Is this Acid Reflux or could it be a respiratory issue?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hi looking for advice or others with similar symptoms. 

My doctor has advised that I probably have acid reflux causing oesophagitis but I am just not sure as my symptoms seem so different in the way that they don't seem to be triggered immediately. There is no point taking gaviscon/rennie/zantac or such as once the symptoms are there nothing like that soothes it as it isn't a burning pain its a feeling that just won't go away. 

I have tried cutting out foods and drinks and nothing seems to make a difference, I either have symptoms for a few days or they go for a few days. 

At worst I have a feeling of a huge lump in my throat, maybe like when you are going to cry, or like a bubble is being inflated right in my neck. Sometimes I have the same feeling lower down towards my chest. I often burp a lot but it feels like the burps are coming from my throat/neck rather than my stomach. 

I am always fine in the mornings. Eating a meal doesn't trigger symptoms, some days they just progress as the day goes on and by about 6pm will be at their worst. It never stops me sleeping as it's not really pain, more uncomfortableness. Eating and drinking sooths the symptoms whatever I have to eat or drink.

I have thought that it may be related to alcohol, I had a big night out and noticed the next day that my throat felt really tight, but not straight after or when I woke up, again, as the day went on it just gradually got worse... I never have any symptoms while actually drinking alcohol, it actually sooths them if anything as does eating or drinking anything.

I have tried eating only alkaline foods and have aloe vera juice and manuka honey every day. Nothing seems to help. It's so random. Other symptoms are a slightly sore throat, feeling of needing to breath deeply occasionally, sometimes wanting to cough gently, all of which sometimes make me wonder if its a respiratory problem.

Any advice?

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    If eating and drinking soothe your problem, then it's likely to be acid/stomach issue. I thought I had a lung problem when I first had similar symptoms to yours, so I was given a spirometry test and various other tests but they found it was acid irritation. Yours may be respiratory, so by all means have some tests, the basic ones can be done at the gp surgery. But don't be suprised at what acid can do. I've had this problem for 12 yrs but it took doctors 3 yrs to work it all out as the acid was giving me symptoms of asthma, colds, muscle spasms even heart attacks! So good luck! !

  • Posted

    Sounds like LPR.  Maybe you need to take Zantac regularly to reduce acid and give your tum chance to heal also try Pepzin which acts like a bandaid in your stomach and lines it. All my doc did was PPI which I don't want to take so I do Zantac 150mg am and pm.  Mine too can go for days then come back.

    • Posted

      Hi Gwen, I have had acid reflux for the last couple of months. My GP has prescribed me a PPI, and after reading much about them, I'm not too keen on taking them. Just wondered what Pepsin is, as I would like to try an alternative. Does stress make it worse, as I've had a lot of stress over the last six months. 

    • Posted

      Hi Addue, no I don't want PPI's not unless I realy really need them.  Pepzin is an enzyme that lives in your body and is needed to break down protein, when is travells out of the stomach it causes problems.  Taking it promotes a healthy stomach lining and a healthy GI environment.  I also take Mastic Gum caps before bed.  I can go for ages feeling much better with this regime, then ruin it by eating normally again.  I also started reading up on probiotics.  I was taking one but sopped as it was hurting me.  So just had a probiotic yoghurt.  I am reading about fermented food like yoghurt and now Kefir and am having that as it containg billions more probiotics than just yoghurt.  I am feeling the difference.  There are things you can do, it is just finding the one that suits you.  Trial and error.

    • Posted

      Hi Gwen, thanks for getting back to me. Will try the Pepsin and Mastic Gum caps. GP has given me PPIs for a month, but I'm not happy taking them. He' s also given me Citalogram, had to stop taking them as they made me feel awful. Would rather find an natural alternative. I've always  suffered from  a nervous stomach, stress can really affect my digestive system. I'm trying to take my mind off of it, because when I don't think about it, I don't notice it. I've read much about this and it seems very difficult to know which way to go re diet and what will work for you. Is it too much acid or not enough, that is what I'm trying to fathom out. I drink Kefir, make my own, it is good for well being, I've stopped it for now to see if it made any difference, but it hasn't, so will continue with this again. Make your own Kefir it's much cheaper than ready made stuff.

    • Posted

      Hi Addie, sorry about little mistakes in typing, I use my lappy and type too fast - then see it when re-posted and cringe lol.  I was given Citalopram - still in the box tho.  Yes I have had nervous tum for a 100 years (I do exagerate a tad) - it always has me running to the loo if going to say the doctors or dentist or hospital.  Blooming pain it is.  Hubs laughs at me when I say - oh no need to go again.

      Kefir is defo working for me - looked at how to make it - but the ingredients seem weird - I am England - where are you and how do you make it ?

    • Posted

      I'm in UK too, no worries about typos, I do plenty especially if I'm on my phone trying to post. The Kefir is very  easy to make, you just buy the grains, you can get them on the Internet, or some health shops sell them. They usually give you instructions how to start making it, but if you're stuck go on uTube and type in 'how to make kefir' and you will get loads of links coming up, some good demonstrations on there. It is trial and error for a couple of weeks til you get the right amount of grains for your taste, I don't like it too strong. Basically all you do is put the grains in a plastic jug, pour about a half pint of milk on top, I use organic, you can use almond milk if you prefer, cover and let ferment over night. Strain it in the morning into another plastic jug, and repeat procedure for the next day. The Kefir will look like a whey water. I usually make a smoothie with it, adding strawberries, berries and banana, taste delicious. The grains multiply by the day, you can actually make cheese with them, although I haven't tried. Give it a go, you can message me if you need help. Happy Kefiring!

       

    • Posted

      Thank you - sounds good - will start Kefiring - just loving it at the mo - feeling the benefit of probiotic in large numbers - my Health Shop H & B probio was 3.6b - and it hurt me - but reading u should have between 5-10bil - wow I am sooo low on this.  Will bell you if I get stuck (bell being contact u lol).  Thank you.....................G.

    • Posted

      Addie - just a thought - in your smoothie you put strawberries, blueberries, both are really acidic - so for acid reflux adding them to the Kefir is defeating the object - I can do blueberries slightly, but strawberries - naa forget them - acid will come my way...............G.
    • Posted

      Thanks for that Gwen. I'm not making it at the moment, as I thought I would stop for a week, as I'm trying to find out what foods etc affect me more than others. So far it hasn't made any difference, so will start back on the Kefir in a weeks time when I come back from my hols. I have put kale in it as well for my bones. Not sure if kale if is acidic, so will need to read up a lot more. I eat lot of fruit and veg, and know that some fruits are very acidic, need more research.

  • Posted

    Hi danielle! I noticed at the end of your post you mentioned that you experienced a need to breath deeply occasionally. Can I ask you a few questions about that? Is that breathing problem frequent or infrequent? Also, have you noticed it become more frequent over time at all? Lastly, do you notice that you're more likely to feel it after eating or drinking somthing that triggers your reflux? Thanks so much!

    • Posted

      Hi Giraffe123

      No that problem is not frequent. I believe it is when possibly my esophagus is inflamed or irritated it presses on my airway and so I try to take deep breaths to get air in. It is not usually related to eating or drinking although sometimes it can be worse a few hours after eating but with random different foods.. no pattern. I still have no idea what food or drink triggers reflux for me. The feelings I get are so random. That's why I'm not even sure its reflux...!

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