short of breath

[passiflora]

i am a 19 year old athlete ). started experienceing reflux in may. barium swallow confirmed. tried protonix, acifex, tums, pepto bismol, etc.  constant burping, reflux especially after drinking water during soccer. symptoms are really bad with exercise.  throat gets tight and feels like i can't get a breath. m.d doesn't think i have asthma sx.  upper endoscopy showed normal except for maybe marginal small valve?  no alcohol use. no drug use. eat well.  taking protonix before game and practice but really doesn't help.  this has gone on for so long and is really affecting my game.  not too much problem at night. had a physical with blood work. all normal.  since june have had almost constant muscle twitching.  different muscles.  yesterday watched my deltoid twitch for about 5 minutes before it stopped.  very visible, uncomfortable.  my gi doctor didn't know why. physical for sports and they didn't know why. calcium ok. not geting better. is this related. what can i do for this reflux?  is this heavy feeling in my upper chest, throat reflux related.  inability to get good breath related?  both docs didn't think cardiac was a problem although i haven't had tests. just started college and want to stay on the  team. this is stressing me out bigtime. also - if taking protonix can take ibuprofen for hamstring problem?  please help!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

If you continue to have these symptoms and have been evaluated with an upper endoscopy and barium swallow, you may want to consider a 24-hr pH study to document the severity of the reflux.  Further treatment can then be determined depending on the results.  

Regarding the muscle twitching, I would check the electrolytes (i.e. calcium and potassium) as you have already done.  If that is not revealing, I would consider a referral to a neurologist for further evaluation.

For the shortness of breath - there are many explanations that may be possible, including GI, cardiac, or pulmonary.  Without examining you, it would be impossible to say what the next step would be.  Asthma, heart conditions, and uncontrolled GERD can all cause shortness of breath.

In general, there should be no interaction between the ibuprofen and the protonix.  However, you may want to discuss this with your personal physician.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[yoshi]

do you get enough potassium?

[passiflora]

i eat a pretty well rounded diet including bananas. drink lots of water, etc. thanks.

[robert t]

Hi there ,
          Im 38 a athelete and mine started when I was 19 yrs old never new what it was .They tested my heart lungs asthma everything the only thing that helped in  20 years  was  prevacid 30mg  one a day that have not found a cure yet  but that made that fullness  go away it`s like you can`t can`t get a good breath and your throat feels like its gonna  close or does .This will     get worse don`t wait and suffer  20 years  like me .....
good luck

[Michmom]

Hi all  I'm a 40 yr old women thats been dealing with these symptoms for 2yrs.  I kept tell ing my DR I felt like I couldnt breathe and it felt like something was stuck in my throat and it was very hard to swallow. It took almost 18 mos. to get him to listen I had my esphogus dialated in jan 03 I dont have the tight feeling but I still feel like something is stuck on the right side and still have the feeling like I cant breathe sometimes I take protonix 2x a day I go back to the ENT Dr next week I feel like he thinks I just imagining all this. I just dont know what to do now.