Reflux and Breathing

[Scrumpyjack72]

Hi there,

I am had a cough and throat clearing which has been ongoing now for years. The doctors have had me on and off Omeprazole for years too which didnt seem to help. I have had a scope twice and both showed some redness in my esophagus but nothing sinister in throat or stomach. I also had a Bravo test done which showed acid was getting into my throat and so diagnosed with silent reflux. They put me on Omeprazole but this time 20mg twice a day instead of once.

I am not a fan of taking Omeprazole long term so have been taking it on and off when i feel i need it.

Thing is, over the years i experience breathing problems, a bit like asthma i guess but doctors have never tested me for asthma. It feels like i cant get a proper breath and it lasts for hours with me coughing and panicking. It feels like there is phlegm in my throat but it just wont move. Last night i had it worst its ever been, it really felt like i couldnt breathe and it was very scary. Strange thing is, i ate some light dinner and after dinner it felt like my breathing was almost back to normal, like eating helped. Has anyone else had this? Is the breathing thing linked to the reflux or could it be asthma?

Thanks,

Peter

[Eyebee]

It sounds a bit similar to my experience. I have had an intermittent cough for a few years now. I have had gastroscopies and they cannot find anything wrong. I am overweight though, around my middle, I have an umbilical hernia, which the docs says is minor, so they don’t really want to operate. I’ve had acid issues all my life, as a kid I would be nauseous if i ate rich or fatty foods, and into my early twenties I was eating OTC indigestion tablets like they were treats.

I’ve been taking Omeprazole for a few years now. If I forget to take it, I’m suffering bad heartburn by the evening.

I also have Crohn’s disease in my small bowel, but it’s being managed well and is certainly mild compared to some I read about.

I get the cough after I eat, and also when sitting down after standing for a while. Having just gone through the Covid-19 pandemic, many folks think that’s what I’m suffering from when I start a coughing fit. They typically last 10-15 minutes but can sometimes be longer.

The docs seem to think the coughing is directly related to acid reflux, but I wonder if it’s more connected to the hernia and my excess tummy fat.

I realise that I haven’t answered your question, but I feel that perhaps we have some common ground here with these coughing issues and acid relfux.

[ParkSchool5]

Hi, my experience is similar to yours. I have been on Omeprazole for six years and when I try to wean off them the acid just comes back so severely I end up back on them. I get the cough mainly during the morning. I think it's after sleeping (although I sleep propped up) the acid reflux particles come up into the throat and irritate it so you cough and get wheezy. Also the Omeprazole seems to make my throat very dry which doesn't help. Best Wishes.

[ranges]

I'm 78 and have had bad reflux for 2 years. I had a TIF procedure a little over a year ago and it helped, but reflux is still bad. My reflux is when I haven't eaten yet and goes away as soon as I eat. Seems backwards as many people get reflux 'after' they eat. The TIF procedure does not wrap the sphincter valve completely so I am scheduled to get a full Nissen fundoplication in a month or 2. For me I never had a breathing problem. Constantly clearing my throat I do have!!! Don't know if this helps your case yet I completely understand how eating helps!

[Hidden]

I was told I had a hiatal hernia 2013, but had few problems initially. I started getting coughing, croaky voice, sore throat, earache etc. GP suggested increasing PPIs to 2 a day, which sort of kept it under control. More recently I was getting a lot of acidity in my throat and a lot of choking during eating, and breathlessness during and after eating. GP suggested taking Gaviscon more regularly, which helped a bit. I kept getting the question as others have had, are you losing weight, do you have problems swallowing. I had a visit from a speech and language therapist (didn't know they did this kind of work, but she was very helpful) She said she didn't think I had a problem with my swallowing reflexes, which can happen to people who have had strokes, etc more a combination of breathlessness, and acid reflux. Breathing in part way through a mouthful, is not a good thing. She has given me some good advice and informationMy GP has referred me to ENT and I have an appt in a few weeks.. My SaL therapist says she works closely with them. Actually taking a PPI morning and bed time, and Gaviscon at bed time seems to be having a positive effect, but still coughing a lot, and croaky voice, less of the acid in the throat. I know that PPI s are supposed to be short term but really seems the only way of keeping it under control, and the risks of damage to the oesophagus, and cancer seem to be worth avoiding.

[Hidden]

I have now had an ENT appt. Registrar I saw, thought I might have a pharyngeal pouch. A weakness in the wall of the pharynx. Diagnosed by barium swallow, which she is booking, (never heard of it before). She also discovered one of my vocal folds is not working properly, possibly affected by reflux, again never heard of it before. It means my airway is not closing properly so coughing , choking, breathlessness, all could be related. They are treatable and what I have realised that you can have a range of symptoms, but I have never heard of either of these conditions.Also told that PPIs are not much help for throat acid issues. Gaviscon is best, after meals and before bed.