breathless and GERD

[bigkev414]

Hi all - I've suffered for many years from what the docs in the old days called a 'nervous stomach' which means that quite often when i eat something, or even swallow water I get a pressure and horrible 'writhing' feeling just under my ribcage extending down almost to my navel, and mild generalised 'tenderness'. I have a small hiatus hernia, scar tissue from ulcer and a duodenitis (not sure what that is exactly?) and the latest diagnosis is GERD. I also get very breathless and wheezy and this is all aggravated by foods and bending/twisting, and lifting heavy things. Even trimming the hedge gently can trigger it,
I have had barium exams and lower chest upper abdomen CT scans which concluded the above. I have chronic inflammatory sinus disease and have a lot of face pain and ear fullness which sometimes affects my balance.I also have degenerative arthritis in my neck which makes me dizzy, and take Tenormin for SVT's which thankfully don't happen often now. My cardiac tests all show OK.
Lately (early spring, dry weather) I have been having a lot of days when I'm 'wheezy' and feel like I want to die because of my stomach discomfort, which usually really starts about 30 minutes after I have breakfast (whatever I eat) and can last for days at a time, or like yesterday not be there at all.?? The really bad breathlessness is always accompanied by the really bad stomach upset and 'spasms'. Sorry to be long winded but I'm at my wits end and any ideas at all will help. I take Zantac daily, and find that low dose valium helps settle things down a bit. Strangely enough I find that a small dose of Tenormin at night can also help calm it all down and help me sleep a bit. I am a chronic insomniac too. HELP PLEASE

[bigkev414]

Thanks a million for all your suggestions and support - i will take it all 'on board' and work my way through.
I hope you all manage to improve because you all sound sicker than I am. I've had it all except for the endoscopy which i have avoided so far because I have heart rythum problems (SVT's) and am afraid it might trigger one. I've got all I can cope with at the moment because my chronic sinusitis has flared and I feel like death, and also can't keep my balance when it's really bad. Going to the Doc tomorrow. Very sorry to hear about your recent 'adventures' flycaster -you must be a tough old ******* to cope with it all - keep on fishin'.
regards kev

[jennbeckhann]

hi i went 2 the hospital 3 weeks ago with chest pain an pain down me arm and had a heart trace and came up that i ad an extra heart beat i ave now been ref 2 a heart specailist do u no how long it takes and what dose it mean an can i live a normal life please jenny x

[Flycaster305]

Ladypearl gave you pearls of wisdom.  GERD is such a complicated disease that there are seldom simple answers.  My situation was very much like Ladypearl's advice, and Prolosec worked for a long time very, very well.  In my case, I had a lower bowel obstruction caused by scar tissue from an athletic injury, and a violent vomiting session prior to emergency surgery messed up the LES valve that prevents stomach acids from coming up the esophagus.  In a short period of time, I noticed my voice was extremely rough, and my teeth were discoloring.  Within a week, they started turning black.  I had the Nissen procedure, then had my teeth capped, but I still talk like Kim Carnes sings. I also now have a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett's Esophagus.  The surgerical procedure was a complete success.  

Have you had a Motility test and and Endoscopy?  

[ladypearl]

Hi
Yes, there are causes for the breathlessness.   Before I had surgery I suffered with this and have this sypmtom after 16 years.  You should have had a upper GI Barium Swallow to see if there is a hiatal hernia.  However, I had this and it showed not hernia.  When I had surgery for the funoplication wrap for my valve they discovered a hiatal hernia so bad that my valve and stomach were in my upper chest cavity.  With a hiatal hernia it can cause breathing problems so bad that I got panic attacks with them.  Also, it might be your asphogus is raw.  The only medication that has ever worked for me without increasing chest pain and pressure making breathing had is Prevacid at 40 mg strengh to heal and control acid.  Also a upper chest xray from the front and side may show a hiatal hernia.  How was it determined you have mild acid?  I was told that after a PH probe test.  However, like you my problem came and went.  It took a third PH test that the Dr. waited until I was miserable and had everything set up that when I was bad to immediately have the PH probe put in my asphosgus just above the valve.  Wow, he was shocked and I was scheduled for immediate surgery.  Apparently, the acid was traveling into my bronchial tubes and vocal cords.  I could have drowned on the acid.  This could be a problem for you too.   Go and get as may tests as needed and if your doctor wont do them then GET A NEW DOCTOR.  I had to.   Good luck and my thoughts are with you as my wrap may have stretched and I am now having breathing troubles too.  I'm 54 yrs and you are too young to go through life living like this.  It took two years before I was given the surgery that gave me 16 years of normal living.  Don't give up on finding out what is causing this because it's not all in your head"

[Red_Star]

How long have you been taking zantac? All acid blocking drugs are short term drugs only. A maximum of 8 weeks however in the case of PPI's (eg: nexium), the FDA made a statement to take up to 14 days, 3 times a year.  You need stomach acid to kill of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and to absorb essential nutrients.

Some of the conditions you mention are listed under nutrient deficiencies. Magnesium deficiency symptoms include chronic insomnia, SVT, wheezing, shortness of breath, muscle spasms.  Magnesium is the most important co-factor for vitamin D absorption. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to chronic inflammatory sinus disease and degenerative arthritis.

My mother suffered severely from Gastric Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) for 5 years. She now suffers neither. Throwing away all acid lowering drugs and taking digestive enzyme supplements (helps break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins) and betaine HCI with pepsin supplements (helps with the stomach's production of hydrochloric acid), GERD and LPR were gone in a few weeks!  After a year of these supplements, my mother's gastritis improved 95% (suffered for 25 years)!!

Digestive enzyme supplements can be used for high or low stomach acid (low acid is the most common cause of acid reflux however). You can trial betaine HCI with pepsin supplements or try apple cider vinegar to make up for stomach acid insufficiency.