New Member

[Aslangal]

Hi everyone 👋🏻

New here and just seeking advice for speaking to my GP next week.

I have had a cough for three months now. Chest X-ray 3 weeks ago was clear. I already have bronchiectasis in the bottom of one lung and top and bottom of the other. It’s mild. I’ve already made adjustments such as cut out trigger foods and caffeine. I don’t drink or smoke. I’m up most nights for several hours inspite of not eating beyond 6pm and taking Gaviscon before bed. Applying all the ‘ease reflux’ advice.

Dr put me on 20 mg Omeprazole morning and night plus advised Gaviscon after everything I eat - I’m not eating much and mindful to keep portions small.

I think my problem is not my chest but my oseophagus. From what I’ve read on various specialist sites, should I ask for an endoscopy on Monday? I think I’ve had this problem for about 6 years when I was hospitalised as my oxygen levels went very low and that’s when they found the bronchiectasis.

I’ve read that food being aspirated into the lungs, due to reflux, can be a cause of Bronch? I think it’s all connected. I’ve a hiatus hernia too which they found at the same time. Nobody mentioned that reflux could cause Bronch - they suggested, as a non smoker, I may have had untreated pneumonia as a child.

I’m coughing a lot but not bring up sputum. Hoarse too.

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance.

😀

[Deeedals]

Hi Lynn, it would be lovely to think that your doctor would order an endoscopy as part of your investigations but if not I would certainly prompt him. Not wanting to scare you but Oesophageal cancer can often have little or no symptoms so checking it out will put your mind at rest .

Did they mention repair of your hernia ?

[Aslangal in reply to Deeedals]

HiThanks for the reply. No no one has ever mentioned hernia repair. I will definitely ask about that too. 👍🏻

[focused1]

I had op for Haitus Hernia . Nothing else worked . I had symptoms similar to yours . Please get checked out .The medication you have been prescribed is damaging long term . 2 people I know got stomach ulcers from long term use . Be persistent as I started to suffer from sleep deprivation, weight increase and felt really depressed although that was because of my situation. Push for investigations . I would ask about surgery for the hernia as afterwards you eat better . The weight dropped off me as I can now eat a more balanced varied tasty diet . If you delay it won’t go away .

[Aslangal in reply to focused1]

Good to know. Thank you 👍🏻

[Spikey]

Hello Lynn,

Sadly, your story sounds all too familiar. You go to your GP with a cough and they send you for an X-ray, which comes back clear. They then assume that the cough is caused by silent reflux and put you on omeprazole.

It is possible the problem is with your oesophagus. I have an intermittent (though not persistent) cough, which they think might be due to eosinophilic oesophagitis. I am waiting for an endoscopy, but there is currently a long waiting list.

If the omeprazole is not working, then I would stop taking it. However, you must give it at least 2-3 weeks to have any effect. It is unlikely that you are aspirating acid into your lungs, as this would cause scarring which would show up on the X-ray.

Since you are not coughing up sputum, you can probably also rule out post-nasal drip.

To be honest, the most likely cause of your persistent cough is your bronchiectasis and your best hope may be to ask your GP to refer you to a respiratory consultant. If it's as bad as you describe, I'm surprised he hasn't done this already.

Good luck.

[Aslangal in reply to Spikey]

Thanks for your reply - yes I have bronchiectasis in both lungs (bottom of right and top, middle and bottom of left - mild). That was found by a Respiratory Consultancy 6 years ago. This was the first X-ray I have had since. But now that I think of it - I did think it was odd he said my ‘chest was clear’. He never mentioned seeing the Bronch. He reduced me to one Omeprazole in the morning. That’s 3 weeks now on it. No word yet on the endoscopy. 😀