Is my difficulty breathing from acid reflux?
Posted , 64 users are following.
I will tell my whole GERD story after this paragraph, but for those who want the basics of it... I had acid reflux for months but after taking probiotic supplements for a couple weeks, I had 0 symptoms of it. After taking the supplements for about a week though, I started to experience shortness of breath. First only a little bit, but now, it can be the whole day and/or just really intense at night. It feels like I am producing enough oxygen, but I don't feel satisfied with my breaths so often I have to take deep breaths but those stop halfway sometimes.
Went to the doctors who's not sure either since I experience no other health symptoms besides this.
Can anyone relate? Does anyone have any ideas what caused this?
I *FEEL* like it's my esophagus narrowing because I think my lungs are working fine... if I'm right, is it super dangerous? Can my esophagus close up from inflamming or swelling too much if I don't get help???
"Full" story turned short:
I had acid reflux sometimes as a kid, then it disappeared, then it came back Dec 2015 after I got the stomach flu. Thinking my symptoms were just flu symptoms, I didn't get diagnosed or treated until after a few months (which my friend thinks is a reason I still have it... late diagnose). Anyway, after losing a lot of weight, always being nausesous and tired, etc. I took over-the-counter meds (Zantac, Prilosec, etc.) and multiple tests that all came clear, then I finally got an endocopy and was diagnosed with Esophagitis. The doctor prescribed me Lansoprozele and after trying to take it a few days, I would immediately feel weak and have stomach issues so I stopped taking it. Fast forward to the past few months/weeks of going "natural," drinking Evodia extract, eating Manuka honey, and now ONLY taking probiotic supplement pills, I have been feeling 0 symptoms, except a couple hours every some days when I guess I stress or eat something VERY bad and have a super intense episode of feeling like I need to barf. But besides that, my only issue right now is my difficulty breathing.
6 likes, 110 replies
kayla21845 rachelk123
Posted
TO EVERYONE WHO HAS RULED OUT ASTHMA, ALLERGIES, ETC. See an ENT who you KNOW knows about Vocal Chord Disfunction. maybe not an ENT, just search any doctor in your area who mentions it on their site. basically, your vocal cords close when you inhale. it can be caused by acid reflux, or LPR, something similar to GERD conceptually but shows up differently. trust me, I've been in this boat for years and am only recently discovering this might be the issue. psychiatric issues can contribute apparently, ie stress and anxiety and depression. someone here already mentioned this, but do not rule it out for yourself. you might not have voice issues necessarily, but that doesn't mean your vocal cords aren't it. I will try to update once I've been on the PPI and newer anti anxiety for three months
gabor65254 kayla21845
Posted
Thanks for everyone's replies.
How do you confidently rule out Asthma/Allergies and/or inflammation of airways in general? At this stage of my condition, I feel the doctors have difficulty confirming or ruling out the above. My most recent lung function test was normal, which does not indicate asthma. Having said that, inhalers like Flovent and Ventolin seem to help a little (I have just started using those instead of Symbicort). Is there any other objective test that shows if your airways are inflamed or not?
Today, as we speak, I can breath pretty well, but my chest is still quite tight and the right site of my chest is hurting when I take a deeper breath. The pain is not terrible, but still noticeable.
thank you
karen13214 gabor65254
Posted
Completely agree--diagnosis of Reactive Airway Disease--no puffer helps. I have GERD and hiatal hernia and so far no help from either pulmonologist or gastro. Here I'm learning how hard it is for other people to get accurate diagnoses. Second gastro may recommend BRAVO endoscopy. Now I'm wondering about these references to voice issues.
Do I have GERD backing up into lungs? Oh, yes my PRIMARY symptom is problem breathing and reflux symptoms. The breathing problem persists upon any exertion--even the simplest attempt to walk in and out of a grocery store. For the last couple of years it's been my constant companion. I could live with GERD symptoms--diet does help minimize those but the breathing problem has made me sedentary and very worried about how this will all resolve.
Advice? My gastro #2 appt. isn't until July. Karen
LexaKom rachelk123
Posted
Hi! Did you ever find a solution? I have these exact same symptoms and haven't found much but an acid watchers diet change
mike61889 rachelk123
Posted
unfortunately nobody ever reports back on here about what it was or what helped. i have same issues. Hope someone out there has a success story.
eric97533 rachelk123
Posted
On 05.01.21 I received the first round of Moderna's C-19 vaccine. On 05.03.21, after arriving at work in New Mexico, my body went haywire; and I wound up in the ER in Carlsbad, NM with severe shortness of breath, chest pain and joint inflammation.. What follows has been nothing short of a medical Odessy through Dante's inferno. I've seen Neuro, Gastro, Immuno, Cardiac, ENT and Allergy specialists over the past 3 weeks. Upper Barium GI, MRI's, CT's, 4 ER visits, 5 clinic visits with my GP and every blood test known to man. All came back clear, except for some reflux showing on the barium swallow and a constriction at the bottom of my esophagus. Scheduled for an endoscopy and stumbled across a site on LPR, to which my symptoms matched 15 for 15. Notable is the fact that unlike GERD, LPR does NOT respond to PPI's, which explains why my symptoms persist even after being on 80 mg of Nexium and 5 Curafate pills eqch day. So...question for the crowd: Has anyone had surgery for LPR, and if so, how effective was the procedure. My diet changes are going on 4 weeks and the symptoms continue to rage.
jim28062 rachelk123
Posted
Wow! I was googling and trying to figure what the connection between Gird and breathing issues. As for traditional heat burn with burning throat, pain, I never get it. All I get occasionally is a feeling of having to clear my throat.
What I do get is a discomfort in my chest and sensation of not getting enough air, requiring me to take a deep breath often. It is no debilitating or painful, more like an uneasy anxious feeling. I can function fine and even drive a school bus with no problems other that anxiousness. The sensation comes on with or without some exertion. Of course, it doesn't take much to me to be exerted. I'm 76 yrs old and 305 lbs. Ironically, i can do physical "stuff' and be OK. Last evening, I was on the concrete basement floor, taking apart washing machine cabinet and pulling the motor to change the coupling. Although painful for my aching body, especially getting up and down over a two plus hour time frame, I never go the breathing sensation..
With chest pains and family heart history, about three months ago, doc sent me for a stress test with the isotope stuff in my veins. No problem no blockage and was able to go almost 8 minutes on the treadmill. I was huffing and puffing but no breathing issues. I've had RX for Omaprazole for a long time but only took it periodically when throat clearing got noticeable. Doc told me to be sure to take omaprazole every day, which I've done for a while now, but still have the anxious breathing thing.
A week ago, he sent me for a endoscopy to look down and see if I had excess acid. They did a biopsy too, but haven't had results yet. What did tell me was I have inflammation and possible early ulcer in my duodenal which I didn't even know what it was. It's between stomach and intestine. I'm waiting to see if I have an infection or need antibiotics .
I've read where stomach acid spills over into airway and causes the breathing problem in lungs but i'm still confused because my problem is not up near my esophagus. It's down under my stomach. This forum thread is the first time I became aware that others had similar problems and better explanation of what I've been feeling but unable to articulate.
xtopher rachelk123
Posted
Hi all,
Jumping in to say I've just been diagnosed with VCD or vocal chord dysfunction. Its not deadly but makes it harder for me to get air into my lungs. After presuming it was GERD or asthma and treating for both, I discovered I have nonallergic rhinitis, (no real allergies, just a nose that flares up) which causes post nasal drip. I had almost zero runny nose or allergy symptoms otherwise, but learned the drip can cause VCD. I am taking Zyrtec daily, along with Flonase daily, and (the real helpful medicine) ipratropium bromide .03% nasal spray. It has changed everything for me--my shortness of breath is entirely gone. What's interesting is I had no idea I had post-nasal drip or that it could cause this. I encourage you all to check into it. I was also given the same breathing exercises mentioned earlier, and told that generally untreated GERD and drip can cause VCD, but so can anxiety.