it’s not all asthma

[Oldandgray]

I have only been officially asthmatic since 2017. I was diagnosed with cough variant asthma During that time I have had many courses of prednisolone and had a PPI added for acid reflux. This medication has been increased and my asthma medication added to and changed.

In October I saw a locum GP as my asthma and acid reflux had got worse. She asked if I had ever had the acid reflux investigated. No says I so she referred me for an gastroscopy which I had at the beginning of December. She also added a H2 reflux pill. The tests results showed a 7cm hiatal hernia. My asthma is still there but only a fraction of what it was. Turns out a lot of my asthma symptoms were in fact GERD. No health professional before had even suggested that much of my ‘asthma’ symptoms were in fact due to my acid reflux!!

[peege]

That's good to hear, it's annoying really that GPs seem to know as little about gerd as they do about lung disease 🙄 and then you come across a good egg like your locum !Happy Hollydays to you Oldandgrey from another old and grey/white

[Patk1]

Gd that Yr symptoms have improved x

[Beefull8]

Same thing happened to me but thankfully my allergist knew it could be the cause. Happy Holidays!

[Meerykat]

Just read your interesting post. I actually have started to wonder if my problems are more Gerd related as inhalers don’t seem to make much difference. Could I ask you what your main symptoms were please? I am burdened by constant mucus in my oesophageal area and no amount of coughing techniques help nor, as mentioned, do inhalers relief it either. What be grateful to hear more about your experience. Many thanks. Susan

[Oldandgray in reply to Meerykat]

My experience was just about the same as yours, mucus in the throat that just wouldn’t shift plus indigestion on occasion. I had a diagnosis of acid reflux and my medication for that had been increased. I asked the GP for a gastroscopy as my grandfather had died of throat cancer.

However within a couple of days of Famotidine being added to the lansoprazole ( I had been on that since before Covid) the mucus thinned and became easier to clear.

There is a clear link between GERD and asthma and a lot of research about it. There is also some new research about the long term use of inhaled steroids and a weakening of the sphincter muscle in the diaphragm allowing a Hiatal Hernia.

[Meerykat]

Thanks so much for your helpful response and the information. Much appreciated. I will certainly look into the research in relation to the link between asthma and GERD and will also discuss with my GP.