Trouble breathing in the morning

[Mimi1128]

I, too, have trouble breathing in the morning. It started initially a few years ago when I had bronchitis. After I was treated, it got better but for the past 9 months it has been a daily problem. When I say trouble breathing, I mean scary like I can't catch my breath and I feel like I'm under water and will pass out. This makes me panic. I have to be really careful how fast I move for the first hour after waking up. Once I start coughing and remove some lung congestion, it improves. Here are some of the culprits that I have been dealing with. I do have GERD but stopped taking meds because I didn't have classic heartburn symptoms like I used to. I know we have a leaky roof that we're trying to get repaired and I do smell mold when the AC kicks on although I don't see mold. Also, I smoke but I'm trying desperately to quit. I do have allergies and took allergy shots as a child. I have sinus infections and just got over another bout of bronchitis. I do believe that most of my problem has been triggered by the mold but that is not an easy solution. Can a professional give me advice?

[caregiver222]

From what you describe you have two problems:
(1) a twitchy lung
(2) problems with the lower gastric sphincter, which is alloowing stomach acid to back up the esophagus.

Square one is to never ever eat while lying down and eat nothing for four hours before lying down. This is not something minor. Your  life depends on it. I kn ow ytour physician has suggested this when you were diagnosed with GERDS.

Square two is to get a wedge foam pillow support that will angle the upper part of your body upwards at least 30 degees. Al alternative is a hospital bed.  Get plywood and in addition put it under your mattress to slop it upward twenty degrees.

The etiology of the loose sphincter is complicated and difficlt to diagnose. It could be stroke, or sensitivity to certain foods, especially chocolate.

Talk with your doctor and coinsider "settling down" the lung with two to three days of oral prednisone.

[evewisewoman]

Hello Mimi,

Welcome to the asthma forum. I am not a doctor, so this is not professional advice. I do, however, have asthma. I am also a former smoker. I smoked more than 14 years ago and I quit.  This is before I had asthma.
You say you are trying desperately to quit. I think quitting smoking would really improve your breathing. Your family doctor could suggest ways of
quitting smoking. I have heard of something called a nicotine patch. I
don't know whether this would be helpful to you.  Have you discussed
this problem of having trouble breathing with your family doctor ?
As you have asthma, you must be taking asthma medication. What asthma
medication(s) do you take ?  I take 2 different kinds to control my asthma.
I take Pulmicort 2 times a day and Bricanyl as needed.  If you smell mold, than there is mold even though you can't see the mold. I don't have to tell you that it would be to your advantage to get that leaky roof fixed asap.
Also it is really important to clean your AC filter.  It took me 3 times before I quit smoking for good. My ex husband smoked and even after I quit, he still smoked until he finally quit too.  Anyway, I hope something I have shared with you is helpful.  I wish you well.    Eve