Thankyou Boron. Appologies for not responding, but I have only just returned to the site. I had been told that it was probably a haiatal hernia, and I have been trying to live with it until I returned to the doctors again recently because it is so hard to live with. Seeing a new doctor, I was sent for an ultra scan, which picked up a large gall stone, as you had suggested , but I had no pain from it. The doctor was not convinced that this would cause my other breathing problems and is referring me to a Gastrologist? Is it ok to ask for a breathe test or can this be done by your GP. It certainly feels as if something internally becomes inflamed, and it is affecting my lungs somehow when it does so. Thanks
I have some of the same problems and it turned out to be my gallbladder, unfortunatley for me I was in excrutiating pain and ended up damaging my lung from aspiration of my stomach acids from vomiting.
I also had heartburn, bloating.
After my first gallbladder attach 8 years ago (It took 8 years to diagnose) I starting having breathing problems.
So you may want to look into Gallbladder and least cross that off your list.
P.S. I had lots and lots of tests starting in 1999 and they did not find out Gallbladder until a friend suggested it, and I took that info to them, even then the doctors still did not think Gallbladder until it was removed and the pathology report proved Chronic Gallbladder inflammation and gallstones.
Sue
Gallstones may go even without pain for years. Otherwise, a cramp, spasm, typically occur within an hour after a fatty meal and may hold you from several minutes to hours. Pain is located and limited exactly to the spot where the vertical line from the right breast nipple comes down to the lower rib. Pain sometemis radiates into right shoulder or shoulder blade.
Gallstones are not exactly hereditary, but with your family members having gallstones, you have increased predisposition to have them. It's something what "runs in families".
If pain is more vague, not so exactly located, than it is probably from bloating.
You've mentioned heartburn and upper abdominal bloating. Have a breath test for H. pylori.
If you also have lower abdominal bloating, try LOW-SUGAR diet. Sweets, fruits, beer, alcohol, potatoes (starch) OUT for 4 days and see if helps. If not, then additionaly to above, exclude all dairy products (lactose intolerance may cause severe lower abdomninal bloating).
Thanks boron, but should'nt I be suffering extreme pain with gallstones? I dont have pain, just feel so uncomfortable all the time. I have 2 sisters who have gallstones. Is it hereditary do you know?. Although not painful, my waist expands so much that it can look like a preganancy, then halve in size over the next day or so. I feel something throbbing around my diaphragm co-inciding with when I am breathless, which led to the heart tests that proved negative.It is difficult to relax and live day to day normally. Sounds somewhat sad, but I always spend the day, hoping to use the toilet, to ease the pressure on my diaphragm, but never feel as if I have gone and emptied my bowel totally.Stools are not extremely pale, just paler than before. Having spent most of my life , active, and not overweight, this is like living in someone elses body. I am no longer in the menopause, so cannot blame it on the quirks of that time of life.
Both upper abdominal bloating and heartburn may arise from H. pylori infection of your stomach. You need a breath test for H. pylori.
Your additional problem may be with a gallbladder. Light stools (if they are really pale or bright yellow) are due to lack of the bile in stool, from bile flow blockage - in the biliary duct - usually from a gallstone.