nausea is due to lack of oxygen.
Again, heart circulation from left ventricle to your lungs.
You can breathe all you can, see your chest rise/fall, won’t matter. Still not getting enough.
I know.
It will get worse until you see a doctor. Don’t be macho proud, either.
From me to you.
I’ve been on a CPAP since 1992. Maybe it needs adjusting.