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Posted 10/6/2005 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
HI - I have some questions. For about a year or so i was having some difficulty swallowing - like a hesitation kinda thing. I put ot off for a long time - finally went to an ENT. You know thought the worst, throat cancer etc..., well have the tube down the throat. happy to say no lumps, but he did say that my voice box was red and swollen. So he said I had acid reflux - surprise to me, I never thought i had the symtoms. So it did make some sense. I also told him i was having some issues taking a deep breath and he told me to see a doctor who specializes in that and blew it off. So he gave me prevacid and sent me on my merry way - took it did nothing stopped it. So still having this breathing issue i went to my regular doctor just to be told I was having panic attacks and was given xanax. Now come on - doctors answer to everything these days is to just give you meds meds meds. Well i thought it was panic attacks at first, then decided that is not what it is. Well my insurance switched and I just saw another doctor after about a month. So this doctor put me on protonix and is sending me for a chest xray and a lot of blood work.

This is driving me nuts - I get the feeling like I cannot get a full deep breath and have to make myself yawn to get one. I have gained some more weigh lately too. I also am having neck and back pain - saw the ortho yesterday but he looked at a shoulder issue I had and said he could not address the other due to insurance on this visit. What the heck is that?

I am so up in the air - is it from GERD, my back, something else?

I am gonna watch what I eat now - give up the caffenine (gonna be hard) and see what that does for me.

The doctor also gave me Advair, but I will not do it cause I am on heart meds for fast heartbeat and in the info it says do not take it if you have that. So what was he thinking giving me that. I am really losing my mind with this. YOu feel like doctors look at you like you have 6 heads when you list your symptoms and get you all paranoid.

So I am also thinking of going to see a chiropractor for my back, but unsure - not always crazy about them.

 

Am I crazy - any one else have this with GERD - could it truly be that? eyes

Posted 10/6/2005 12:49 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I toddled over from the crohn's board and saw your message. I can't tell you what it is as far as YOU go, but I know when it happened to me it definitely was anxiety related. I didn't particularly feel anxious when I started with the breathing. But that didn't seem to matter. Anxiety creeps up when you don't even think about it. I, too, had to keep yawning to get the "deep one." I discovered that by rubbing my solar plexus kinda firmly in a circular motion did the trick in getting that deep breath. Hope that helps until you can get checked out. Take care.

Posted 10/6/2005 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply. Honestly I do not know what it is. I just am not so sure it is anxiety - although it does worsen sometimes when I think about it. It is always there, but obviously if I think about it I deep breath more. I also started seeing a psycologist in case that is what it was. I cannot put my finger on it, but really do not think it is anxiety. The fact my neck and back are bothering me worries me too. I am torn and I guess have to wait for all the tests and suffer through more days of this. It has been going on so long whats a few more weeks right.

I started my own business so it helps keep my mind off it most of the time. I am gonna limit my food tomorrow and see if I feel any different. I just hate feeling like this and not knowing what it is.

Thanks for offering your thoughts

Posted 10/6/2005 1:19 AM (GMT 0)

Hi ilashes! tongue

I don't want to boor you too much here tongue but I have heart disease including heart failure and I'm on advair diskus 500/50 for lung problems.  Another friend of mine who's had 3 ablations due to tachycardia (fast heart rate) is also on advair.  So if you do have a lung problem and your Dr. has prescribed this for you, it might help you breathe better.  I also have GERD. eyes

My suggestion with the breathing problem would be to get referred to a pulmonologist - who specializes in nothing but breathing.  They can run tests called PFT's (Pulmonary Function Tests) to see what's happening inside your lungs.

Acid Reflux can cause some lung problems.

Acid Reflux can actually mimic heart disease.

Anyone who has had all the troubles that you've currently been through, could also develop anxiety.  I've been there, too.  Sometimes, you could be going through more than one thing at a time with your body. sad

I just had to jump in here and try and give you a few answers, ilashes, and wish you the very best!!

Let me know how you're doing!

Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 3/30/2006 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hey! I have exactly the same thing, cant breathe all the time, not even half a breath. Its all to do with reflux, was fine 2 years ago before it started. Meds dont help, am having an operation sometime. Back pain can be stomach pain, so maybe thats it. Dont drink tea or coffee or its a hundred times worse, i cant give it up but when i do its always not so tight in the chest. Bollocks to anxiety thats what people say when theyre clueless and dont know what else to say devil
Posted 3/30/2006 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had this problem too. I had some esophagal damage and it was making me feel like I couldn't get a deep breath. At night, I'd lay in bed feeling like there was a slight weight on my chest. I would wake up with chest pains thinking I was having a heart attack. Because of the breathing problems, I starting getting panic attacks that would make me hyperventilate and reinforce the breathing problem. It wasn't until I had an EKG and was assured my heart was fine and the doctor put me on Protonix and Carafate that I started to feel better. Definitely get checked out by your doctor to rule out heart issues.
Posted 3/31/2006 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ilashes,
I'm glad your latest doc is testing you for several things. All I wanted to say is that I've had that sensation too. I never did figure out what it was.........perimenopause funkiness, GERD, anxiety, fibromyalgia........who knows. I just know it was very scary. I felt like I was constantly having to remind myself to breath. But I think it was just a sensation. It didn't have anything to do with truly not being able to breath. It seemed more like a strange neurological symptom. At any rate......it passed, and I think your's will too.
Just try to eat right, and be healthy. And I know it's almost impossible to give up caffeine.....but I think that's a good start. Just do it one day at a time. Also......do you think your heart meds could be causing it? Hang in there! ((((((((hugs)))))))))
Posted 6/20/2008 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I want to tell you that my GI doc also had NO idea that you can get breathing sxs from gerd. 20% of pts complain of asthma like sxs. Look up "extraesophogial symptoms of gerd" my ENT told me it is not so uncommon. I got penmonia and was sick for 6 months and continued to have breathing problems with sore throat, ear aches and vocal problems. My ent scoped my throat and diagnosed gerd and told me the gerd caused my penmonia as well! I went on PPI and raised my bed on blocks, within 4 months I was breathing better!! My 6 year old developed the same sxs and had the same yawning sxs to get a deep breath!! I suggest you look up the above and look for a ENT or GI that has read some reasearch or print some info out and bring it to them!! My ENT told me most GI docs do not know about it, it seems that ENTs see this sx more and are very aware of it. I actually use my ENT to monitor my gerd and meds because he can see my progress by looking at my throat and vocal cords. Good Luck

Posted 11/28/2008 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have been suffering with the same breathing problems for 5 years now. I was so bad a few times I went to the hospital thinking it was a heartattack and they told me it was reflux/gerd.  I followed up with my doctor and then with a specialist who did numerous blood, tests and heart test and all shown nothing was wrong.  That was good but I still am having breathing problems and dam its scary when you can't breath in.  I was put on protonix and it did nothing for me and it was expensive so I stopped.  Maybe one day the doctors will be able to help, but for now I just take it one day at a time cause I know I am not crazy like they think I am.

 

Posted 11/28/2008 2:24 PM (GMT 0)

Ladecarlo730

Welcome to HealingWell and the GERD/Heartburn forum.

I am sorry you are having breathing problems and as you have read many of the members in the past have posted the same complaint

Have you ever been evaluated for asthma, or other allergic conditions? Just a suggestion.

Again Welcome,

Kitt

Posted 12/11/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I am new too. I have had this breathing symptom for about 2 years now. My first problems though were about 3 years ago when I had the 'globus' sensation which felt like I had a lump in my throat and made me want to swallow constantly. I too was referred to an ENT doctor whoch passed a tube up my nose and down my throat and all she saw was a bit of redness but she suspected GERD and so sent me for a Barium Swallow Xray which confirmed GERD and a small hiatus hernia. The globus sensation gave way when I began taking Omeprazole but I was then hounded with difficulty breathing. I feel like I never have quite enough air in my lungs and this is even if I am just sat on the sofa or at my desk. I recently swapped the Omeprazole for Nexium and initially this made a massive difference but the shortness of breath now seems to be returning. I had the 24 hr PH test and motility testing last year and have had two scopes - the latest being only 2 months ago. I am scheduled for the Laparoscopic Fundoplication on 9th Jan and am very frightened. I was OK with it until my best friend recently had an op for Crohn's Disease which was also Laparoscopic and her recovery has been really hard. I think my doc had convinced me this was a simple procedure but I am gleanign from all the other posts on here that is might not be!!

I am in the UK and am a private patient for a surgeon in London. He has done these operations once a week for 15 years so I feel I am in good hands but am still terrified. By the way my Gastroenterologist who specialises in GERD had apparently never had anyone present with breathing difficultues as a symptom so it must be really rare. The only other symptoms I get is pressure behind my breatbone that is made painful by wearing a bra. I get no reflux of food and I get no heartburn. I am 33.

If I can answer any of your questiosn about the shortness of breath then please ask!

D.
Posted 3/5/2009 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

Hey, does anybody know if there's a way I can contact ilashes? If this person has an e-mail or something? They're describing exactly the same thing that i'm going through, with the back pain, hard time breathing, GERD, all that stuff. I just want to see if ilashes ever found out what it was. I see that the original post was back in 2005. I'm curious how they're doing now... Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Posted 3/9/2009 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have a lot of the same issues, especially breathing. My symptoms includes dry cough (especially when bending/leaning), trouble breathing (shortness of breath), dry mouth, back pain, and a burning sensation in my chest. I have been referred to a Gastroenterologist so I hope he can figure out what's wrong.
Posted 4/9/2009 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
HELLO IM NEW TO THIS...I ALSO HAVE GERD AND A MED HERINA.AND EROSIONS.. IM ON NEXTUM FOR about 6 MONTHS NOW AND STILL DO NOT FEEL WELL..I ALSO HAVE THE BREATHING PROBLEMS...I WAS SO SCARED AT ONE POINT WENT TO A LUNG DR TO HAVE TEST...HE SAYS ALL WAS OK...MY GASTRO TELLS ME THE BREATHING PROBLEMS ARE NOT COMING FROM THE GERD OR HERINA BUT I BELIEVE IT IS AS I JUST HAD THE LUNG TEST AND A FULL BLOOD TEST EKG A MONTH AGO...ALL WAS OK... MY PRAYERS ARE WITH EVERYONE WHO STRUGGLES WITH THE BREATHING ITS A VERY SCAREY THING AND THE DRS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR NUTS. KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS AS I DO..GOOD LUCK TOO YOU ALL
Posted 4/9/2009 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sure by now you're well aware of the fact that GERD commonly causes breathing issues. I have suffered from extremely difficult breathing issues for many years. My doctors (family doctor and allergy/asthma doctor treated me with a number of different PPI's (prilosec, then nexium, and after a hospitalization from GERD caused severe asthma, I was put on Protonix 40mg twice a day, because once a day allowed too much breakthrough).

Finally, after years of struggling against it because of hysterical posts (not on this forum) about how horrible the Nissen Fundoplication results were, I finally decided I needed to try it.

I had the surgery on February 27th of this year (the recovery is NOTHING like what I expected--much more positive) I have found relief from the underlying severe asthma I have suffered from all these years. Now I do have allergies, so my asthma will never be completely resolved, but my lungs are like day and night.

You should see a pulmonologist or asthma doctor to look into the possibility that your breathing issues are caused by GERD. Not being able to breathe does cause anxiety!
Good luck.
Denise
Posted 4/14/2009 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
I began having trouble w/the breathing around the same time my IBS-D began to get so bad. Now, I did have mild asthma as a child, a couple of mild incidents as a teen. Then, nothing at all til age 50! An incidence of chest pain, could not walk more than 10 feet without chest pain ended in a flight for life ride to the hospital. All the heart test were fine and they did a bunch of them. Scans, treadmill, blood, ultrasounds.

So as they were about to release me from the chest pain unit, while I was still having trouble not being able to walk across my hospital room without getting completely exhausted, (they were going to send me HOME can you imagine?) my Mom began to realize that I was acting the way my dad did. He died from the complications of the medicines given for a severe asthma attack, after having severe asthma all his adult life.

So she mentions this and the history of asthma in the family to this cardiologist, so he sends me off with an RX for albuterol. I took two puffs on the way home and for the first time in about a week, I was able to walk up the steps, into my home, down the hallway and back into the living room and I felt FINE! This was a major moment let me tell you. All the chest pain stopped too.

I don't wheeze, which is the first thing people think, if you don't wheeze you don't have asthma well according to my pulmonary doctor that is not true.

My PFT (pulmonary function tests) do show I have asthma. A "mild" case, mild my patooty it shut me down, but, my oxygen levels measured normal the whole time, but breathing is a two way street, so the other half, the "out" part of my breathing is not right.

I take, twice a day, a cortisone type inhaler, and IF I need it a shot of Albuterol.

I get that same thing, not getting the full breath, yawning like crazy and when that starts I take some Albuterol and it goes away.

PLEASE go see a pulmonary specialist. It could be the difference for you!
Posted 6/22/2009 1:28 PM (GMT 0)

Hi I am also new to this. Im a 35 yr old female who have suffered anxiety and severe panic attacks since the age of 16. I have recently been through a stressful event which have bought on gert symptoms. I also have the breathing difficulties has other people on here. I went to my gp who said i had asthma, was given the blue and brown asthma pumps but am still getting this breathing difficulty along with extreme heartburn sore thoart and a need to yawn to take a deep breath. This breathing is not down to my anxiety or panic attacks as it is slightly a different experience. I have had my lungs checked chest checked and been put on a heart monitor which was absolutely fine. I am going back to my gp today has it is such a scary feeling. The bouts of breathlessness return mostly after I have eaten. Antacids seem to help for a little while but does not solve it in anyway.  Will keep you updated

Sarah, I started you a thread of your own.

This will help members see your first post and extend a hand to you. You are always welcome to post responses directly to members but please just avoid tagging your first posts on someone else's thread.

Thank you

Kitt

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 6/22/2009 7:37:37 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/10/2009 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
ilashes.

Further to the information i threaded regarding my condition of gerd along with breathing difficulties, i have been to the doctors and was put on omeprazole. however still getting breathing problems. discovered that acid leaks back up through the throat but can also leak into the lungs causing the breathing difficulties. My doctor originally said i had asthma but am now having all the damage from acid assessed. will report back as soon as possible. If you have breathing difficulties mention the acid to lungs to your doctor. hope this helps and if this connection between the gerd and breathing is also damaging the lungs. it needs to be treated as soon as possible so goto ur gp

Posted 7/13/2009 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
I too have breathing problems. I get a wet cough all the time. My lung doc say my acid reflux is spilling over into my lungs. I'm discussing surgery with my GERD doc right now.
Joy
Posted 7/13/2009 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
FYI, I'm 4 months post op, and my lungs are great for the first time in four years. I had severe, uncontrollable asthma, was on lots of inhaled steroids and periodic prednosone. Also, I was using a nebulizer for at least a full year--2-3 times a day.
I wish I'd had the surgery years ago. The horrible, scary posts kept me from moving forward. Be sure you have an experienced (in the Nissen surgery) surgeon, who is very skilled. Do your homework. The bad outcomes are generally an outcome of a poorly skilled surgeon who botches the procedure. A surgeon could be great with other surgeries, but this one is very specific, and requires a special level of skill and lots of experience.
Good luck!
Denise
Posted 7/13/2009 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same problem with the cough, they gave me an inhaler to use when i get shortness of breath. I also take lisonpril which also causes coughing. I am hopefully have\ing the surgery in a minth. It will all depend on my weight. Good luck with the tests. I am a little nervous about the surgery but am looking forward to not being sick all the time. Good luck to you
Posted 1/3/2010 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I too suffer with GERD the problems you are having with breathing is due to inhaling the acid fumes into the lungs which can cause chemical pneumonia.
Posted 1/3/2010 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Honey, your ENT is a complete idiot.  Let me guess, been in practice for a long time?  Moron.  He even SAID your voice box was red and swollen.  Tell ya what.. go to another ENT (a BETTER younger one) and take the pictures of your vocal cords with you.  I'm assuming you had a videostrobe where they look at them?  Go into the back of your throat?

Here's my theory.  You have VCD (vocal cord dysfinction). It took me 10 months to get diagnosed and meanwhile I couldn't take a good breath. This is due to reflux.  The acid has damaged your vocal cords and they close(or partially close) when they need to be open.  The good news and bad news...

Good news is your vocal cords can be repaired back to normal.

Bad news is they'll get damaged again if you keep having reflux. 

Please please PLEASE trust me.  I've gone through every single lung, heart and stomach test.  Had my blood taken more times than I can count.  Had so much nuclear testing it's a wonder I don't glow in the dark.  4 hospitals.  2 cities  I can't remember how many Drs.  My referred pulmonologist from a large teaching hospital in Pittsburgh suspected it and I was sent to another teaching hospital ENT and it was confirmed.  It's NOT anxiety or panic. However, I'm sure you do panic from not being able to breathe.  Not the other way around.  So before your Dr sends you off for all these expensive unnecessary tests, get those vocal cord pictures from your ENT, get referred to a better Dr in a large teaching hospital.  It's so simple a diagnosis but it's usually missed and treated as anxiety because the Drs don't keep up with new treatments.  Don't let yourself suffer.

Posted 1/3/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Stormie,
Sad to say, but Ilashes hasn't posted in many years.


Except for Azzariah, no one has posted here since July last year. Many of the people in this thread have moved on except Dencha and me. :)

Azzariah, please start a new thread so we can introduce you. :)

Joy
Posted 1/3/2010 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, we hang in here, don't we Joy?
I second the motion, Azzariah! Post a new thread, and you'll have lots of support from members who are missing your posts here.
Best wishes in finding an answer to your problems.

Hi Stormie!

Take care,
Denise
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