Breathlessness - is it heartburn?

[gian79]

After suffering a heart attack 18 months ago I generally am feeling good. I am back at the gym and running has got easier and I have lost some weight. Have changed to a vegan diet as well for 6 months. My issue now has been if I am inactive for a couple of days, or the day after I have any alcohol, I get breathless when sitting or laying down. This normally lasts on and off for a couple of days then goes. I had thought it was heartburn and I have been taken off aspirin and put on Clopidogrel. An endoscopy also showed no problems with my gut. If I drink alcohol whilst feeling this way the symptoms go very quickly. The GTN spray doesn't have any effect . When I run on the treadmill I have no pains or problems. Now I don't really drink much anymore but id still like to not have these worries if I decide to have a pint.

Does it sound like a stomach issue like heartburn?

[ChoochSiesta]

Could be asthma?

[gian79 in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Hi, i dont feel its asthma as i dont get these symptoms otherwise even when running for 30 minutes at the gym

[ChoochSiesta in reply to gian79]

When I hit 40 I started getting a wheezy chest after my evening meal. It was asthma, its not always exercise that triggers it.

[gian79 in reply to ChoochSiesta]

interesting - how would i go about getting tested for Asthma?

[ChoochSiesta in reply to gian79]

Contact your GP, I was prescribed a blue inhaler (Salbutamol). He said to try it if the wheezing starts. The first time I tried it the relief from the wheezing was instant, I definitely had asthma!

[gian79 in reply to ChoochSiesta]

i will make an appointment with my GP - thanks. My breathlessness is mainly when trying to take a deep breath and just not being able to. It worried me a lot i even went back to hospital 3 times to get checked and they assured me i was fine. It is a worry as i went to the hospital 6 times 18 months before my heart attack telling them something was wrong and they fogged me off each time. ended up with 2 100% blockages

[Hidden]

Dear gian79

Breathless is a strange thing , both worrying and annoying .

I can’t answer your question ref if it could be gut related or not.

Why I answered your post was the fact that you have only just turned to a vegan diet and the problems this can cause at the beginning {up to a year or more with some people}

I have been vegetarian all my life {from my parents} and vegan now for some 30 years or so, my life choice is ethical not health related.

I am not a flag waver but the last few years friends have asked me more and more about the vegan life style than ever before { it’s in the news more/plant based diets et etc }

it’s been very hard to explain to them that done wrong a modern vegan diet {hate that word} can be very harmful, especially in the sick and infirm, unless they know exactly what they are doing.

You must tell your Dr/ heart team about this change as you will need to monitor your vitamin balance and a host of other things.

I have had friends that have had very bad stomach problems on starting this diet and it’s all down to the gut bacteria levels and with that you enter into a very complex field [fermented foods, probiotics etc]

A good bit of fish/chicken etc will always be better than a vegan copy that has high processing .

A good vegan diet means going back in time a bit, before so much processed look-a-like plant based food appeared.

If you need any help on that side of things please ask away, but rereading your post seems to point that this maybe a base to your problem especially as you have become sensitive to a pint {wheat/barley}

But really only the medically trained can help you.

Take care.

[gian79 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Blue thanks for your reply. I was having the breathlessness before the diet change and was told it was a side effect of Ticagrelor at the hospital. I am also a diabetic so get regular blood tests and my GP has all my levels checked and everything is normal he tells me. In fact it was my cardiologist who said to go Vegan and that it would improve my health and generally it has done wonders for me. The wheat intolerance idea could be something as i do enjoy my beers as my drink of choice when out. I think next time i will try avoiding beer and see if i have similar issues. I guess there are a lot of possibilities so some more trial and error is required

[Hidden in reply to gian79]

Well done you seem to be sorting out your problems.

Who knows when this potty world sorts it’s self out I may come across you in that pub, the next one will definitely be on me !

Take care

[Nettekin]

Hi gian. Whilst heartburn is very difficult to distinguish from chest pain caused by heart issues, it is highly unlikely to cause breathlessness. I think you need to contact your GP asap. Best wishes for getting to the bottom of this issue. X

[gian79 in reply to Nettekin]

Hi nettekin, so ive been checked out with blood tests, x-rays, stress echos and normal ECG's and they believe the heart is fine and pumping well. My doctor did say breathlessness was a common effect of heartburn which is why they sent me for an endoscopy and said that was fine. My other symptoms apart from being unable to take a deep breath are discomfort just below my chest and being bloated.

[jerry12953]

Try taking a gaviscon (or two). They usually sort the symptoms of heartburn within a few minutes.