Chest infection or GERD

[Cornwallgirl]

I recently had a bad acid reflux attack which caused pain in my chest and upper back for at least half an hour. The next day my lungs felt tight and sore. The day after I became really poorly with what seem like a chest infection. Bad cough, lots of horrible phlegm, sore throat etc. I did many negative covid tests. After a few days and feeling worse, I rang my GP who prescribed antibiotics for a chest infection. I did mention the Gerd attack but he didn't seem to think that was what it was. I'm now over the worst but my abdomen and back are hurting from coughing and when I start to eat I feel like I might choke. Has anyone had anything similar please.

[pffft2017]

Sorry to hear about your symptoms. I've had GORD/GERD for over 20 years and I believe it was the cause of developing asthma a in 2010. I occasionally get a cough in the mornings and mucas, worse lately because of LPR I believe. Make sure your head is elevated in bed, don't sleep on your back or right side. Don't eat or drink alcohol 3 hours before bedtime. Don't use mouthwash. Take Gaviscon after meals and at bedtime. Hopefully this will help.

[Cornwallgirl in reply to pffft2017]

Thanks for your reply it's such an awful thing to live with but I suppose it could be worse!

[Gavis]

Hi sounds like you may have had esophageal spasm initially, so scary and can leave you sore. My gastroenterologist recommended to drink warm water when it happens, that’s whilst you’re trying not to panic that you’re having a heart attack. That and I walk around as it’s too uncomfortable to sit and hope it doesn’t last too long. Maybe you already had a chest infection brewing too. Are you on treatment for the Gerd?

[Cornwallgirl in reply to Gavis]

Hi Gavis thanks for the reply. I was diagnosed with a Hiatus Hernia and Gerd five years ago. I can't tolerate ppis or h2 blockers as I have IBS and they really upset my stomach. I had been very tired and anxious for a while before this happened. Maybe you're right, the chest infection was brewing and I had a spasm too. My Dr did ECG for heart just in case. That was ok. He said to go on to Piriton for Gerd?! So I read up on it and it won't help by the sounds of it. I take gaviscon after every meal and before bed. Best wishes.

[Danni54]

Hi. I'm so sorry to hear about what you are going through. I have had reflux for over 20 year's and last year went through 7 or 8 month's of waking in the middle of the night coughing with terrible acid, being violently sick for almost an hour and it hurting my stomach and my back. Test's were sent off which showed infection's but my Dr. did nothing and I have been so ill. I have now changed Dr.s and I am going to be admitted to hospital on Tuesday because a blood test has shown inflammation and infection and my heart rate is up. I had lung cancer 4 year's ago which our hospital ignored despite the tumour being on an Xray for 15 month's so no treatment and I have been left an absolute wreck with a 10 cm hernia, Osteoporosis with 2 fractured vertebrae and my stomach is so swollen and the pain back and front is excruciating. I did, eventually, have a Lobectomy for the cancer so the acid and being sick was so painful. I had antibiotics for an abcess in my jaw and that seems to have stopped the sickness...for now! I was on Omeprazole and have been on Lansoprazole for a couple of year's which are much better but even they stopped working but are O.K. now and then the Dr. put me on Esomeprazole but I can't take them because they upset my stomach. We will see what hospital brings although I have no faith in them at all !

I really hope that your Dr.s are thorough and send you to see a specialist. I don't know why the medical profession seem to be so lax when people are really suffering with acid reflux. Please persevere and push for help. It seems to be what we have to do now....growl for treatment! Ridiculous! Good luck and let us know what happens please.

Very best wishes,

Danni

[Cornwallgirl in reply to Danni54]

Hi Danni. Thanks so much for replying and I'm so sorry that you have been through/going through so much. That's a lot for a body to deal with. I too haven't much faith in the Drs. I told him (over the phone!) that I'd had a bad acid episode then got pain and tightness in my lungs and was it connected? He said no. Two days later I was in a mess, it felt like a chest infection so I got another phone consultation and he prescribed antibiotics and said it must be bacterial infection. I took them and it seemed to clear up. Then a day later was in a mess again. Rang Dr again more antibiotics! I didn't want to take them as they said they upset your stomach etc. In the end I did as my chest was so bad. They've wrecked my insides so much I've stopped and hope my chest has settled down. You just loose faith don't you. No seeing if it was bacterial or a virus or GERD. Like you I can't take omperazole or any medication like that as it upsets my stomach so it's just Gaviscon after every meal. I'll keep at them. I hope you get some relief from your pain.

Cornwall girl