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Is this really Acid Reflux i'm experiencing?

Posted , 101 users are following.

Tinkerbell32
Tinkerbell32

Hi, for the past 4 months I have been suffering daily severe symptoms with breathlessness, burning and pressure sensation in my back and chest, pressure in my throat which makes me want to cough, burping and most recently tiredness. These don't necessarily occur after food, i have the breathless and pressure feeling all day every day.

I went to a private hospital for tests under my medical insurance as my NHS GP couldn't give me all the tests i wanted for peace of mind as i'm an extreme worrier and after Googling my symptoms i was in tears! So 2 weeks ago i had blood tests, allergy tests, a CT scan on my heart and lungs, a lung function test and an Echocardiogram. I had the results last week which thankfully shows my heart is absolutely fine but i have mildly inflamed airways in my lungs and the doctor advised the most likely cause is Acid Reflux and this is causing the breathless feeling. The doctor has advised i take Lanzoprasole 30mg daily and a steroid asthma inhaler to reduce the inflammation for 3 months.

To be honest, i'm concerned that this isn't caused by acid only because most of the threads i have read on here are from people who only experience symptoms from food. As soon as i get out of bed and start walking around i start to get the pressure feeling in my chest and i've just had enough of it. Does anyone else have symptoms like me? I'm constantly thinking about what i could have wrong or if it is acid, what damage it is doing to me! I know it's only been a couple of days on the medication so shouldn't expect it to work straight away but can anyone tell me of any other self help medications that i could take to make it go away quicker? I'm really at my wits end and it's all i think about.

Thank you

10 likes, 256 replies

256 Replies

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  • jane07229
    jane07229 Tinkerbell32

    Posted

    Hi Tinkerbell. If it helps I am in a similar. Position awaiting a scope down my throat.  mine too is not food related I am thinking I have damaged my throat and that it is really sore.  Think stress can aggrevate.  If you find something that helps do let. Me know.  I have just gone onto diazepam. For a couple of weeks.  just to see if I can actually get  any sleep.  Thinking of you as know how horrible this condition is

    jane

     

    • Tinkerbell32
      Tinkerbell32 jane07229

      Posted

      Hi Jane

      The pain and pressue seemed to have subsided, the only thing i am battling now is the air hunger. It's changed my lifestyle to the extent that i can't run anymore, when i used to be very fit and run frequently. I assume that i must still be refluxing if i'm still breathless so have bought the Dropping Acid book and will be following the diet from Monday, along with taking my steroid inhaler. A lot of people on here really recommend it and it has cured them. Thank you for your kind words, people who don't suffer with acid have no idea what's its like to live with this. I hope your endoscope comes back ok and you get some relief soon.

  • emma96969
    emma96969 Tinkerbell32

    Posted

    hi, im suffering with the same problem, i have severe anxiety and panic attacks, i keep thinking im going to die. i also suffer with ibs, but the past 2 weeks i have had really bad pain in between my shoulder blades which is going through to my chest, ive been to the doctor and had an ecg came back fine, but i didnt have any pain when the ecg was done, ive had blood tests and my liver etc is fine. i cant sleep on my side because my chest goes really tight, im so scared im going to have a heart attack and die and leave my 3 beauitful children without a mum :-(
    • alexandra96047
      alexandra96047 emma96969

      Posted

      I know exactly how you feel. These symptoms have left me terrified it's something serious and I have two small boyssad 
    • Kizini
      Kizini emma96969

      Posted

      Bless you emma96969. I also think i am just gonna die n leave my kids too. When ever i go to sleep i am scared of falling asleep because the lump on my chest/throat will tighten soo much it feel as if i have swallowed a huge chunk of meat which wint budge. I feel this all the time everyday for the past 10 years all the tests comes back clear. I cry every time and I feel like a hypercondrac because noboby can see anything wrong even though i am misarable and uncomfortable from this
  • maria39241
    maria39241 Tinkerbell32

    Posted

    Hi tinkerbell,

    I have all your symptoms and more. I was diagnosed with small h.h and found it hard to believe that caused all my symptoms. I dont get heartburn but my throat feels hot when I burp at times. I have severe pain at times in upper back between spine and shoulder blade on right. Worst thing is the breathing I feel like it sticks and slightest activity I am puffing, really scary. I too am big worrier.

    I also paid privately for tests mri thoracic spine, x ray chest, endoscopy, ultrasounds all clear. I have found the back pain is easing now but I also suffer with ibs and that has flared up on the lower right instead of left and is worrying me.

    There is something called manuka honey try that and google silent reflux

    Regards

    Maria

  • caron28119
    caron28119 Tinkerbell32

    Posted

    Hi I experience the same things.  Some days I get up an have nothing, but most mornings I wake up feel like I have a mucus build up, I end up coughing for about an hour and then I sem to e constantly burping.  Usually by the afternoon the burping stops!!  But it gets me down! I starting to feel anxious all the time which I dont think helps!  I have now stopped drinking coffee and drink a high alkaline water called Saka which someone else on a thread suggested to drink.  I also started taking probiotic tablets - just hoping they help!  Really fed up with it as you must be.
    • gallee
      gallee caron28119

      Posted

      I was diagnosed with 3cm hiatus hernia. I thought at last something that's causeing my gas. (Which was causeing acid reflux). After doing things to help the HH I now think that the gas caused the HH. The digestive enzymes cured it. Immediately. Water or a watery drink was the biggest generator of gas.(I could do violent belching for days). 
    • debra27175
      debra27175 gallee

      Posted

      what kind of digestive enzymes did you take and how much?
    • gallee
      gallee debra27175

      Posted

      Hi Debra, I take Zygest Enzyme formula from holland and Barrett. They have betaine hcl in them. From experience I take one enzyme with a sip of water and a cup of coffee (with 2spoons powdered milk) and a couple of biscuits. This is first enzyme of the day and is important. With lunch and evening meals I take 2 enzymes as I start meal. (Can be taken later if you forget). If you feel a burning feel in tummy you may not need the betaine hcl. Also these enzymes have peppermint oil in them which you may not like. Holland and Barrett do an alternative which my wife uses. "Ultra women enzyme complex."
    • gallee
      gallee debra27175

      Posted

      Debra, some further info. Just been in hospital for op to repair abdominal hernia. After op was fitted with NG tube into stomach. My tummy was bloated but no gas or pain. I was monitoring liquid discharge from stomach into NG bag. First two days after op liquid was amber coloured. On morning of third day I noticed a tiny amount of bile. (Dark green liquid). I first started feeling terrible then started burping and then pain. A year previous I had had a similar experience and found. That the symptoms could be relieved by using a syringe to apply suction to the NG tube to suck any fluid out of my stomach. At that time I didn't make the connection between the bile and the gas production. I now believe that pressure in the bowel caused by incorrectly digested food or a bowel backed up by constipation can forced bile back into the stomach. This then reacts with the stomach acid to generate the gas, pressure and pain. Sipping water is a trigger under these conditions. What I do now. Use digestive enzymes. Avoid constipation. No tight clothing round waist (increases abdominal pressure). Eat smaller meals. Avoid fatty food. If I then feel an episode coming on I take a Zantac to suppress the stomach acid and it stop the reaction with the bile. Then eat two dry cream crackers to mop up residual bile in stomach. This works well for me. Because I have HH I believe the horrible feeling I get with this is caused by pressure on the vagas nerve that passes between the stomach and diaphragm.
  • dominic68631
    dominic68631 Tinkerbell32

    Posted

    Hi tinkerbell32 in the beginning the through part I am experiencing the same thing to it fells like I am going to choke to death and I am drinking water
  • Txchic89
    Txchic89 Tinkerbell32

    Posted

    Hello Tinkerbell! I'm glad I found your post. I too have similar symptons that alot of people following this post. This is my story, About a year ago I was taking Adipex for weight loss and noticed very painful chest pains. The pain went from the chest to under the left breast to my back.Of course I thought I had heart attack or one of those horrible conditions you can get by adipex. I go to the hospital and everything is fine NOTHING at al wrong with my heart or lungs. I stopped taking it and would not get as often or if I did very minor but still got it not knowing what it was so stupid me thinks it is not the adipex and last week took a pill ( I know i'm a idiot) same thing went to the hospital and Dr nothing wrong with my heart or lungs. He gave me Nexium just in case it is acid reflux. I have not fill it yet because I was convinced it was my heart because it has been a week since I took adipex. I wake up fine slight burning in my chest right after I drink coffee and the rest of the day constant pain.Has anyone else expericed this after taken medication? 
    • suzeq1972
      suzeq1972 Txchic89

      Posted

      Hi.  I can't comment on the Adipex, but I would cut out the coffee.  If it's acid reflux you're experiencing, caffeine will not help in any way!  Maybe think about switching to herbal drinks for a while (ginger, liquorice, chamomile).  See if it makes any difference.
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