Breathing problems and GERD

I just took Omeprazole 40mg, as I am nauseous all the time, especially after eating, and I don't eat enough to keep a humming bird flying. I will see how it goes this time. I will just have to take it day by day,  I just need a reprieve from feeling sick for a bit. I just need to trade off symptoms for a while.  CRAP but spelled differently.

My ideal weight is about 155-165 and I am now at 153 which is just fine for my body but I look thin in my face. I was around 165-170 when all this started so I am going down fast, which is just fine but the face looks sick. I am tall 5' 9" (already shrunk and inch). I was up to 190 and lost 20 lbs last year, which I needed to do. I never look real over weight but 190 made me feel horrible. So part of this is good but eating is my hobby and I miss it, even though I don't need it.  I made stir fried chicken with EVOO and brown rice with salt, and it was great!  Simple never tasted so good. Can't wait for my next feeding, I have felt so awful that I just didn't even want to eat. 

Hope you are able to find out your pH level and feel confident enough with the answer to make some different and healthy choices that may improve your health.

 

For a female that's a very good weight. I'm 5'11" and from 200 I'm now 149. But part was muscle, which I no longer have because I can't do exercise besides walking and the 5 pounders  for my arms.  I also pinched a nerve some time ago on my left arm so is impossible for me to do anything at all for my upper body.  Today has been a bad day, so maybe this was all the placebo effect.  Or maybe it was the baking soda. ;-(  I been reading and apparently the 2-3 hour rule to eat small meals for people with Gatritis is not the same.  I read is better to just eat 3 meals a day which I believe is part of the problem because it doesn;t matter if I eat alot or little I feel the same because I'm always full. Eating every 2-3 hours I believe is not helping me.  Maybe that's my next step to eat 3 larger meals, but not much larger.  I don't any of the regular symptoms for reflux or gastritis, never had any burning on my chest or belly, or nauseous or headaches.  I do feel like I jave sinus disconfort but I don't have congestion, so I have to asume is the reflux as well.   Does Omeprazole helps you at all?  I took 80mg with 300mg raniditine at night for 60 days and nothing.  Back then I was only feeling sick when I eat specially for dinner. Now I'm feeling sick all day long with or without food, but eating has become a BIG problem because the breathing is not easy.  What ever I have I can feel is on my esophagus and all the way up to my head, but still mild reflux just doesn't sound right. ;-(  Still when  lay back 90% of the problem, chest pain and breathing is gone.   Have you had an endoscopy, PH Bravo or barium swallow? 

When I started taking the Omeprazole a couple weeks ago I was so sick and my breathing was so closed off I just assumed (still not sure) it was the culprit for my bad breathing, now that I am trying it the second time I will know within the next few days if not sooner if it really is the medicine (Omeprazole) or just my crappy breathing. When you took this med it didn't help with your sick feeling at all? 

 

You mentioned you are never nauseous but are sick all day, what do you feel, just lack of oxygen? The only time I feel good is when I lay down, it is like the oxygen can now get to where it should be. It feels so good to lay down, nothing has to work so hard. It is a relief to go to bed. 

As of yet I have had no tests because I am waiting for the allergy testing on the 26th to be over so I may have some more issues to discuss with my Dr. At first I really didn't care about the allergies by now with all of this new diagnosis of acid reflux, I am interested to see if they will do food testing for allergies also. This appointment is in Minneapolis so it is a 4-hour drive for me and I don't want to have to go back down for a second visit so hopefully they will make a thorough job of it. I am going to the University of Minnesota instead of the Mayo Clinic because allergies didn't sound drastic enough for me to get an appointment there.  

My sister worked at the one here before they moved to FL. She worked as a med secretary in the cardiology dept. Now her husband works at the VAMC in WPB, not in the medical end of things. Do you ever use the VA clinics or hospitals being you were in the service for so many years? I also had a roommate that worked there when I lived in FL. She was in on the ground opening when she worked there.

I find it so amazing that we can pass those lung function tests but can't breathe enough to have a normal life. 

Your diet sounds serious, no food for 36 hours, is this a military style approach to things? It is too bad the meds didn't work for you. 

Exactly, I took the COPD test with my Pulmo and Asthma test 3 times with my allergist which is also an Asthma Doc and did above average on all of them.  

I have the new VA hospital just 7 minutes from my home but I have not requested any help from them even if I'm entitle to it.  I't was not easy going into a hospital with so many patients without a leg or an arm and here I was with all of mines in place so I turned around.  But now I have all my papers in order to open record with them in the next few days now that I have the new Hospital so close and I actually need their help with my condition. All of my military friends are getting disability and VA services .

No, the 36 hous is a Gastritis approach, then 2-3 days on Bread, banana, applesouce and rice.  If I feel better after that then I start with chicken, salmon and maybe change the white rice to brown rice and so on.  Actually, on those 36 hours I will also drink apple juice.  I have only done this once and is not hard but is not good for reflux. ;-( 

Sounds like diets I did when I was younger, hope it all goes well and you get some relief from it. I ate more today than I have in the last three days, chicken, rice again for dinner. I don't feel sick, so I hope the Omeprazole is able to work its magic and I can wean off of it in a couple of months.  It was nice to eat without feeling nauseous, so I guess it is working, hopefully, I can stay on it with the breathing problems.

I have been trying to put together a list of symptoms for my Dr. it is hard to remember everything from twenty years ago. But I want to give her the whole picture so she doesn't miss any tests. I have only seen her twice but the second time she nailed it as I was really having a hard time breathing, gagging on phlegm, and trying to clear my throat.  So happy it all turned out like it did, cause now I now which direction I am heading with all of this GERD stuff. I guess what I have is LERD or LPR.  

Where were you stationed when you were in the service? Have you always lived in FL?

So the medication is helping you a little but with the breathing problem? As for both know the reflux can make you feel or give you Asthma, COPD, Sinus, Anxiety, chest pain/heaviness, back and rib-cage pain, headaches and so on.  Is like Anxiety, if you have one you will eventually probably have the system as described the above unless the medication helps or you get to the source of the problem. The problem with the medication (which doesn't work for me at all) is that is does help with symptoms in half of he patients, but not with the illness itself. Or you are high or low in acid and both will give you the same symptoms but normally at our age is low acid, and not high.  btw, did the baking soda again today and nothing at all, not even 10 minutes later.  Now, I have been doing something wrong and using room temperature water instead of cold water. ;-(   I believe we both have LPR (not sure what LERD is) but not sure if is from low of high acid.

I was stationed all around and visited like 20 countries.  I'm Puertorican so I lived half of my life in PR butI was stationed 4 years in Germany, and a few years in Puerto Rico. But I was deployed to many places including USA (many States), Saudy, Irak, Barain, Ecuador, Panama, France and visited some countries in Europe like Spain and Italy.  I been in FL for 9+ years and came here to get into Real Estate which I took College credits (2 years) plus 2 more years in Accounting but that was exactly when evertyhing went South. ;-(  So I just opened a few Advertising sites on the internet and that is how I make some extra cash. Been thinking about flipping houses but then this problem started. ;-( 

btw, that a very good idea to put together a list of symptoms for your Dr. 'm doing the same for my new GI visit which is next month.  One thing I'm going to do this time is to take all the records I have from my previous GI which includes the PH test, endoscopes, colonoscopies, barium swallow and Loryngoscopy ( this is from my ENT) which shows the irritation on the back of my throat/vocals.  I feel tickling (little itchy) all the time but when I eat or stand is when it gets going .  Is to my believe  (and GI) that same tickling is the reflux they see on my esophagus which is creating the pressure and breathing problem because they feel connected and they both activate at the same time.   But now is extending to my head which makes me feel light headed, like when you have a sinus congestion.   Hopefully one day we will both breath normally again and try to get our lives back.  I really will like to do more than just walking 30 minutes daily. ;-)

Another day, and I don't feel like throwing up! Nausea has mostly subsided and I feel like eating and maybe even doing something constructive.  That's pushing it! Breathing has something to be desired but I will be happy to swap medical issues for a bit just to not feel sick.

No, I did not do the baking soda test this morning as I am taking the Omeprazole and the test would read falsely. I still have the phlegm and lump in my throat. Does that lump ever dissipate, I thought with Prednisone the inflammation would subside but nothing yet?I had all of my paperwork from twenty years ago including progress reports, put it all on a flash drive (scanned) and then lost the flash drive after throwing away all of my tests and papers. To start again would be quite lengthy as this is when I lived in FL. Those papers were mostly for FMS, and ruling out everything else I was tagged with. 

It is so nice now everything is online and you just sign up with each place and get your results and any other information you need from the Drs visits.  Sometimes I still make a spreadsheet (because I love spreadsheets) and keep track of things that way also. You have time to do these things when you are retired and don't feel like doing anything else. Ha ha.

My brother in law who has many medical issues and refuses to help himself, went in last week because he couldn't eat without gagging, chocking, or throwing up, they did the scope down the throat and found nothing but stretched his esophagus and he doesn't have any problems now. I told him I was going in for a throat stretching! Sounds like you have your paperwork ready, it is amazing when you go back and read the test results what you either didn't get or see the first time you looked at them. It finally all comes together. I sure hope the next Dr is helpful for you. I have been to so many of them over twenty years and you pretty much know after the fist visit if it is going to be good or not. This Dr (PA) I have now is hearing me so far, and for her to pick up on what no one could after twenty years, is very hopeful.  In defense of the other Drs, I was in full sickness mode when she saw me where no one else saw me quite this way. I have been reading about GERD, LERD (laryngopharyngeal reflux disease) LPR, Silent Reflux, NERD (nonerosive reflux disease) and on and on. There are many good articles and many waste of time ones out there, but you have to sort them out. 

Nice day today, the Omeprazole is working on the acid, breathing is still an issue. But it feels good to eat without feeling sick. I still have the lump in my throat, and phlegm but not sure what it will take to get rid of that.

I tried to read more about LPR, I read that Benadryl can help, has anyone ever heard of this. Not sure what the connection is yet.

Also is gastritis from acid or bile? i read something about that too?

I have what they call Inactive mild gastritis so is not pregressing or getting worse.  I actually don't know, but apparently is acid.

Do you know if you have reflux on your esophagus?

From the sick stomach and lump in throat and constantly clearing my throat I am going to assume yes, but will hope for some testing after I get my allergy testing next Tues the 26. 

Hey papote53, I know your last post was 2 years ago, but did you ever get any answers? I live in Florida also. I just turned 50 and had my otherwise healthy life taken from me some months ago. I've been in and out of hospital 3 times in last 2 months. I do have asthma and recent history of gastritis and acid reflux. But, nothing seems to work. I've taken the meds, made lifestyle changes (given up beer and chew) and am in worse shape now then ever. I went from working out 5 days a week, to everything being a chore. Since our situations are so similar, I was just wondering if you came across a solution

Hi Keith, sorry to hear about your struggles. Unfortunately I'm still looking for answers but let me update my symptoms first so you can understand better just in case we can help each other.

My symptoms are chest pain 24/7 (more like a pulled muscle all around my chest), chest pressure and rib-cage pain sometimes , and breathing problems most of the day. Mostly mild, but sometimes it goes up to moderate.  

I have done more testing:  Lung CT, Nuclear stress test and another endoscopy. Chest CT all clear (actually looks likes like the lung of a 22 yo.), Nuclear test all clear, and endoscopy came out with Moderate gastritis and mild Barretts (no dysplasia)   I did have my gallbladder out which apparently created the Barretts and gastritis. Highly suggest to be aware of this because is very common. ;-(

Just this past week i did a Heidelberg reflux test and came out with low acid instead of high acid.  Be advised I never took PPI's for more than 6-7 weeks even with Barretts because they never did help me and I suspected I had low acid.  I do eat very healthy and my blood work shows that. So my functional gave me Beatine/Pepsin to increase acid and enzymes.  He said that low acid will keep the valve from closing properly which could be my problem. I also suspect I have bile reflux so taking PPI will make it worse. 

So basically I'm back to the drawing board hoping this is the answer to my questions.  I have lost all muscle mass and feel extremely weak.  I truly believe relfux (mostly bile reflux and a little acid reflux created by the low acid levels) is the reason for my pains and lack of air and the only 2nd option could be a nerve issue which my GI suspect it could be. He gave me an antidepressant for my chest pain which I have not taken because even with all this daily pain I am not depress and I highly dislike anxiety/anti-depressant medications.

Let me mention that laying back or sleeping takes away 90% of my pain. Doctors can't tell me why but maybe the nerve issue could be the real reason. ;-)

Jose

GB!

I find the low acid thing very promising actually, as Ive heard most people are age actually have low, not high stomach acid and that is why in our case, acid reducing drugs can make reflux even worse. I am currently taking omeprazole in the morning and then ranitidine before last meal of the day and before bed, along with gaviscon as needed. Like I said, I changed my diet some time ago and had cut way back on my drinking and chewing, other than during the holidays...lol. But, my new year's resolutions were to never drink or use tobacco products ever again. Now, in my case, Im sure my chronic gastritis has been due to me not quitting these evils for long enough. So, now Im done with those and have changed my diet to no carbs, gluten, sugar, processed foods. Having hard time giving up coffee though. Anyway, Im currently trying meds for a short time while implementing diet changes. I do believe however, that the acid reducers are making things worse, but Ive gotten desperate. A few years back when this happened to me, the drugs worked without me changing anything else (i.e. diet, beer drinking, tobacco chewing). Now, unfortunately that is not the case. I think you might be on to something with the low acid approach. Please keep me posted. I have no problem making permanent dietary/lifestyle changes, what I am tired of is different inhalers and drugs everyday that dont seem to help. Thank you very much for replying to me. Let's find an answer to this!

P.S. 

I even quit my job in family business (dry cleaning) back in December, after almost 30 years because my pulmonologist said fumes might be adding to problem. No better.

Best regards -

Keith

Keith, I suggest you get the Heidelberg test.  I got mines a few days ago and he is located in Florida.  Sure, you will need around $500 for the test and a first visit before test ( 2 visits).  If you need the information I can send it to you. No referral needed!

I read reducing or eliminating carbs can help, but first I have to try this Betaine/Pepsin plus I'm also taking biocidin for SIBO. (Functional said it was really good for this).  

I order some gaviscon advance liquid but it will take a few more days to get here, maybe even 2 weeks.  ;-(  Do you take the same Gaviscon or the American version?

Jose

GB!

Jose - 

Ive heard aboug that test. Unfortunately, I dont have the money right now for that, as I am now between jobs and over my head in debt. I have tried for a while to cut down on carbs, sugars, etc. I still think there is something to the low acid thing. I did try the at home baking soda test, where you dissolve some in water and drink it. You then wait to see how long it takes to burp. I was past the 5 minute mark, so according to the test, I have low stomach acid. According to Dr. Kaufmann, who wrote the acid reflux food book, there is no such thing as low stomach acid, but I dont know. I take the American Gaviscon, just easier to get. 

I have her book, but I completely disagree with her.  We know with age stomach acid goes down plus how can she explain SIBO if stomach acid will not allow SIBO to grow? Even my GI accepted you can have low stomach acid.