Paradoxical Vocal Fold Dysfunction- searching for relief

[songcat]

In the past year, I was diagnosed w/Paradoxical Vocal Fold Dysfunction (PVFD) - after inhaled steroids and prednisone dose pack failed to help lingering bronchitis. Also was visualized w/laryngoscope.I have had asthma/allergies my entire life (I'm almost 35 now); the ENT doc put me on Prevacid 30mg 2x/day and had me supplementing up to 4 weeks at a time w/Zantac 150mg at bedtime, reasoning that acid reflux was the main culprit of my breathing difficulties.  Endoscopy revealed a small patch of Barrett's esophagus(lower), but nothing else (no ulcers, esophageal erosions, etc.)& pH study confirmed "reflux," while esophageal mannometry revealed a non-specific "motility problem."The Prevacid did get rid of chest pain from reflux, but not my breathing problems.  My pulmonologist says it's "multi-factorial." I also have problems w/ cardiac dysrhythmias which also cause shortness of breath. An electrophysiologist has stated that these are "benign."  The G.I. doc says to get a Nissen fundoplication (I'm a newlywed and hope to have a child in the next 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years.) I even went to several speech therapy sessions for diaphragmatic&rhythmic breathing.  Is it possible to have a reactive airway i.e SOB, due to Prevacid? I do not take anything else - I even stopped birth control pills, thinking that might be a culprit.  I never know quite what to do when breathing is difficult because I don't know if it's "asthma"(then bronchodilator works), or the "PVFD" (then nothing seems to work!) Apparently reflux treatment is not curbing the PVFD, so, is there anything else to help me?

[denora1966]

A related discussion, PVFDS was started.

[National Jewish]

You mentioned that the Prevacid

[Concerned lady]

If you could be seen at Nat'l Jewish Medical & Research Center, in Denver, Colorado, you could get expert medical help, so that you could recognize when you're having an asthma &/or a VCD attack.

You can speak with a LUNG LINE nurse, by calling 1-800-222-LUNG(5864), to see about possibly scheduling a visit to Nat'l Jewish.

If you can't go to Nat'l Jewish, or, for local medical follow up after going to Nat'l Jewish, ask a LUNG LINE nurse about which docs may be in your area, who studied at Nat'l Jewish, and are VCD-knowledgable.

My husband and I each had VCD, several years ago, and we each were finally correctly diagnosed at Nat'l Jewish. We don't have any VCD attacks any more. If you'd like to compare notes, you can email me at ***@****

I wish you the best!

Concerned lady
<a href=http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com>http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com</a>