Breathing issues diagnosed as EIA, starting to think its GERD or stomach related...

Hi everyone,

couchtater - I think I am having similar issues to what you have gone through. After reading some of your comments/posts in this GERD section and in the Asthma section, I have scheduled an appointment to talk to a GERD specialist for an endoscopy, going tomorrow and I cannot wait. Thank you especially for the info you have been putting on this site, hopefully you have shed a lot of light on my situation.

Basically about 5 years ago I was told that I had high cholesterol and high blood pressure, I thought I was fit and healthy but I was not. I was 205 lbs, and decided to make a huge lifestyle change. I went to a nutritionist who focuses on your metabolism and blood type, changed my diet, and started working out every day. I was active before this change, but not like I am now.  I don't smoke cigarettes or do any drugs, but I do enjoy an occasional cigar (maybe one every other month).  And I do notice my breathing issues are way worse after a cigar.

Soon after I began doing more cardio and interval workouts, and eating healthy (perhaps i'm eating too much protein?), I started getting a wheeze, coughing here and there... I was told I had bronchidis, had x-rays of my lungs, and eventually I was told I had Exercise Induced Asthma. Taking inhalers helped (Albuterol and Simbicort), but I did not want to be on drugs and wanted to know WHY I was having these issues. I even stopped working out, the asthma issues didn't fully go away. Nose-breathing techniques helped a LOT with my workouts and just breathing in general, after reading a book called "Mind, Body and Sport". I even recently did a mountain bike race and also a 13.1 mile trail-run, all with my mouth shut. People thought I was nuts, but hey, I didn't have to deal with my breathing issues afterwards!

Once my nose gets plugged up though, like working out in cold weather, or if I start getting a stuffy-nose... I am forced to breathe through my mouth and the issues return immediately....

Then, I started getting lower chest pains, on the left side... I would wake up around 2am with a horrible sharp pain, and after 30 minutes it would slowly go away. At first it was just a couple times a few months apart, and I thought it was from the sea-weed salad from the Japanese restaurant... Then they got worse months later, and even got worse when I would drink fluids (as I swallowed the pain amplified). My Dr put me on Protonix. Pains went away. Hmm.. I stopped the Protonix after a couple weeks, pain slowly came back but not as bad. I went on a 150 Food Sensitivity test and found that I had a sensitivity to about 30 foods, I eliminated those foods for 3 months, pains went away immediately. I slowly reintroduced some of the foods and I noticed when I ate chocolate or my raw cacao nibs (which I was making shakes with on a daily basis when the pains started), the pains came back!

Now, about 6 months after cutting back on all chocolate, I still get slight pains almost immediately in that left side of my chest after eating any chocolate. But at night.. OUCH. The full blown sharp pains return around 2am. I used to get heart-burn as a child, recently with the healthy eating it hasn't been an issue... but after reading up on "Silent GERD" and "Barrett's Esophagus", how those can contribute to breathing issues, cancer, etc.. I do not want to play around.

I frequently notice now that if I over eat, drink more than a glass or two of alcohol, eat anything sweet, fatty, or fried, I can feel my heart-pounding in my chest and stomach... as if its rejecting what I just put into my body.  I have to eat 100% clean now, or else I get this strong heart-pounding issue.  I also cannot pin point what foods cause me to wheeze, because sometimes I will eat a meal and then I feel restricted in my airways shortly afterwards. 

I also got an EKG, everything was fine.... Not sure if those tests have any false-positives, I hope not. Looking back, as a kid I was playing baseball once (around age 13), ran to 1st base and was out of breath.... Stole 2nd base and the 2nd baseman asked me if I was ok... Then ran from 2nd to Home-base and I crashed into the fence, completely out of breath... Keep in mind that I was one of the quickest and fastest runners back then for my age. I even did 100/200 yd sprints on the track team a few years after this incident.  My dad took me to the hospital and they ran tests on me "as if I was a 60-year old man" and I was fine. Never had issues since... But I used to get heart-burn as a kid, and I noticed I got heart-burn when I would weight-lift when i was in my teens and still do sometimes.

Some people talk about a tightness or pain in their upper back. I have had a tightness on my upper left part of my back through this ordeal, not sure if its related... But I have had many massages in the past few years, trying to work out that knot.

This is my first post, sorry if its too lengthy! I have spent countless hours googling "asthma", "EIA", and recently have been learning about how VCD (vocal cord dysfunction) and GERD can be the cause of my recent asthma symptoms. This forum has more information and actual people posting helpful info than any other forum that I have stumbled onto. Thank you everyone.

PS - I am now around 170 lbs, 35 years old, and I feel super fit (except for the breathing issues (and knee pains, LOL)).  I would like to eventually get into triathlons, but I need to overcome these issues.  I am not giving up on this!!!

Just got back from my consultation with the Dr, and finally a Dr that listens!!! He does think that I may have something going on with my stomach, causing my breathing issues, and wants me to go in for a full GI series, Barium swallow, and endoscopy. I can't wait for the results.

Thanks Joy, I googled that and found different info.. one says a tube is inserted in the nose and then another in the mouth. What is involved? Can it be done during the Endoscopy or is it another trip back to the Dr?

I will ask the Dr about this though!

So I just got back from the Endoscopy, and inquired about the Motility Study... The nurse said this has to be done first and if the Dr thinks the Motility is needed he will schedule that next.

But.... I got a piece of paper with some info on it as to what the Dr found. "Findings: Your larunx shows very mild signs of reflux laryngitis. Your lower esophagus also shows signs of mild inflammation. I took biopsies to assess severity."

He gave me samples of AcipHex for now, but I go back to talk to him on January 3rd. The motility study is out, in my honest opinion... Mainly because of cost. We have an HSA insurance plan, with a $4,000 deductible. My Doctor wanted me to have this endoscopy done last January, but I wasn't about to shell out the complete bill, and figured if something major happened, then I will go for it. A month ago my 2 year old daughter swallowed her hair-clip, and that maxed out the insurance... we had to pay $4,000, and now I am getting everything done. At least my daughter is fine, that is what is most important to me! But it was like a blessing in disguise.

My wife and I both work for Aetna, we have no other alternative really, with the HSA. I can't stand it, its basically catastrophic-protection.

Yeah I am going to give this Aciphex a whirl but also research what else can help (foods mainly).

Hi Dan,
The answer is...it depends. For some people the solution is more acid, and for others the answer is stop the acid. If you're not keeping things in your stomach and they're refluxing at will, I would guess your answer is less acid, since so much is refluxing that it's not likely that you could handle additional acid. It's good that your doc didn't mention Barretts, as that can be a problem with reflux, as you know.

Hey, but it can't hurt to do a little detective work and try some things. Just keep a close watch and make changes as needed. I would be inclined to think that the cider vinegar will just cause you more problems, but who knows?

I also suffer from lung reactions to reflux, so I understand what you're dealing with. I had the Nissen fundoplication surgery in February 2009, and it has improved things a great deal. That said, the surgeon can't get the reflux to zero, and with a very reactive set of lungs, even a slight mist here and there can create some mucous. It's far better than pre-surgery, when my docs were throwing up their hands. I was on huge amounts of inhaled and oral steroids, and could hardly breath. It had even caused me to be hospitalized for GERD induced reflux.

You're in the right place. I'm sure others will be by with their opinions and ideas.
People here are happy to share their experiences and lend support.
Best wishes in your search for answers!
Denise