LPR Short of breath, just a sensation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter knight180
  • Start date Start date
K

knight180

Guest
I have been suffering from LPR for the last 5 months, which im struggling to get under control im on 2 x 40mg losec which may have helped a little I would like to try nexium but unfortunately cannot obtain in my country.
My biggest concern is my breathing, i feel as though im always gasping for breath even though my peak flow at 700 is normal and spirometry tests were normal I do have very mild asthma though, but this seems to be unlike normal asthma symptoms as its there 24/7 and inhalers don't help there is also a slight audible crackly wheeze that can be heard at night, I have been to an ENT who said its most likely bronchospasm as there was no evidence of vcd. I'm really unsure as to his diagnoses..
Is this just maybe a sensation that will pass eventually? any ideas? appreciated as doctors won't take me seriously they just blow me off as having hyperventilation syndrome which I know i don't have.
 
Acid reflux can irritate the lungs resulting in bronchospasms and triggering asthma. Rarely, the acid can also be aspirated into the lungs, also causing problems.

I had severe acid reflux that was causing the same problems for me. At one point, I even needed emergency treatment because it triggered a severe asthma attack and I almost stopped breathing all together. Most of the time though, I had shortness of breath and a horrible chronic cough that was so bad I couldn't catch my breath.

Twice per day PPI's is the best approach for the reflux. It doesn't work for everyone. For me Nexium made things much worse instead of better. I had better relief with the Prevacid Solutabs (prescription strength). Even that stopped working after a while. I'm on time-release Kapidex now. I also was treated with Advair 500/50, Singulair, Tessalon Perle and my rescue inhaler. Nothing really helped though.

In order to get the breathing under control, you need to have the acid reflux under control in these conditions. My Pulmonologist made that very clear to me.

It was actually my Pulmonologist who diagnosed the severity of my reflux. He confirmed it through a Modified Barium Swallow and Esophagram. The test actually showed the acid coming up and irritating my lungs. pH testing and Manometry will also confirm the reflux severity. My lung function tests really didn't reflect how bad the effect was on my breathing.

Have you made any lifestyle and diet changes yet? If not, you need to do that as well to help get things under control.

If you try medication and lifestyle changes and nothing works, surgery is an option. That is that way I went when my breathing was severely effected and the medication and lifestyle changes didn't work. So far, the results have been great for me. That was an extreme solution though. Most people get relief from the medication and lifestyle changes.

You are not alone in this. Good luck finding a solution.

MountainReader
 
yes. I had Laproscopic Nissen Fundoplication. It has been about 1 1/2 years now.
 
Mountain,

How have you been feeling lately. I know you were have some recent trouble. We have similar cases, so I'm curious to hear how you're doing.

I'm 2 months post LNF for LPR. No luck. I actually feel worse, if you can believe it.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I can't seem to find a way to IM you directly.

Cheers,
J
 
Hey MountainReader. I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind. I believe, that I am suffering from LPR reflux for the last 5 years have not gotten it officially diagnosed. I'm only 22 years old. I had an endoscopy and it came back normal. The ENT I went to didn't really do any testing and just simply concluded I had acid reflux and put me on Prilosec. Okay so my main symptoms over the past 5 years have been, regurgitation of food while eating which sucks when eating in public, vomiting, constant mucus, stuffy nose especially in the mornings and after meals. These symptoms usually show up after some meals and/or dealing with stress/anxiety. I feel like slowly evertyhing started to get a little worse. For the past 12 months, in addition to all those regular symptoms I could not workout properly and when playing sports I get out of breath within 1 or 2 minutes of basically jogging. I've been on advair, rescue inhalers but they don't really help. It feels like I'm out of breath and dehydrated almost even though I drink over 80oz liquid a day, so I don't think its dehydration. Past 3 months is when the chronic coughing stared, I coughed like crazy for 6 weeks, then after a while it was reduced now it only happens mainly after meals. Anyway, for the past month I've been on apple cider vinegar after some internet research. It makes me feel better than Prilosec did, and the main symptoms of regurgitation, throwing up, stuff nose have all been reduced but still flare up time to time. I do take ACV 3 or 4 times a day which might be bad long-term after and before meals depending on how I feel. While the symptoms mentioned above have been reduced, the trouble breathing when playing sports has not. I feel like I shouldn't be feeling so winded after 1 or 2 minutes into playing. Wow, this is a lot longer than I anticipated and don't blame you if you skip over most of it. Also, I have made some lifestyle changes, I don't drink caffeinated drinks, eat fried fooRAB occasionally, don't really eat spicy, reduce dairy(make me feel bad almost everytime), sleep on 2 pillows, not eat 3 hrs before bedtime.

But I wanted to know what you recommend I do, see a pulmonologist ? How did a pulmonologist help you? And any other advice just on dealing with the symptoms in general would be helpful. I just can't deal with these symptoms for the rest of my life especially since it started for me at such a young age.
 
Hi ScarletJ,

I'm doing better at the moment. It was a rough several months though.

I'm waiting for my results of a Barium Swallow I had a couple weeks ago. I also have an Oximetry this week and some Pulmonary Function Testing in a couple weeks. My Pulmonologist will go over all the results at the same time. It is the Barium Swallow that will show if I was refluxing again. In the meantime, I've temporarily added Reglan 4 times per day in addition to the Kapidex 60.

I saw my Gastroenterologist after the Barium Swallow. The Barium triggered my IBS (which I developed after being on Nexium for a week). Anyway I also spoke to him about my reflux. After my Barium Swallow results are back, I'll follow-up with him again. He thinks I may need to add an additional PPI in the evenings. (The Kapidex 60 is basically the equivalent of when I was on Prevacid 30 mg twice per day). This would put me on the equivalent of taking PPI's 3x per day.

I'll keep you posted when I get the results towarRAB the end of March. With coughing as my symptom for both reflux and asthma, it really is difficult for me to tell sometimes what is triggering my reflux.

The Nissen Fundoplication was a lifesaver for me. I had a great year reflux wise after the surgery. Here's hoping it hasn't slipped.

By the way, ScarletJ you can read up on Private Messaging (PM). It allows merabers to contact each other if they choose those settings.
 
If breathing is your primary concern, I'd see a Pulmonologist first. If you really think it is the reflux causing the breathing problems, it might help to see a Gastroenterologist first.

I have problems with both so it helped me to work with both specialists.


You need to stop sleeping on the two pillows and raise your headboard about 6 inches. (The height of two bricks would work.) You need the incline to let gravity work. Sleeping on two pillows will bend your stomach and esophagus and the squashing can cause even more problems.

IT sounRAB like you are on the right track making lifestyle changes.

Good luck.
 
I have the very same symptoms that knight180 describes. It wasn't so much the reflux that bothered me as it was the breathing constriction. This went on for a solid month with no relief from over-the-counter Prolisec. I recently saw a gastrointerologist who put me on Reglan as well as 40mg Prilosec 2x/day. The first tablet I took of Reglan immediately took pressure off my esophagus and allowed the reflux to drain. I could breath freely for the first time in a month. What a relief. Now, I would like to get to the root of what caused this in the first place.
 
Well it is the problem that I'd like to get fixed the most since I love being active. I was just wondering since inhalers don't really work, my peak flows are fine, what else there would be for them to do.
 
Back
Top