Reflux difficulty breathing

[Genesis667]

I recently started getting a burning taste in the back of my throat. I went to a GI
Doctor who sent me to have an upper GI series done. The result was mild acid reflux. I was told to take prilosec OTC twice per day. It didn't help, I was then told to take prevacid
twice per day, that didn't help either. Next I was called in a script for Nexium, that seems to be working a little better. My problem is I am having breathing difficulty on my left side after I eat or drink anything. It's pretty bad at times and I've never experienced breathing difficulty before. I called the GI doc and he said go see a lung doctor. I had the reflux for a couple weeks before the breathing problem started so it seems logical to me the two are connected but the GI DOC offered no advice other than find a lung doctor.

Are breathing problems normal with reflux. I eat a very plain diet, nothing fried, mostly just baked chicken and veggies, I am a male, 5'9  165lbs. I've recently
had a full cardiac evaluation include stress test and all checked out okay.

I am recovering from Labyrinthitis but don't think that would be connected.

Can anyone offer any insight? Also, how long does acid reflux usually last? I'm new to this and know little about it.

[chookstar]

i also have gerd & have just been told i have gastritis,yet to speak to dr to see what i take for that,but in my early days of gerd i was rushed to hospital with severe chest pains & problems breathing twice,they are saying its asthma,but i have read that some asthma symptons are also symptons of gerd,not to sure about that,but that is what ive read..& what a coincedence i also suffered from labrythinitis but that was a few years ago..i take symbicort for my breathing problems & also ventolin, & must say my breathing is better,but i have noticed when i have a bad day with gerd,i do have shortness of breath with it,,its all just 1 big puzzle for me at the moment

[Italiana425]

I have acid reflux pretty back and the burning in the back of my throat.  I never had breathing problems along with the symptoms.  I am not sure they are related.  For the Acid Reflux I am taking ACV apple cider vinger and it helps producing more acids in your stomach that helps digest your food.  My Chiropracter suggested I take two tsp full before you eat and then after you finish.  Hope this helps.  I also take 8oz of aloe Vera juce in the morning on an empty  stomach and before I go to bed at night.  Remember not to eat late at night....3 to 4 hours before . I hope this helps.

[bsmsl]

I just reread my first line..  Sorry bad typo there.  

I meant "dead ON"  meaning that you are probably on the right track.  I hope that you did pick that up from the rest of the post if you read it.  

[MIserableinKy]

I have Gerd/Hiatal Hernia and it does effect my breathing when it gets bad. All the life style changes mentioned by bsmsl should help. It doesn't sound like weight is a problem. I've lost weight and that has helped me more than anything in the 17 years I have been bothered by this. Also, one more thing. You have said that prilosec and prevacid didn't help. ARe you taking them at least half an hour before eating? My gerd recently got bad again because I was once again overeating. I had to get off zantac and back on Prilosec. I figured out that it must be taken before eating. (In fact I saw on the Internet how if you take Proton pump Inhibitors with food they just turn into expensive urine. :) ) I found that funny, but when I started paying attention to when I was taking it then once again I have gotten so much better. It seems to work best for me when I take the meds at least one hour before breakfast. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[bsmsl]

Your instincts are dead.  

Many people are diagnosed with asthma who really just have acid reflux.  Once there reflux is treated an controlled, all asthma symptoms go away as well.  

I suggest that you try several other things.  
1) probiotics and digestive enzymes -
     For the probiotic you want one froma reputable health food store that will keep the product refrigerated.  Probiotics are necessary digestive bacteria and are a live.  If not kept cold, they will be ineffective. You want a pretty high organism count and a multi-strain one as well.
     The digestive enzyme is much less fussy.  I do get mine at a health food store, but that is because I have really severe reflux and completely lost my voice a few years ago.  I choose the best on that one as well as the probiotic.

2)   Life style changes.  You have switched to a plain diet which will help some.  You also need to avoid all caffeine and eating within 4 hours of going to bed.  It would be good of you could raise the head of your bed about 6 inches to use gravity to help keep the reflux down.  Also, an Oriental technique is to sleep on your left side as much as possible because of the way the stomach lies in the abdominal cavity gravity is used to keep the reflux down.

3)  Another option to discus with your GI is changing to a more effective PPI - something like Kapidex.  Also, discus layering an H2 blocker like Pepcid or ranitidine.

I hope those ideas help you.
Feel better and take care.