Trying to get to the bottom of this as I feel I'm banging my head against a wall, last week I'd spoke to one of the doctors I see who had a meeting with another doctor I see they will not let me have another spirometry as they think it would fuel my anxiety, and they both said I don't have copd even though i tick the box 68% fev1/fvc I'd spoke to a nurse at blf today I was describing the weezing I had it seems I only get it laying on my left side and back but seem to be out when I'm standing up, I do have a hiatus hernia and she seems to think it's that when ever my doctor listen to my lungs they are always clear and the nurse said that weezing I get is the upper airways and its nothing todo with copd and being breathless alot I've also posted on acid reflux page for any helpful info as I'm trying to get to the bottom of this and I will probably never I'm losing faith in my doctors I feel rubbish feels like I'm more breathless than I should be get blouted all the time I get told its dysfunctional breathing, then hiatus hernia but not copd I don't understand shorly the doctors should
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bryan45735
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Hi Bryan, sorry to hear you’re still having so many problems. Are you taking any medication for the hiatus hernia/reflux? I also have a hiatus hernia and take Lansoprazole. I believe reflux can cause lots of problems including bloating and lung damage in extreme circumstances.
Do you get a feeling of constantly wanting to clear your throat or your throat feels a little bit sore? I only ask because I get wheezing sometimes though not breathlessness. Keep pursuing things with your doctor. Don’t give up.
I feel that there is something stuck down my throat and constantly sticky postnasal drip, doc has prescribed Esomeprazole today a stronger one to what I was on I just feel really flat what ever I say its not the copd but it like I get really breathless easy this could be todo with dysfunctional breathing the only device I have here is a peak flow and I'm blowing close to 600
See if the stronger dose of Esomeprazole works but if not then go back to the doctor again. I do hope things improve for you and having a peak flow of 600 is very good. Pete has COPD and blows around 120/160. Take care xxx
My understanding is that most people that are regularly breathless as a result of having COPD would not have a peak flow of 600. I think I mentioned in another reply to you recently that I have severe reflux as a result of a hernia, and it causes me to get bloated. Also causes me to cough at night and occasional inspiratory wheezing noises (so noises on the in breath). I thought mine was well under control taking omeprazole every day, only to find out it wasn’t actually under control and silent reflux was still causing me problems. I’m now on higher doses of stronger meds and can tell the difference. Have you had a gastroscopy, which is where they put the camera down to have a look at your stomach and oesophagus?
I know I’ve definitely told you about my daughter and her dysfunctional breathing. She was using her accessory muscles to breathe, end result being she was very out of breath when there was no obvious reason to be, including just walking around the supermarket sometimes. It was so bad that when they did a specific exercise test with her to rule out anything sinister (a CPET), they almost had to stop the test because her oxygen levels were dropping below 90% purely as a result of her dysfunctional breathing. She attends arguably the best, but certainly one of the best, respiratory units in the UK, highly experienced and familiar with all manner of breathing problems, and they could only pick up her DB via the CPET. I think the point I’m trying to make is that it’s not always obvious that breathing patterns are causing the problem even for people trained in spotting them, but a pattern being hard to spot doesn’t mean the breathing pattern isn’t the problem.
This maybe another tail tail sign im not the world's slowest eating expert I should learn to eat slower one thing that does happen at times my belly looks like it's pushing through my chest that's when I feel breathless xxx
May I suggest you complete a food, drink and symptom diary? Nothing too complicated: time, food or drink, change in symptoms. You might or might not find a link between certain foods, certain times of eating, and certain symptoms.
My previous husband, who died in 2003, suffered from food intolerances including bleached flour (breathlessness) and cows milk (bloating). He ended up with severe COPD because of the associated reflux and his failure to stop smoking.
In her case, getting the diagnosis solved half the problem: once she knew it was DB, that reduced the anxiety around the breathlessness a lot. Reducing that anxiety broke the existing cycle, meaning that if she started getting breathless, reminding her that she has DB stopped her anxiety from rapidly increasing and feeding into it, making the situation more manageable in the first instance. The rest came down to retraining her breathing with the help of physios, so basically teaching her to breathe from her diaphragm as much as possible. Took about 6 months to properly break the bad habits and resolve things. We’re on the ward at the moment and one of the consultants is quite literally obsessed with getting the entire world to breathe properly: she was complimenting Bod on her ‘wonderful’ diaphragmatic breathing yesterday 👀😂
Thanks for the information. I asked as I think I may not be breathing correctly either and would like to know how a person would retrain themselves to breath properly.
A lot of what we did with her is in the above link. Half the battle is the awareness of when you’re doing it, I think - you can’t change something you’re not aware of doing.
Hi Bryan, There is a lo t of tree pollen at the moment, so perhaps this is having adverse effect on your breathing. If you haven't tried Olbas Oil, do. It's fabulous for the wheeze, on a tissue, and inhale..... miraculous, just as if you have a cold. Don't be tempted to do it hot water with a towel over you head, it's very harsh, and can take your breath away. Good luck, I hope it works for you!
My lungs are clear at the moment, but I still have a wheeze in upper airway .Just mucus in my throat , and post nasal drip.
Your peak flow sounds fine , mine is much less .
I remember last time I replied to you about your breathing pattern , I asked if you were nose breathing not mouth ….gentle gentle nose breaths …soft belly breathing .
Hmmm, interesting. 68% is only moderately abnormal. I am stage four COPD (emphysema and bronchiectasis) and my last FEV1 was 32%. So breathlessness can have other causes and you may wish to seek advice on one of them - congestive heart failure. Don't panic! It sounds bad but can be lived with. Bloating is a system.
Wheezing is more likely, I suggest, to be asthma - this can be COPD but at 68 %you are not there yet I suggest.
I also suggest you use the BMI test of your age, weight and height.
If you are elderly and overweight and have the onset of congestive heart failure I suggest this may be the cause.
The problem always is - are you seeing the right specialist(s)? The clue is in their name - specialising in one area can make you blind in another.
68% was my fev1fvc MY FEV1 IS 93% well it was 3 years ago I gave up smoking in thinking my hernia its 5cm just started stronger meds blf nurses thinks the wheeze is the reflux I've got
Hi Bryan, I have COPD w 36/Fev1 currently. You might try breathing techniques called Buteyko Breathing, which helped me breathe better and reduce anxiety while breathing. There is also a book written by Ukrainian Doctor Buteyko available online. Below is the Youtube video and an article from the Boston Medical Center. youtu.be/tKaUEVnducIbmc.org/podcast-buteyko-bre...
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DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE OF A HIATUS HERNIA?
Desparate for proper diagnosis. 
Crackling and squeaking chest/throat noises
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