Breathlessness post OGD

[quest13]

In September 2008 i got my endoscopy done. Before endoscopy my main problem was i used to feel bloated and burp a lot. After endoscopy doctors told i have Reflux Oesophagitis and hiatus Hernia (less than 5mm). I was prescribed Pantocid 40 mg twice daily. My burping and bloatedness was gone in one week, but my major problem started just next day after my endoscopy. After about 30 hrs of endoscopy i started getting breathlessness. I feel i cannot breath in properly, i feel i am not getting sufficient air to breath in. I never had any breathing problem before.
My Chest Xray, PFT, Blood test, Sinus CT and Neck CT are normal.

I feel because of endoscopy i got this breathing problem and from past 5 months i am still facing it. I am taking regulary my antacids but i have this breathlessness, so m sure my acid reflux is not the cause of breathing problem.

Please let me know can this be because of endoscopy and if yes, what test i need to undergo and what treatement should i follow.

I really fear a lot, at times i feel i will die without breath. Please answer my query as this is eating me from inside from last 5 months..............

[selmaS]

Hi...sorry u r having these issues.....may I ask, did u tell the dr that performed the ednoscopy?.....and do u have alot of anxiety?

I would see ur dr and let him know...he may have heard of this happening b4 and know just what to do to help u.I , unfortunatly have not.

Try to relax and see ur dr and please post an update so we all can learn from this.

Good luck
Godspeed
"selma"

[quest13]

Hi,

Ya i went back to the person, but they were cluless and they said, it cannot be because of endoscopy. But i have big doubt.. From last 6 months my life has become a hell. And i went to an ENT specialist for breathing problem and i can say that again was my bad luck, he gave me medicines for Asthma and after that i have never recovered. I am worst now. I lost 9 kgs of weight and now there is a throat problem as well. I feel a lump, dry throat, chocking sensation, i feel as if my muscles are not working properly and on taking the saliva i feel my throat is getting closed. I got my stroboscopy done, only some redness is there becuase of acid reflux, otherwise my vocal cords are normal.
I dont know what it is? I am taking antacids from last 6 months.
Any suggestions what to do?

[selmaS]

Hi...well u have been thru the ringer...have u had ur thyroid checked?

I have issues with breathing and lump or swollowing issues also...and I have nodules on my thyroid.I also get a spasm when I yawn...that I can not stand nething up around my throat...necklaces or a turtleneck sweater.

It could be post nasal drip......and it can result in acid reflux.
Ask ur dr to check ur thyroid with labs and an US.
"selma"

[quest13]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Ya i had my blood test done in December for Thyroid. It was normal. In ur case is your thyroid level more or it is on lower side? Ya while yawning even i feel some difficulty and i get a strange pain in some nerves in my neck at times. I have full neck stiffness and i feel relaxed if i take a massage of neck and shoulders. I feel slight dizziness at times as well.
How abt your breathing symptoms? It started all of a sudden or u were having some symptoms previously. Reagrding the nodules that u mentioned, how did u come to know? As my blood test is normal, should i talk to my doc and ask him to get an Ultrasound done for my neck?

What exactly is ur symptom when u say u have a breathing problem. I feel as if i am not getting a proper breath. i try to take it 3 ot 4 times and then 5th time i will get a full proper breath. Some times i dont feel and sometimes i feel a lot and specially while eating. May be like today it started and from last 2 hrs i am trying to yawn and able to yawn properly and breathing also not proper. I try to yawn to get a deep breath but not able to get it.
Apart from this forum, is there any other way that i can contact you. I am from India (Delhi).

pls Reply back

Quest13

[selmaS]

Hi u can PM me.....send a message.


My nodules were found doing a US for my caroid artery.....not looking for it.I was told my labs were normal, but I also found out there r diff labs to show hashimoto's.

Free T3 instead of T3 and Free T4 instead of T4.....

it sounds like we have alot in common in this area.

"selma"

[Singerperson]

I just posted something similar to this. I am scheduled for an edoscopy but I feel the breathing problem that you also have. Mine is a feeling of not being able to take a deep breath. It is also very heavy and loud sometimes, like it is congested. I have to yawn sometimes in order to feel like I got enough air in. I wish I could tell you the answer but I'm suffering as well. I've been going through it for 4 months (my 4 months in hell). I have the belching, dizzyness, neck pain, stiff neck, choking sensation, acid reflux. The whole deal.... :(

[selmaS]

Hi...have u been checked for a hiatial hernia or gall bladder issues?

Changing the diet and trying to be rid of stress are all things we do to feel better, but u need to find out the root of ur acid.

"selma"

[homeskool]

I have the same issue, not being able to take a deep breath I also posted something about this. it has got so bad i have been in bed for 3 days and not been able to eat or sleep I called my dr tonight I'm waiting for him to call me back i don't want to go back to the ER because they just think its in my head i don't know what to do anymore.

[Singerperson]

I know! It's so hard to get any good help these days. Believe me, I'm seeing a therapist too AND I use anti anxiety meds if I am in a situation where I think I might get too anxious.

I tell my doc, 'look, I'm calm as a cucumber when I'm on this medication AND I STILL FEEL LIKE I CANT BREATHE!' Shouldn't that say something?!?! PLUS- I don't think it's supposed to HURT when I inhale. Last time I checked that wasn't a good thing.

From what I heard from my neighbor who had a hiatal hernia, is that he couldn't breath so bad that he had to call 911 and they took care of him.
When it's that scary that you have to call 911 THEN they listen to you. Unfortunately it costs a lot of money.

Sorry you are going through that. Find a GOOD GI and respiratory therapist. I saw a horrible GI that was so mean to me that he made me cry and I ended up reporting him but now I'm seeing a nice one who I hope will find the cure for me. Good luck and please keep in touch. I want to know what you find out. We can help each other!

[selmaS]

Many of us have described a problem with either a lump in the throat or swallowing issues...I had my theriories and now I have one more to add to research....google the following and see if it may be u and ask ur dr about it.
cricopharyngeal spasm

It is linked with anxiety/stress and gerd.

Let me know what u all think.


"selma"

[homeskool]

Well things have not been the best, I tell you what. I been going to the Hospital for over a year now with this issue. Not being able to breath right. At times I know its time to go to the hospital when I cant take it anymore and its putting me in bed for days. Well I called my family DR Friday He never gets back to me. I waited to Monday He never gets back to I call 1030 Monday morning explaining to him I cant breath I cant eat I cant sleep I cant do anything have not for four days now. He does not call me back. My Wife calls him at 1:30 He does not call me back 5 that night I said I have to go to the ER something is very wrong. Well I go over and they do all these test And come to find out I have Bronchitis, So they gave me a breathing treatment which didn't help at all. I have to get a hold of my DR tomorrow because I have to have a follow up with him. Im getting pissed off anymore and Going to ask to take every test possible as soon as im over this bronchitis, Not being able to breath has ruled my life and now its even worse having this so Im really at my wits end with all this. Its really putting my life on hold at times not being able to breath 24/7 is the worse thing ever and then having a DR look at you here have some Meds to calm you down I cant take it anymore I'm calm But im freaking because i cant breath and you all just want me to take more meds TEST ME FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

[Singerperson]

I'm so right there with you. Although it hasn't been going on for a year. 4 months instead. I pray it doesn't last much longer because I don't feel like going on for another day. This is ruining my life as well. I'm only 22! I'm going to be sending you good energy my friend, because me and you are suffering together with this.

I think it's time for you to get a new doctor too! someone who will take you serious...
but I know, easier said than done right?

[homeskool]

Yea we both are in the same boat. But I have found out a couple facts. As I said before this has been running my life for over a year now. I been taking some meds the DR has gave me for my bronchitis which is to help me breath better. It has  helped I still don't feel I can breath as i used to. But it has helped. I'm pretty young my self 28 years old and We should not feel the way we do at our age. After I get over my cold I have all ready set some points up with a couple people to help me find out just whats going on.

I do not know if any of this will help you at all but. For the last couple days. I have not been eating before I go to bed. I take a glass of water in with me, I will take a couple sips and give out a good couple of coughs and put some vicks under my nose. Prop my self up a little bit I been trying not to breath as i used to. I breath in my nose and out very slow calming my self down because i used to panic when i couldn't breath. I try not to cache my breath as i used to And maybe it will help a bit maybe it wont I also got some breathing strips for my nose because it alwas seems to get stuffy when my breathing gets worse. But I will keep you up to date on everything that happens from now on out with the DR. Somewhere there is a reason why we feel as we do we need to get to the bottom of it I know i cant live my life like this.

[quest13]

Hi,

Did u get any solution? For me also it is around 6 mnths now with all the problems: It started with only breathing problem(not able to take deep breaths) and always used to feel as if i have not enough air to breath. Then started lump sensation in throat, then chocking tighthness in throat, then dryness in throat. now it is like neck pain, pain in all nerves in neck and throat. It is just increasing and i have gone to so many doctors and hospitals and all of them say there is nothing wrong . It is only due to anxiety and may be a little acid reflux symptom. They say i have anxiety, but frankly speaking i dont  have these symptoms due to anxiety rather due to all these things i am getting tensed. My life was very smooth i was enjoying my married life and very well placed in my work as software engineer. But suddenly all these came and i lost 9 kgs of weight in these last 6 months. Now i am trying to eat but i am not gaining at all. I tried everything but...........

I also have hiatus hernia and acid reflux and i am taking PPIs from last 6 months. My diet is like i have forgotten those fried stuff, coke, Pizza, Burgers from last 7 months. Still no difference. God knows what it is? For me doctors have labeled as i am too anxious. But i dont feel so. Recently i met one more ENT specialist, he looked in my throat and said there is nothing. I asked any test required for throat (like Direct Laryngoscopy) he said not required. Now he said if i want i can just have my MRI scan of nose and neck. That is what he has to offer.

I dont know, first time in my life i am facing all these problems and there is no diagnosis and still i have problem. All my family members are tensed. I dont know what to do. I am totally frustrated.

If any one has any solution , kindly help.

Quest13

[quest13]

Hi selmaS,

I have read about this "cricopharyngeal spasm ". But doctors have no answer to it. I want to know, how can we diagnose whether it is cricopharyngeal spasm? Any idea about it?

[selmaS]

Unfortunately, many physicians are not familiar with how symptomatic a cricopharyngeal spasm can be and I often see patients who have been extensively tested with Barium swallows, esophageal endoscopies, pH testing, CT scans, xrays, MRI scans and they all come back normal or possibly with some finding that is completely unrelated to the lump in the throat sensation. Really, just a good exam of the throat, voice box and neck is all that is necessary and it is sufficient as well.

You Should Know the Following

Hi....I have pasted a link below and some info from the site.....I hope this helps

http://www.nexiumresearch.com/cricopharyngeal_spasm.html

Just knowing the tightness is not a sign of cancer frequently helps relieve the discomfort.
You will get better. Often improvement is over several weeks or even a few months, but occurs once one knows what the problem is.
Warm fluids should comfort the throat. Consider a cup of warm tea when the lump is bothersome.
If stress lets up, the symptoms improve. Think about what stress might be making this lump worse.
Muscle relaxants, such as valium, would be a good treatment, except for their addictive properties





Long-lasting effect of a single botulinum toxin injection in the treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia secondary to upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction: a pilot study.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18649151?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

[Kellz22]

Well i guess this forum hits it on the head with me. I have the same shortness of breath, chest tightness, pains from acid reflux and headaches and dizzyness that come and go. My problems started with anxiety and more things pilled up. I am on my 1st month of feeling like this, it has ruined my life. I have a scope soon, so just hoping to last til then. I have been to the cardiologist and pulmonologist and i pass every test, negative on asthma, but still cant breath right and I get tired even from walking up stairs. I have wondered if its oxygen problems, but i have normal counts on that, so the reflux could be casuing irritation on our lungs and casuing us to feel short of breath...I am a very healthy guy. It looks like the common element here for all of us is stress and Gerd. Stress is something that can be there and you don't realize it. When you sit all day and think about how ****** you feel from the gastric reflux, it builds up your stress, so we all could have a combination of anxiety and Gerd casuing all of this, so there could be a chemical imbalance that wont show up on tests....I saw someone wrote their only 22, im only 19, and believe me, we are all too young to have this. It is misserable, but hopefully one of us will have a breakthrough that will help us all out....

[gmichael66]

Folks. I pray for you all. My inability to catch my breath started nonstop the day after the superbowl. We had a party and I ate way too much. It has scared me, kept me out of work for three weeks and made my life miserable. I have lost 52lbs so far.

What doctors have you guys seen ? What medicines are you on ? I will tell you, its been one doctor after another first the family doctor who tried to tell me I was too fat and had pickwickian syndrome. THen the heart doctors, all tests came back good, then the lung doctor who recommended a sleep study, then a new primary doctor and then of course a therapist becuase "It must be anxiety" so week after week wetn by, not catching my breath, yawning to catch a breath, and now I finally went to a Gastro - .
I dont know what they will find in my tests tomorrow but I noticed that since he put me ob Prilosec, its been only four day, I am having a teeny bit of improvement, even catching my breath three times while writing this AND its not anxiety.
I noticed If I burp I can catch my breath, drink water and eat small meales I can catch my breath better, and get enough sleep, and you need something like Xanex to relax you because ironically, the problem causes stress and anxiety.

Enlist the trust of others, tell everyone an anyone your problem, the more you talk, the more feedback you will get. Both of my Pharmacists knew what was wrong with me before I did and guarantee me I will be fine. One of my customers is a nurse, and one of my co-workers wife had the same problem I am having.

Get checked for Hiatal hernia, and GERD. The flap that opens to the stomach is weakened and/or deteriorated and opens up when it should only open down. I also have a stomachache, and dont think im outof the woods yet but guys, dont give up hoe, God made our bodies to be healthy and tehse things will NOT , WILL NOT last. its just the combination of the right doctors, tests, medicine, therapy, and treatment.

Hang on there.
Love to you all,
Geoffrey

[bigkev414]

I just read your post about the breathing prolems. If you have hiatus hernia and GERD it can cause breathlessness. Do you feel the shortness of breath is in your chest or trouble breathing through your nose? Think about it for a minute  --- does your chest feel like it's not getting enough air? are you a bit wheezy? are you puffy like you have walked up a steep hill?
I am an expert on this because I have been having these problems for 15 YEARS! If you have a hiatus hernia and it gets kind of 'tangled up' it makes you breathless because it's not closing off properly and part of your stomach might be going into the esopagus. This has happened to me  when I do physical work and reach above my head or twist. I have been to the ER several times.
This might sound silly, but please try it. Drink two glasses of water, and then gently jump up and down on the spot 5 or 6 times. This sometimes lets things slip back into place. It's not a joke, and does work. A doctor told me years ago. The other thing is to take antacids and eat things that agree with you. Try a small piece of fruit and see what happens...maybe you feel better suddenly or worse. If worse eat something fried like a samosas and see what happens. Sometimes one will work and sometimes the other.
I'd like to know how you get on so please send me a note when you get time. Please Try it; there's nothing to lose.

[ott-lite]

I am 47 male and have problems like you. I have pains in my sternum area. it feels like a heart attach and has all the symptoms. It makes me feel like I am not getting enough air and thus I yawn or take deep breathes. I have had my Gall Bladder removed and it took my symptoms away for a few months. Sleeping is hard to do as I get pain shooting through my chest/sternum so I have to change positions often. It feels like I am bloated and need to burp to get rid of air or gas but can't. Here is a site to check out
http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/costochondritis
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprainsstrains/a/costochondritis.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/ds00626

I hope this all helps..I am going to see the doctor and I think this will finally help me

[clareuk]

I have all the above symptoms and was finally diagnosed with B12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia. Most GP's will test for iron anaemia and not B12 deficiency which has almost identical symptoms. A simple blood test can diagnose and treatment is available

[Jene29]

It sounds like I am having the same problems as everyone else.  Mine started back in March.  It began as racing pulse, sweaty, & couldn't seem to breathe right.  I would lay in bed because I felt awful.  I ended up in the ER one night because my blood pressure was much higher than normal.  That is when they did the CT Scan & said the only thing they found wrong with me was my Esophagus was dialated (is this common with Gerd?).  I pursued the heart stuff because my pulse rate was up to 100 when it is normally around 70.  When I was in the ER it was 130.  All of my heart stuff came back normal.  

I then had a Barium Swallow, Endoscopy & Motility Test.  The Swallow showed slow emptying.  The Endoscopy showed some stricture (what does this mean?) & the motility test showed that I have dysmotility in my Esophagus.  I switched GI drs. because my original one told me over the phone that I have Scleroderma!!!  Something about the PH?  I have no answers to these questions because they refused to see me & told me there was nothing more they could do.  I then went to 3 different rheumotologists about the Slero, one being a Rhemo who specialized in Sclero.  He immediatly said No & sent me to regular Rhuemo for further testing.  Both Drs. said it is not Sclero & the blood work came back Negative.  All of this is being done at Johns Hopkins.  Anyway, I asked for a referral to a GI dr., but my appointment is not until Oct. 28th!  I did just have my blood work done for a 3rd time because my ANA the second time around came back positive & I have lost C3, which is indicative of Lupus.  I was reasurred that they don't think there is anything wrong with me because I don't have any of the symptoms for Lupus.

Back to the esophageal symptoms.  The breathing thing comes & goes & I can't seem to pinpoint if it is after eating a certain thing.  It occurs when I first wake up, if I don't eat, if i eat, sometimes not at all or sometimes all day long.  When I am naeseous, it occurs a lot worse.  I was diagnosed with mild asthma & the inhaler does not work for this feeling.  I sometimes get a sore upper back after one of these all day "attacks."  My pulse has been better, but it still seems to randomly go up & down.  The breathing thing is more like it is labored (not really short of breath).  Like a funny feeling in my esophagus & I'm usually naesous or feel like I have air blowing into my esophagus when I am trying to breath?  I can't describe it & the Drs. look at me like i have 2 heads when I do!  I don't get pain in the chest (although I've had GI symptoms for as long as I can remember & I used to get really bad pain in chest at night or early in the morning).  Anyone have any other advice?  I still worry that I have Sclero & everyone of the Rheumo drs. are wrong...or that it is Lupus & the breathing is related to that.  

My old GI dr. left me with more questions than answers & I can't wait to go see this new doctor!  

[ninanaaa]

hI gUYS i Have the answer for you , please email me and i can help you i found this forum by cheking something else and i feelt just like all of you after i had my baby, and i started feeling worse when  i started going to the docs they made me crazy , scared me and on top of that they gave me wrong meds that made me go into schok but after all i'm fine , theres altirnative way to cure this plizzz email me i can help you i dont want anyone to feel like this i know its horible

[hegalan]

I also have the breathing problems all of you describe on top of severe sleep apnea. I cant get into REM sleep and only nap because I wake up due to the not being able to breath from the GERD or I can feel may airway close when I start to fall asleep. I feel like It is killing me slowly. I used to drink a 6-12 pack of beer a day in which all symptoms were covered up by it. One day I felt like I couldnt breathe. I went to the DR and I was DX with GERD and told to stop drinking. I did for 2 weeks but could not sleep because all day  I felt like I couldnt breathe which was worse at night. Along with that and the severe sleep apnea It is hell. I tried inhalers, steam, sleeping pills, everything I could think of. I did a sleep study with a CPAP but couldnt sleep due to feeling like I could breathe from the gerd. Based on my research my cardiac spincter is weak from the alcohol and tums I took throughout the night for years. I have found only a few things that help. One is apple cider vinegar with water, 1 tbsp each and fennel seed for the breathing problems associated with gerd. If you have this problem try the apple cider vinegar, you should get instant relief if that is your problem.It is due to the weak stomach valve, (cardiac spincter) allowing acid to ooze out and irritate the nerves that make it feel like we cant breathe. It is called silent GERD or acid reflux. Smithocone or crystalized ginger found in the spice section helps witht the bloating. However, I still can only sleep with alcohol due to the sleep apnea, I am in a catch 22. I am waiting until monday to see a shrink to treat me for the anxiety with something that will knock me out but not make the sleep apnea so bad that I dont wake up. I feel like im dying slowly and no one cares or knows what to do to stop it. I think the best thing is to not drink, eat sparingly, and lose weight because no one seems to be able to fix the problem, it is up to us, it will be more systematic problems but I feel through the diet (eating the right foods) and exercise things will evenutally get better. Right now is a living hell for us all. May god comfort us all until we are through this.