Acid & Breathing Problems???? :( :( :( - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

Vanessa74 · 01-07-2008, 03:12 PM

I need some help - please.....

I am new to this board - recently diagnosed with Acid Reflux, possible GERD and Hiatal Hernia. I have read through many of your posts - and see often that many of you suffer from 'breathing problems' associated with your reflux. Can you please tell me what your breathing problems are like?

That is my #1 complaint - breathing difficulties that started in late October. It is difficult at times for me to get a deep breath down and then sometimes I felt like I had a band around my lower chest area.

Lately I have some new 'breathing issues' - they have moved to my upper chest - such severe tightness in my upper chest - it hurts so bad and hard to breath - I am so scared. Maybe this isn't acid - this all started when I went on the PPI (Prilosec OTC) - the upper chest tightness and pain.

Any help or comment would be so greatly appreciated..... HELP

jbsim · 01-07-2008, 06:37 PM

Yes I do but Im not sure if its related. I have the urge to yawn and take deep breaths all day. Never seems like I get enough air. Sometimes I get wheezy not sure if allergy or acid related.

Vanessa74 · 01-07-2008, 06:51 PM

Thank you - and I am so sorry for you suffering

I do not cough - and I do not wheeze - I just get so tight, like all my chest muscles are contracting and I cannot breath in or out - it is terrifying. Sometimes it last for an hour - sometimes for DAYS - it is so horrible. The Dr. thought the PPI's would help and it seems all they did was bring the tightness from my lower chest into my upper chest.

Still have to yawn all the time and lots of times I do not feel like the air is getting all the way down..... I am scared.

jbsim · 01-07-2008, 07:00 PM

I know it can be very scary feeling like you cant breath right. I have had many breathing tests,chest xrays etc but they never found anything. So I just dont know what could be causing it with me. Sometimes I think anxiety and stress but it could very well be related to the LPR that I have. This problem brings many strange symptoms like things you would never guess as coming from you stomach. For an example coughing fits. Who would ever think that was from acid reflux. So I hope you feel better and get all the tests you can. First rule out anything more sinister. Have breathing tests and xrays make sure they really check your lungs out good. I hope you feel better take care!

Vanessa74 · 01-07-2008, 08:08 PM

Thank you again!

I have had (2) pulmonary function tests and a chest x-ray - nothing showed up and I wish I could be happy about that - but I still can't breath good.

My Dr. put me on Flovent 2 puffs 2 per day and gave me a rescue inhaler just in case. And I have been on that regiment for over 1 1/2 years.....

He started to suspect the GERD/Hiatal Hernia when I kept complaining about the chest tightness....

It is all scary and confusing - thank you for your support!