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Waking up with blocked airway- can't breath- scared of suffication

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/30/2005 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have attypical GERD meaning, no heartburn but feelings of mucus in throat after I eat and at night. Been taking Nexium for 2 years and 80% better. I was a runner but each time I get back into it I wake up at night with airway blocked for a few seconds. I think that the bounching up and down from the running is re-irratating my larynx and tissues causing spasm of my windpipe, thus closing my airway down. Anybody else have this happen. Very scarry.
Posted 7/30/2005 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi David! I've never had that happen, but when I'm busy doing things and I catch myself bending too much - then it really acts up!

I'm so glad to hear that the Nexium is helping you!

Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 8/11/2005 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Do you think you have some obstructive sleep apnea too? Or maybe your tongue is large? I have these problems, and wake up gasping for air. Do you snore at night?
Posted 8/11/2005 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think I have apnea nor a large tongue. I think its just the GERd. When I resumed running again, the bouncing caused the acid to irritate my windpipe. At night when laying down, its worse. So much irritation that my tissues are swollen and cause the sensation of no airflow. I have given up the running and will see how it goes.
Posted 8/11/2005 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hello David,
Your problem has never happened to me, as Teri mentioned, constant bending sometimes causes a problem for me. So, running could possibly cause the problems for you. Weird! Let us know if your symptoms diminish or cease now that you've dc running.


I would like to say that these GI problems seem to be linked with other type ailments. I asked my GI Dr. on yesterday if he thought my Fibro was a result of Gerd, his reply was, there is no theorectical link, but possible. I asked if he thought other problems could result as a result of Gerd, and again, his answer was the same. Well, in my narrow research of GI problems, it seems that our GI tract plays a major role in our existence;probrably more than we understand.

David, I hope you start to feel better!
Posted 8/12/2005 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with you W, that it plays a major role in our existence......and we treat it so badly! I liken it to putting sugar into our cars' gas tanks, then wondering why the car won't run! I don't think our GI tracts are made for today's kind of living.

I seem to go through flare-ups with my GERD. Fortunately, it's been under control for quite awhile, but antibiotics definitely flare it up, plus something else seems to flare it up cyclically. Perhaps my female hormones? I went through a couple of years where I had a ton of irregular heartbeats, and I swear it was from my GERD. I'm sure we have tons of nerves in our esophoguses, and I think when they are irritated, funky things can happen.

Perhaps your acid does just slosh up when you run David. I know my eyes jiggle so badly when I used to run, that I couldn't see! One thing that gives me reflux almost 100% of the time, is just drinking plain water. I think it mixes so easily with the acid, and then can come backwards through the LES really easily. Do you drink alot before and during your run? Ordinarily, it's really good to drink alot, but maybe that worsens things for you.
It's a bummer to really enjoy something, and have it be so good for you.......but it causes you this other problem.
Posted 8/16/2005 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
David,
I had a very similar experience. I thought I was dying. In my case, it went into my lungs. I no longer suffer after realizing its the excess carbs in the western diet that is what was causing my reflux. By the way, its not just stomach acid that refluxes its also duodenal (intestinal) contents that reflux. That's why you can get damage without the classic heartburn symptoms. Duodenal contents contains degredative enzymyes and bile that are very damaging to tissue they contact. Feel free to write me for more information. I recently completed a book on this subject.

Best of luck,
Dr. Norm
Posted 11/2/2005 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hello David... Yes", I had mucus ( or bile ) coming up my throat about five years ago, while on vacation. It scared the living daylights out of me ! I thought I was going to stop breathing, then my anxiety kicked in and I thought I was going to have aheart attack. This went on night after night until I figured out it was from the carbs, coffee, sodas, and all the foods that cause acid reflux . I also stopped eating or drinking four hours before going to bed, which seemed to help, but that was years ago, and before I decided that enough was enouogh and I finally decided to have laparoscopic surgery ( five weeks ago ) to treat my reflux...Good luck, God bless and I hope you can find some help. Mikado
Posted 11/16/2005 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Dear David & Dr. Norm---Please read my recent post under choking w acid reflux--or something like that (Just check out Wotan's recent post)---SCARY as all hell !!!!!! Thought i was gonna die. Reflux came up & my windpipe went into spasm (I went to ENT Dr.---he said was Laryngeal spasm)----Thanks---Wotan (Robert)
Posted 11/16/2005 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried elevating the head of your bed? I think about 10 inches would be best. Also you might want to cut back on running for a while until the symtoms go away.

I also have a couple of questions for you. How many mg. of nexium to you take a day? And did you start out on a higher dose at first? And do you have any side effects? I just started on it about a month ago myself.
Posted 1/2/2006 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
I too have been having these choking symptoms and at night i wake up with panic.  It's horrible.  I don't know if it is the GERD or if I'm having irregular heartbeat like my heart is stopping such as apnea.  I think I have more symptoms of LPR.  I have throat irritation, tightness in throat, shortness of breath and heavy feeling on my chest.  Also this is weird but I have pain under my arms that's been scarring the hell out of me too.  Is this possibly related to the GERD.  I keep thinking I have lumps and Cancer but my doctor says there's nothing there. 

 

I just started taking nexium after trying several other drugs.  Am on week 3 40mgs/day.  Will it ever go away???  Are people with these symptoms good candidates for surgery.  I'd be interested in hearing from some people if they have any information.  Discouraged and depressed in Canada.

Posted 1/2/2006 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
David , what medications do you take?.....
Posted 1/2/2006 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
David besides gerd medication?.....
Posted 1/2/2006 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
you need an endoscope- maybe you have hiatal hernia or worse- Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia

here's a link

http://heartburn.allinfoabout.com/articles/paraesophagealhernia.htm

good luck
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