Is my difficulty breathing from acid reflux?

Why did you go on a fast for 10 days?  I you have reflux this will make it worse, much worse.  Maybe the anxiety on going on a 10 day fast created the problem which you still have.

I didn't have the problem until I went on the fast.  I went on the fast because I had some other issues I thought it would help

Yes, many of us make the same mistakes including myseld.  Fasting is good for many reasons but not if you have reflux.  God Bless!

Hi just my 2 cents but it makes sense that your gerd got worse after 10 day fast because your detoxying your body and symptoms get worse before they get better.... Lots of stuff losening and coming out of your system.... Don't stop juicing it gets better all the best

Hi dean, I suffer with similar symptoms and have been diagnosed with silent reflux from my GP. I have been prescription omerperozle and take 2 a day. Just a quick question how long did it take you to get rid of the symptoms and do you have any hints and tips to help the shortness of breath because it’s worrying me. Thanks 

I began getting short of breath upon exertion- it seemed to me it was from taking too much Omeprazole 40mg twice a day and fomotidine at night. Also began to get swelling in my right leg..backed off the meds and i feel better but I have to stay on top of the reflux cannot stop taking completely..I've been taking this for 3 years, my general physcian and I think it's time for me to get off the meds. Considering having linx surgery

I am going through this myself. Have you gotten a diagnosis yet? If so, are you feeling better??

You might benefit from having your thyroid scanned. You may have a nodule or tumor.

Charron, I am going through THE EXACT same thing you described. Have you gotten a diagnosis yet? If so, are you feeling any better??

Charron, hopefullly by now you are better. What I do not see mentioned here is LPR , layrngealpharyngeal reflux.  It goes by other names as well.  You can have GERD and LPR .  The difference is that LPR is silent. The reflux pain is not presented in symptoms. Maybe 20% of those with LPR present the reflux.  The major symptoms are more like a sinus issue. Constant clearing of the throat, sore throat, hoarseness, sinus pain and pain that radiates to the ear , usually the right ear. Blocking ear with pressure in the face. Globus..Feeling like something is stuck in your throat and sometimes in the center of your chest.  Most people think they have a sinus infection. The acid shoots up from the upper part of your esophagus which makes it way into your sinus tract and into your ear or ears.  Anxiety comes from the feeling of having difficulty breathing.  Most people with GERD and LPR have respiratory issues like bronchitis or asthma..I have had this on and off for over 10 yrs. I have both but the predominent one is LPR.  The coughing to dislodge the mucous in your throat can cause you to have a bronchospasm. You gag and can vomit. It creates SOB of course cause you can not get enough air into your lungs.  I was on Prilosec and Zantac for over 4 yrs.  I finally went off them as the side effects like low magnesium and low B12, weakens your bones.  I thought as well that I was getting rebound effect from the meds.  That will happen if you are on medication long enough. You get what you are trying to get rid of from the medication.  I have recently started again with this.  It can be very depressing and cause a lot of anxiety.  Exercise and not eating after a certain time does help. Keeping your weight down and not laying down after a meal helps.  I also found that taking Melatonin 2mg at night helps to close the lower esophageal spincter which allows it to stay closed and not have acid shooting up your throat.  There are so many other symptoms to this condition ...Normally GI docs do not even treat it. I worked with a GI doc and they never heard of it.  Strange.  Usually an ENT will identify what it is before a GI will.  Follow the LPR boards and you will see you are not alone. It can get better for sure.  I had it bad the first time for about 1 mo or so. Then it went away for several yr. Came with with a vengence and had it for 4 yrs...That was the worst cause it created other issues for me with anxiety and panic attacks.  You are on the corrrect meds.  I also use a mucous thinner when its really bad and that helps.  If you ever hear a crackling when you are laying down and breathing that is the mucous that is stuck in your throat. That constant need to clear your throat creates all this other stuff. I hope you have found wellness since you wrote your post.  This is just another option if no one has brought it up that it could possibly be.

 

Charron/Linda,

Please let us know how you are doing and if there are any more lessons learned. Any luck with one ppi or h2 inhibitor over another. Seems like folks are liking dexilant for LPR. Any luck with aloe or Manuka honey? My story:

I had cold/flu 3 months ago. Afterwards i had shortness of breath, chest tightness, raw/irritated feeling in the chest, hoarse voice, throat clearing for  months. I tried all the asthma medicine, two different antibiotics, two rounds of prednisone treatment, blood work for various pulmonary issues, various respirometry studies, chest x-ray, chest CT, chest CT angiogram (for blood clots), ekg, echocardiogram. I worked with my GP and a pulmonologist. All tests were negative. My blood oxygen was always normal. My shortness of breath kept getting worst and was so bad that I ended up going to ER. At that point my chest was also burning. The nurse practioner and the ER doctor said I have GERD. I was told to take 40 mg of protonix in the morning and 40 mg pepcid ac in the evening and follow the diet and life style change. Right after ER i went to see an ENT because i read about LPR but the ENT said he didn’t see any damage of reflux (from the endoscopy) and said go to a gastro. He was surprised that i was there to see him due to shortness of breath. Shouldn’t he have done a Pepcid test on my salvia? After 2 weeks on the PPIs and H2 blockers i felt a little better, the hoarse voice and cough went away.  Chest irritation/raw feeling/chest burning went away. Breathing improve 30-40%, throat clearing perisited. But I also started feeling slight heartburn, and acid taste i mouth and in back of throat. I went to a gastro at UCLA. But gastro was not sure, didn’t agree with GERD diagnoses from ER since i didn’t have GERD before and GERD is chronic and doesn’t just creep up. She said it was possible that i inflamed my asaphogus but would need endoscopy and ph bravo test to study me. She said assuming it was my asophugus, it would take 6-8 weeks to heal under the medication.  To do the endoscopy i would have to be off the medicine for one week so I just scheduled it for a month from now. I have been on the meds for 4 weeks now and my breathing is 50-60% better but hoarse voice came back, have sore/irritated throat and stuffy nose for 4 days now, throat clearing still there, occasional choking for no reason. If my asophogus was inflamed why would I be clearing my throat, have a sore throat and have a hoarse voice? Shouldn’t this be from the Pepcin as my stomach acid should be neutralized by 4 weeks of PPIs and H2 blockers? Wondering if I need to increase or change PPIs or see an ENT that knows more about LPR? Any input would be appreciated.

Charron, I hope they were able to properly diagnose you. I, too have been dealing with VERY similar issues and it's very scary!! Please keep us posted!

Hey mike,

How did you go? Whats gone on in 3 months?

I cant breathe properly for 3 months now from a severe episode i had from drinking a bloody mary on a plane...

Random asthma attack 90 mins later... bloody mary went down lile petrol.

I jave diagnosed myself as an inflamed esophagus causing asthma from silunt reflux... doctors dont know anything abkut this here in thailand.

Anyway... what happend with you?

Hi Alan, sorry to here about your breathing difficulties. It’s really hard to live a normal life. I am doing somewhat better maybe 60 to 70% better from my low. My endoscopy and biopsy came back negative so I was ready to check in to the psiachiatric ward . But my 4 day Bravo pH test came back positive (too much acid pH<4 in esophugus). So my gastro increased my ppi dose to 40 mg 2xday and we switched to nexium. I also went to see an ENT/Larygologist specialist (only two like this at UCLA) because I did not understand why i could not breath. If it was asthma then I should have got relief from steroids and inhalers and should of failed resporometry and had low blood oxygen but never did. He said that I had Vocal Cord Disfunction likely caused by GERD. He saw no LPR evidence. The only treatment for that is voice therapy (beside treating for GERD) which I am scheduled for in 4 weeks (very hard to get in). I looked up exercises on you tube and found purses lips exercises that help a little. Last week my gastro also prescribed medication for hypersensitivity,

low dose desipramine as she believed that is causing my issues since i am on such a high dose of PPIs. I understand this is consistent how dr Kaufman treats breathing issues with LPR.  So I am doing a little better now not sure if it is the double dose of PPIs, the breathing exercises or the desiprsmine.

thanks.

i have burning lungs and got scoped by ent yesterday. said i was all clear... 

lung doctor hooked me up with formeterol or some new puffer, works great compared to symbicort!

anyway, it feels like im breathing acid vapour.

what we have sounds familiar. i'm only 31 and dont smoke or drink exceessive

sorry, mines only been going on a month.

where do you live?

I am in Ventura County California just north of LA. I am glad asthma medicine is helping you. I would think you are also taking PPIs twice per day and H2 blockers once per day for LPR. Non of the inhailers or steroids did anything for me. I found that most doctors including ENTs and Pulminologist  do not know much about LPR and the symptoms including Asthma and VCD.  My pulmonologist has no clue about silent reflux or forgot until i told him, Lol. That’s why I ended up going to UCLA.

Thanks. Im on Greece now and spain in 10 days.

Today got a bit worse when i started eating cherries.

It's calmed down from the sunday beers.. but its still lingering this asthma.

I am on holiday and in few days gp on cruise for a week. I love to have a few beers... or anything alcohol.

Can i?

Oh yeah. This last 2 days i have noticed i have a lot more saliva in my mouth compared to normal...

Alan, check out this link for diet/med requirements for LPR

https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/ohns/documents/voicecenter/resources/Stanford_ENT_Clinic-LPR_Protocol.pdf

 Also, are you sure LPR is causing Asthma. If so your Asthma medicine should given you some releif. If not you may have VCD which is what I have and is the most common breathing issue caused by LPR. See the link below:

http://www.voiceinstituteofnewyork.com/in-vs-out-asthma-that-isnt-asthma/

Thanks. Will check these links out.

I had a bit of ouzo mixed with water the other night. Ever since the next morning, very hoarse voice and now starting to hurt to speak and losing my voice 3 days on.

I dobt think i have asthma. Its shortness of breath caused by this problem ive got. The asthma meds just work on my existing asthma that in turn makes me breathe better... i think.

I read this other guy got a surgery to stop the LPR for $7000 in Spain and felt 1 million times better.

Well i will be there in 7 days and TAKE MY MONEY is all i can say.

https://www.filepicker.io/api/file/wxNyArs8R127rMucrfEN

good recipes

big mike.

3 weeks on.

been to emergency room in Athens, Greece.

$500 for nothing. blood tests all good. x ray fine... gave me 2 x 20mg Nexiums for a week. did nothing.

today im in Belgrade, Serbia.... seeing the best hospital here, just $50 to see a gastroenterologist and ultrasound.

she is nice lady. speaks perfect english.

said to take 40mg x 2 of nexium for a week, then we agreed to do a scope on Friday morning...

No sedation, i dont want it, and she prefers not to be sedated. reckons its a piece of cake, we will see.

anyway. I forgot my new girlfriends birthday today... my whole life is just centered around my next breath to stay alive, and the pain a bit of my lungs, or throat whatever it is.

i near lost my voice last 4 days beasue i had some beers and coffee last week.

voice is better today.

you having any luck?

do you by any chance have an overbite? I've read that this could be a bit related?

life is very bad at moment ha.

 

Hi Alan, Sorry your having a hard time. I am doing a little better. I am also in bad shape after i have even the slightly acidic, sweet, or fried food. I believe the 20 mg of Desapramine/day is kicking in and/or the 40 mg twice daily of Nexium for over 2 months is is started to help.

I also started speech therapy at UCLA last week. I was very impressed with the therapist. She knew all about reflux and shortness of breath. After explaining her my story/symptoms she thought I also had hypersensitivity. I don’t have an overbite but after analyzing my voice through software she said I was speaking in a frequency that was lower than optimal. So this in conjunction to reflux may be causing irritation to my vocal cords. She taught me “pursed lips” rescue breathing exercise. I googled this and started doing it a month ago (I read about it in LPR/VCD message boards) but she tweaked it and I believe it works much better now.  The exercise is 1)Inhale through the nose like smelling a rose, 2) breath out your mouth like your blowing out a candle. Give this a try every time you feel shortness of breath. If it is continuous (like me) do it as much as possible.  Is your gastro going to do a pH test? I would recommend it if you can swing it. Also, I highly recommend you see a Laryngologist. These guys are ENTs that specialize in the upper airway and know much more about breathing issues associated with reflux or other breathing issues. The regular ENT I saw was useless.

thanks.

I asked about a H Pylori test, but she said because ive been on Nexium it wont work  properly. . i will ask about a PH test.

also it feels like my breath is Hot or Warm all the time, and very moist...

Lying down for me is when i feel best for some reason. walking around is just breathless attack after the other,

i dont know how my life just changed one day. 4 hours into an 8 hour international flight, 1 hour after having a bloody mary... 2 months ago!

so depressing.

also why are you doing speech therapy?

Speech/Voice therapy is the only treatment for vocal cord dysfunction (VCD).  There are two ways you can have issues breathing issues from reflux: 1) Asthma, 2) VCD. With Asthma your airways restrict  in response to direct aspiration of acid or acid gas into the lungs  or acid in your esophagus where a nerve in you esophagus  signals your airways to close (to prevent aspiration). With VCD, your

vocal cords restrict in presence of acid directly at the cords (to prevent acid aspiration) or nerve in your esophagus signals them to close (same as asthma). You may have both VCD and Asthma with Gerd/LPR.  If you have Asthma, you should get relief with cortosteroids and rescue  inhailers. If not, you likely have VCD. Try the exercise I described above and see if it helps you. 

Mike,

So i'm in Belgrade, Serbia... Had my Endoscopy done without sedation. Pretty hectic and can feel it move around in your guts! haha

anyway, Hiatial Hernia!

and Dr's like, 'not really big deal, just take 40mg x 2 Nexium every day for rest of life' 'you can try sometimes to not take, and take... see how you go'

the reports all in serbian.

they gave me stool sample kit too. i will drop that back later for H Pylori...

So now i finally know what it is... too bad it is causing me major problems. she was telling me about i could possibly get non0invasive surgery for it. But she wouldnt bother.. but she's not me, this is casuing hectic breathing problems.

you see i have this thing called PKU PhenylKetonuria.. I have been a vegetarian all my life. i am 90kgs, and 6'2. a fairly big guy. takes a lot of vegetables and carbs to fill me up.

When i am hungry i inhale my food like a vacuum cleaner... becasue rice and potatoes are so easy to eat. i just chew a little bit then swallow. We were thinking eating too fast had caused this.

have been felling better from the nexium 40 x 2, but now i know what it most likely is, im gonna try tilting bed, if i ever can stop in one place long enough.. maybe next week in Ukraine.

And for the surgery, maybe i will get that back home in Australia.

 

Diaphragm Hernia

1987, Card: 1017236, Australia Service: Gastroskopija, 27.07.2018. 08:00 Finding and thinking The patient comes to a review of reflux problems and episodes of bronchopneumonia. It's allergic to penicillin. Premedication: Lidocaine 10% spray topically in the dough. EZOFAGO-GASTRO-DUODENOSCOPY The esophagus is transient with full length, neat motor and Z at 40 cm, whole. Cardiac shakes. The stomach is a regular, empty, neat motorcycle, the right set. Anthrax mucosa sprinkled with tiny enanthom, without vegetation and defects. In retroverting Hill 2 Pilorus centrally positioned, easily transient. Bulbus duodenum regular, neatly shaped mucous membrane of Koleno and D2 normal mucous membranes. mucous membranes. No sample taken for PH The patient has signed the consent for the intervention. Recommendations: control as needed. Please Ag H. pylori from the chair. Dg: Hernia diaphragmatica K44 THERAPY: Nexium 14x40mg thl. S.0. N'TV, at 12h per 1 caps. 30min, before meals, 4 weeks 

This was, cant really understand it. Google translate did it's best.

So the h pylori came back positive. Even when dr said it wouldnt because I've been on 2 months of ppi.

I'm half way through pylera antibiotics

I was feeling better in beginning. Voice came back. Breathings been better!

But that all changes when I eat naughty.

Anyway. I'm stoked I found my problem.

AMD I did stool test in april in aud for unrelated problem. Yellow stool because of medicine change I discovered.

No h pylori then.

4 months later. Its here .. and with symptoms.

Please check it

I'm in poland and tomorrow I go Ukraine.

Traveling and not enjoying 1 bit ha.

But I'm 99% confident it's the h pylori doing this and causing the asthma. Gerd and everything. Look it up!

And chief.

The hpylori was ggiving.menot.much aapaapeaapaapetaapaapeaapaapetiaapaapeaapaapetaapaapeaapaapetitaapaapeaapaapetaapaapeaapaapetiaapaapeaapaapetaapaapeaapaapetite

Ha. My phone.

So I was fasting for a few days. So that could probably be my improvement.

You should try that too big Mike.

Thanks Alan I am glad your feeling better!  I definitely felt better on 40 mg twice per day than once per day. I am still up and down but mainly better. I had my first beer yesterday since early May just to see what happened and I did ok.

I don’t believe I was tested for h. pilori. I will look into it. Next week I am going to have a motility/manometry test done.  Doesn’t sound like fun.

You wouldnt be the first person who had seen 10+ doctors and spent thousands of dollars on other stuff when all you needed was a simple stool test.

Maybe stool and blood antibodies for you.

But let me know

Mikey.

How are you doing?

How would you feel if i told you i am 75% well?

I am getting back to my old cheeky and cheerful self. I can breathe again. i feel that carefree feeling that we once took for granted - you know, 'feeling normal'

anyway. I'm ready to punt my house on the fact that you have H Pylori!

And the fact that you havent even been tested for it or come up in conversation after all this time is unbelievable.

I still have warm Breath. it feels hot and a bit lingering symptoms, but appparently h Pylori can take months to get better.

in 1 month i will go for re test of H Pylori..

Mate.

Please check. I wish someone told me about it earlier.

and also, it was me that bought it up to the doctors and insisted on testing.

Alan, Glad your at 75%!! I am about the same +/- 25 %.  I totally know the feeling being able to take a normal breath! I will not take it for granted.  That’s crazy that h pylori isn’t the first test the doctors should do!  I am still not clear if i was tested for h pylori. A few folks including my cousin who just finished med school recommended being tested for it. I just assumed the biopsy during my endoscopy included the test. But result just say negative.  I will be talking with the GI this week and will ask about it. My breathing is mostly normal now. When i have some shortness of breath I do my breathing exercises and it goes away. My throat and chest are still tight, I feel palpitations in my sternum, and I have a sore throat occasionally( not sure if it is from the motility test or recent cold).  I have occasional horsesess/voice change and phlegm in my throat often. I had a beer yesterday and the day before and get a lot of saliva, phlegm, and slight horseness instantly when drinking. So i know that’s not reflux as the beer would have to digest for 30 minutes before reflux would occur. That’s more hypersensitivity. I know you had similar symptoms. Did you feel like that immediately after drinking/eating or do you feel symptoms 30 minutes after eating?

yeah wow.... 

im sitting at 75% up pretty constant, just had a beer and cocktils tonight and soon played up after 2 mins of having the beer,,,

i was thinking this just today - why is mine not delayed, why is it instant? so we same here.

and especialy after a milky coffee i get cold symptoms. stuffy nose, sore throat and voice is a bit hard to talk.

the endoscope would have tested H Pylori, it should have, or you can do an easy stool test - like i did

blood test will just show the antibodies, but even that would be interesting.

my antiobiotic course defineitly left me feleling better! 

just need to hopefully wait it out and continue to feel better.

but what we have is very similar in terms of the other stuff.

after a few hours of these cold symptoms, it near feels normal again - then its dinner time.

Alan,

So i was never tested for H pylori, I requested to test but need to be of PPIs for one week. It’s been a rough few days in terms of breathing and bad news: My motility test: Small Hiatal Hernia (just like you bro) and weak LES at rest. I asked about the instant phlegm and hoarseness after alcohol and she said she doesn’t know what to say.

She wants me to talk to the GI director at UCLA as he is a leading GERD expert and invented the motility test. I am sure this will take months to get it. My laryngologist wants me to see a psychiatrist to rule out anxiety! Anxiety also caused vocal cord dysfunction. When i asked about hypersensitivity and the fact i get instant phlegm and hoarseness after alcohol and sugar he did not have an answer. And was walking out the door as my 1/2 hour was up. Good stuff. Hope your doing better. 

I'm in Kiev, going to Bangkok tonight.

last few days my chest tightness coming back - especially after coffee...

been drinking alcohol too a bit, and tolerble but is causing a bit of problem.

i have this warm sensation, hot breath coming out when i breathe out for a few weeks now.

i just started taking singulair last night, so see if that helps.

you can get blood tested for h.pylori. or test positive while on the ppis like i did with stool1

after the 1- days of PYLERA treatment i definitely feel better though. the silent reflux is gone/

fasting really helps me.

my chest tightness feels like something is physically stopping my diaphram from working. i am phsically limited from a deep breath, but my lungs feel ok. its this tightness thats giving me problems....

are you going to get STRETTA treatment?

Wow your still on vacation? I was born in Kiev and came to the states when I was six. Never been back.

I heard the TIF and Stretta were minimally invasive but haven’t researched that much. I am doing surgery or any of these procedures until i rule everything out and try all treatments. I really think I have hypersensitivity and want to add a low dose of  Gabepentin

I mean to say I am not doing surgery until... Try those breathing exercises i told you about. It won’t hurt 

hey mate,

back in aus.

Stool smaple just showed im now H Pyroli negative!!

man, i've been breathing better since around the last pill i took of PYLERA (i did quad therapy)

now i am left with this reflux, but its not causing as much breathing issue (breathing still not 100%) but nothing at all like before when I reached out to you!

I am breathing way better. Man my problem was H Pyroli, but it has i think weakened my valve, so will see in next couple of weeks, could try stretta or the surgery to fix it.

I also have warm breath coming out ( this only started about a month ago)

i had beers the other night, was fine. 2 months ago i was nearly dying after having alcohol!

cant' believe it appears i'm on the mend except for a few lingering problems.

did you ever test H Pyroli?

Good timing. I just filled the stool kit and will drop it off the lab tomorrow! Hahahaha. Glad your drinking beers with no issues. I went down hill after a trying a couple of beers so  need to lay off and going back to (or at least trying) the low acid diet (nothing less than pH of 5) and been feeling much better. 

yeah good. i would be shocked if that's what you've had that has been causing problems for you too. anyway, interesting to see.

You've got that alcoholic Ukrainian blood in you! a few beers a week are a great thing!

just hope this dry cough and acid feeling in my ears and stuff goes away soon or will have to look at surgery. Gonna put my bed on bricks tonight too.

Hi mike, I too live in Ventura County (Newbury Park). Your story sounds a lot like mine. I’ve been dealing with this nightmare since feb/March, I’ve lost 60 pounds since then as I can barely eat. In the last month I also developed severe heartburn 24/7 even when not eating . About three weeks ago, I caught a little respiratory virus from my husband. I was coughing etc and noticed towards the end of my illness I couldn’t catch my breath. I’m going on 3 weeks with not being able to take a deep breath, ive been to the ER twice just for that.  I had endoscopy way back in April which showed esophagitis/gerd but my symptoms were not nearly as bad as now. I was put on inhalers, steroids etc... nothing helping ! I’m having a lot of anxiety about my breathing . Nobody understands how I feel because my oxygen levels are normal. I’m at my wits end. Going back to pulmonologist Thursday. I’m on dexilant and liquid carafate. I have no life! I can barely leave my house I’m so miserable. Has your dyspnea (shortness of breath)gotten better ? I’m even having to take anxiety meds because I’m in such bad shape about my breathing . It only relaxes me but dyspnea still there 24/7. Anyway, there is a great ENT in westlake; dr makealian maybe I’ll go see him. Do you recommend UCLA? Hope you’re doing better. 

Results came back negative. But because i was on acid meds it is considered a false negative. I will retest once i get of the Nexium. Hopefully some day....

Hi Donna, I am also in Newbury Park! 

Sorry your having this horrific issue. Mine also started after a cold.  My breathing is about 70 to 80 percent better than back in March when I went to the ER.  My hoarseness/throat clearing is about 25% better.  I went to a local Pulmonologist in NP and ENT (in Camarillo). Like you no steroids and inhailers worked. I also did breathing tests/respirometry studies and they came back fine. What I didn’t know back then is that some pulmonologist can perform a flow volume loop test during inspiration. So I recommend you ask for this to check for Vocal Chord Dysfunction on your next visit. Regarding the ENT, I saw a local one in Camarillo and he asked why I went to see him for shortness of breath (SOB)??? He checked my throat and said all is good and go to a GI. These guys were so hard to get in to and were of no help so I decided to go to UCLA. I found that you can get in quicker to a specialist at Westwood. In my journey I learned that the ENTs that understand breathing issues associated with GERD/LPR have a laryngology specialty. They focus on the upper airway.  I saw an ENT Laryngologist at the Thousand Oaks UCLA clinic (much longer wait then westwood). He did a video stoboscopy of my vocal chords. In addition to the flow loop test, this is another method to test for VCD. Even though he did not find anything he said because of my symptoms and that steroids and asthma meds did not work, he thought i had VCD and referred me to the speech pathology clinic in Westwood. They show you breathing exercises to help relax the vocal chords. When my SOB kicks in, the exercises typically help. During your ENT visit, ask if a low dose of Amtryptaline and/or Gabapentine will help you in case your symptoms may be from hypersensitivity or post viral vagal  neurapthy. Also,  check if your Dexilant PPI dose is the “double” dose. If not talk to the ENT about increasing to double dose. You may also want to ad H2 blockers . I take 40 mg Nexium twice per day and 20 mg of Pepcid twice per day. And desipramine 20 mg (similar to amtryptaline) once per day. Sorry to keep rambling. Let me know if you need any more info, I have lots of references. It’s been a long six months . Oh what anxiety meds are you taking?

i reckon im at 85% now.

so so happy im getting so good. This warm breath is slowly going i think too.

man. I now know about H Pylori so I'm on the lookout and loaded with info if that bugger ever strikes again.

Looks like im off to Japan this week to see my mrs.

hows my 20k holiday that was miserable as anything!

 

THanks mike for all the great info..  the Er and and doctors look at me as though I’m crazy because my oxygen levels are fine and at first they heard wheezing and rales But now they hear nothing and a say my lungs are clear. I’ve had CT scan too but was clear. I just can’t  catch my breath /take a deep  breath.  I will definitely ask about that test. Dr mikelian in westlake village is a very well respected ENT. I will check if he specializing in larengotology. Doing a pulmonary test Thursday with pulmonologist DR. Median . I hate that I went on anxiety meds but I panic so bad when I can’t catch arch my breath . I’ve made my husband Take me to the to the eR . They can’t help me. I also have constant throat clearing , post nasal drip and the whole horrible gerd thing. My health has taken a beating in the last 6/7 months. I will call UCLA if Dr mikilian isn’t a true specialist. It is a very scary thing when you have constant lung deficiency. I hope you get to 100% soon. I’ll keep you posted. 

Donna,

I definitely not a MD, but based on what your saying, I am pretty confident the issue you have is in your vocal chords (VCD).  This condition explains the normal blood oxygen, normal respirometry, normal ct scan and x-ray. Most doctors do not know about this. The hardest thing with this is finding all the contribing causes.  With me they think it’s reflux, inefficient use of voice, and anxiety/stress. Pretty crazy huh, who new?  I am still trying to wrap my mind around this. 

Please check out this article https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2599980/.

And try the pursed lip exercises, it definitely will not hurt and also works for asthma and COPD. Try like 15 to 30 min 5 to 6 times per day. Good luck and hope you find some relief!

hey mate,

my warm breath is still there. how you doing?

Australia doctor is doing a Gastroendoscopy on Friday to have a look.

ever since i killed H Pylori ive been way better, but i definitely have a hernia issue now, as i can't get a full breath and diaphragm is restricted to fully release.

but compared to 6 months ago, I am night and day better. I just wish Doctors knew to look for H Pylori sooner.

I think i have a faulty valve caused by the H Pylori inflammation, its left me with this warm breath feeling, acid in chest from time to time.

what ever happened to you?

Hi Allen,

Sorry I didn't see your message. Was just going to check on you and saw your message. I got up to 95 to 99% better in November. I tried to get off PPIs and everytime I do my shortness of breath comes back along with voice issues and it takes me a while to get better. Currently my voice is a bit screwey but way better than before.. I been going to a world renowned Gerd expert. He doesn't believe my reflux is causing breathing, he still thinks its sensory neurapathy. But wants me to continue on PPIs???? He said i can be on them for the rest of my life without any issues. Told me not to believe the internet stories. I really think these guys dont know or want to spend the time on our cases since they cross medical discaplines.

Hi Donna, wanted to see how you were doing? Any luck with the Doctors?

yeah, I'd say you've got asthma caused by acid/gerd if that's the case.

I have a sliding hernia and I think I'm 5% better than 2 months ago when I last.messaged you.

some people have been on ppi forever but he's delusional to think it can't cause problems long term! look at the studies ha.

he found Gastroparesis in my endoscopy. pylori still gone.

they reckon I just gotta give myself time to heal.

How.long were you on ppis for before you got 99% good. and what one?

I'm very late to this conversation, but so interested in everyone's experiences, as I've been suffering from shortness of breath, fullness in throat, stuffiness/congestion, and postnasal drip for almost a year. I've talked to three ENTs about it — none have a clue. They've suggested mucinex, flonase, allergy sprays, etc. etc. However, one did prescribe Pepcid, and I think that is helping the SOB somewhat. I also did some reading about Gaviscon Advance (sold only in England, available to US customers via Amazon), and that has definitely helped. Plus, I now use a wedge pillow and drastically cut down on my coffee.

Small world, Mike and Donna! I live in Thousand Oaks area . . . can you tell me what doctors helped you? I'm trying to find someone who is familiar with this diagnosis.

I am also late to this convo, but trying to remain hopeful... Last Sunday I was feeling like I was going to have a panic attack as it started getting harder for me to take a deep breath in the night (OUT OF NOWHERE)... This lead to 3 days later where the doc tells me I have acid reflux (my mom says I had it as a baby)... I've been taking meds to reduce the acid, but I feel like every so often I can squeeze in a satisfying deep breath, but the rest of the time my chest is tight and it feels as though my breath just stops. The first doc told me it was the flu virus, second doc ran me through a whole bunch of tests and they all came back normal... I keep trying to remain hopeful but the doctors look at me like I am going crazy for thinking I am struggling with my breath considering how clear and fully functioning my lungs appear to be. I am absolutely terrified.. sometimes I can't sleep and when I really need a deep breath and I can't get it I feel like my world is crashing down (dramatic, I know). I am just afraid because everytime I visit the doctor they kinda push it off like I don't know what I am talking about... also when I drink I feel a slight burning sensation down my throat and can almost feel the liquid travel down to my stomach.. I don't know what to do.. it's like in one night my whole life got turned over... I wish we had the answers.

1. Need Gastro specialist to look into it. Endoscopy is the first stage to work out the issue.
2. You may need reflux diet may help you to control it.
3. Use antacid to protect your esophageal. If necessary low dosage of PPI.
4. Best eat 70% full
5. You may need to sleep sitting (rest is very important as help healing and detox)
6. Calm and take it easy.

After endoscopy, if is hernia or weak diaphragm few action can be taken.

For weak diaphragm can heal by itself with proper diet and exercise (weight playing very important part). If after 2 to 3 months still having issue can ask for non surgical Stretta Treatment only weak diaphragm and hiatus hernia 2cm below. Stretta normal take up to 6 months to work well.

If stretta doesn't work or Hiatus Hernia 3cm above you may need surgery to repair the hernia. I would suggest fundoplication technique rather the new linx (about 8 years in the market). My Gastro told me he had few cases linx removed.

This is what I know but decision is on you.

PS: it is very important that you are in ideal weight before any surgery, most of the time over weight cause reflux. Follow healthy diet and life style may help a lot and avoid surgery.

hey mate.

how you doing Mike,

so now a year or so later it was DEFINITELY THE H PYLORI that stuffed me up.

It''s left me with a hiatal hernia and reflux from that, but I will never be the same as beofore i ever had H PYLORI, but I could be after Hernia is fixed.

But my breathing is doing fine now, at last. Hope is all ok with you.

Thanks for the detail, Alan and Mike. Really helps.

My journey started 3 months ago with post nasal drip symptoms. Went on to the same symptoms as you both describe. Except one, tiredness. did you get this?

And with your suggestions I'll request a h pylori test. they did this as a breath test last time. Did anyone try this test?

Alan, I know I'm very late to this but I'm desperate for some help. when your h pylori was treated (antibiotics), did your difficulty taking a deep breath go away? I've been tested at urgent care today and will call for those results. I just don't know what the solution is

85% better now.

they worked. 100% it was antibiotics that fixed me.

I'm.leftbwith hot breath feeling and hiatal hernia. but way better than struggling for breath for 90ndays straight.

I added another response about VCD, which is what Mike mentioned, but my h pylori was negative. it has to be vocal cord issues. mind you, if you have a hernia, AND reflux, you could very well have vocal cord dysfunction. Mike was right. I think that's what I have. treatment is difficult. I wish Mike hopped back on. I'd love to talk about it with him.

hel lo. I've been extremely anxious with a feeling of my throat closing up and not being able to breathe outta nowhere, but most of the time my oxygen levels seem to be normal. I have reflux and I tested for pylori a month ago and it was positive. I treated it for 2 weeks with antibiotics but it didnt help at all with this sob and weird throat feeling. could you please tell me more abt how exactly pylori is related to breathing issues like the one I told u and why would the antibiotics not have helped me? thanks a lot i hope I can live a normal life again

hi mike, i hope you can help me. i am also in ventura county and getting no luck with any of these issues as described and my breathing. do you have a doctor you recommend? thanks