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Dealing with severe mucus problems with acid reflux, hiatal hernia

Posted , 13 users are following.

clarice34348
clarice34348

Hi, I am new to this forum site. I had a sliding hiatal hernia, valve repaired, due to severe GERD, and the acid reflux medication caused me to have high blood pressure and loss of hair. I also had constant 24/7 mucus. I went to lung Dr and no lung problems, so could not, to this day, find a Dr to explain why the mucus. Does anyone know why mucus would be involved with acid reflux? The acid was so bad, it caused my esphosigus to be inflamed. I know the stomach produces about 2 quarts a day of mucus, so I am thinking maybe that what caused the spitting up mucus thing. Now that I have had surgery I am still experiencing some spitting up, but about 90% improvement. Will it ever just go completely away?

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • moy35996
    moy35996 clarice34348

    Posted

    Hi I to have a sliding hernia & av had for 2 years now I av never smoked (but cough plemgn up like a old man whose smoked all his life ) drives me crazy been to a consultant who has nt a clue how to stop it , I take Gavascon before I go to bed , the bed is raised & sometimes I think if I had silk sheet on the bed I would slip off it's so high ! Thankfully I sleep all night , but start coughing as soon as my feet touch the floor , the only thing that stops is chewing gum for some reason the consultant thought chewing causes saliva & that waters the mucus down ? No idea , & I won't have helped you at all apart from you knowing there's fellow sufferers out there to , be interested to know if anyone comes up with any other idea , 
  • Barretts
    Barretts clarice34348

    Posted

    The hiatus hernia means your lower oesophageal sphincter is ineffective. Stomach contents may reflux into the oesophagus (Gastro-oesophageal reflux).

    If the refluxate travels full column, it may breach the upper oesophageal sphincter. This extra-oesophageal reflux (also known as LPR) may be aspirated into the respiratory system. The irritation to the airways produces excess mucous, cough etc.

    Visit the free book / website www DownWithAcid org uk and finf the chapter on extra-oesophageal reflux for more information and other symptoms you may not have associated with reflux.

    Medication will reduce the acidity so the refluxate is less damaging but may not reduce the reflux. Drugs are good at tackling bio-chemical problems but not bio-mechanical ones.

    If your surgery was a fundoplication, it should have reduced your reflux.

  • jazztrain
    jazztrain clarice34348

    Posted

    Hi clarice34348

    To be honest I don't know? I also suffer a sliding Hiatus Hernia but have a lung condition also of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and a drug called Pirfenidone works wonders for me. 

    Yet from what you say and I believe it to be correct the mucous comes from the  sliding Hiatus Hernia and not from the IPF!

    Mine is quite bad also and I suck a couple of lozengers called 'Fisherman's Friend's (the menthol and eucalyptus flavour) and these help me quite a lot.  I agree it is most annoying but during the day it goes.

    You can contact me anytime.

    Kind regards

    Jazztrain

  • valerie55215
    valerie55215 clarice34348

    Posted

    Me too.  I had the surgery but still get a lot of mucus.  Also stomach problems, nausea diarrhea.  Like you I'm hoping it will clear up in time.  I had my surgery 5 months ago.  I've been told it can take up to a year for all these side effects to completely clear up.  Let's hope so.

    val

    • jo45172
      jo45172 valerie55215

      Posted

      Hi Valerie, I was given ondansetron for nausea from the start and sent home with it

      Works great, but expensive, have under the tong and a pill to crush and it is cheeper, can go on line and get an RX discount card that saves much money. Diarrhea, I don't know but something the doctor should know, I am still on mostly liquid diet.

    • valerie55215
      valerie55215 jo45172

      Posted

      I'm on Ondansetron too.  Luckily I can get it on prescription.  I'm trying to only take it when the nausea gets bad as I don't like taking all this medication.  I also take Immodium for diarrhea.  Be glad when all these side effects clear up.

       

    • clarice34348
      clarice34348 valerie55215

      Posted

      Thanks Valerie,

      I don't have nausea. Very thankful for that. However, I did right after surgery. The blood work showed low sodium in my kidneys ( safe range of sodium is between 135-145).

      My sodium dropped to 126, which causes nausea and chills. Just to inform anyone if your sodium level drops below 120, seizures will happen. Only blood work can show these levels. Dr's said surgery can sometimes cause levels to change.

    • jo45172
      jo45172 valerie55215

      Posted

      Hi Valerie

      The doctor told me to take the ondansetron to get it under control, this will get rid of it. I do understand about taking meds, I don't usually do well but I did everything he told me to do and it is working for the most part.

      When I just get a tiny bit I take the med and gets stopped before it starts. I haven't had any for weeks. Hope this helps.

    • valerie55215
      valerie55215 jo45172

      Posted

      Thanks that is encouraging.  I've just eaten and feel slightly nauseated.  I will take a pill before it gets any worse.  Hope it does clear up in time.
  • jo45172
    jo45172 clarice34348

    Posted

    Hello Clarice

    I had the surgery February 16th and mucus can be a problem, liquid mucnex gets rid of it, recommend by my doctor. I am doing fine except for breathing problems, may be caused from the diaphragm repair. I am on liquid diet except for a few solids that were added after my 2 week follow up. I walk daily but still a bit weak. I can still feel the tightness in the chest. When was your surgery done?

    • clarice34348
      clarice34348 jo45172

      Posted

      Just to inform you, be careful taking everything the doctors say are good for you or something. I was told the same thing about mucnex, and it actually made the mucus worse. I did some research and discovered that one of the side effects is making mucus worse. But thank you for your response.
    • jo45172
      jo45172 clarice34348

      Posted

      Clarice,

      I am sorry the mucnex didn't work for you and yes not everything the doctor recommends works. We are all so different and some mess work for some and not others, I get off mess as soon as I can, this surgery is a very different one so I took everything except one med because I reacted to the first pill of it I took and I agree we are to be careful with medications.

    • moy35996
      moy35996 jo45172

      Posted

      Hi do you have to go to the dr to get mucnex ? Went to my chemist & they had nt heard of it ? 
    • Barretts
      Barretts moy35996

      Posted

      Try asking for Robitussin instead in UK, it's also guaifenesin.
    • jazztrain
      jazztrain moy35996

      Posted

      Hi

      Mucinex was recalled by the manufacturers in April 2015 as the fact sheet accompanying the medication was incorrect!

      Kind regards

      Jazztrain

    • jo45172
      jo45172 moy35996

      Posted

      Hi Moy

      You can buy mucnix over the counter.

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