Gerd And Breathing

[BernieB]

I have been having periods of shortness of breath. My thought was allergies. My primary care doctor suspects that it is becuase of reflux. I am SC for GERD/IBS. What do I need to do if my breathing problem is related to reflux? Is that a secondary condition?

[john999]

Shortness of breath from GERD? I would get my heart and lungs checked. I have had GERD for years and never had shortness of breath. I would do this soon. This could be a warning sign. There are people here who have had silent heart attacks and the VA missed completely. Do you ever get pain in your arm or jaw?

[Guest Vietnam Tanker]

I too have had GERD for many years and never experienced shortness of breath from it. I had open heart surgery last May and have had serious hiccups and shortness of breath ever since, the heart is nothing to fool with have your primary care Doc send you to a cardiologist to be checked out, Bor you do not want to fool with any kind of Heart Problems, Silent Heart attacks can kill real fast.

[rentalguy1]

I have had GERD for about a decade now. It is due to the amount of NSAID's that I have poisoned my body with in a vain attempt to decrease my pain. I have had chest pain that radiates into my right arm and my lower jaw, as well as shortness of breath. I have went to the hospital a few times thinking I was having a heart attack, but GERD has always been the diagnosis. So, it can be a symptom, but I agree with John that you should get checked out, ASAP. As far as getting it SC'd secondary, I doubt it. As I said, it's a recognized symptom of the disease. But, you never know until you try. They DO SC ED secondary to DMII, but I am not sure if that is just symptomology, or a secondary manifestation. Go for it, and if you get denied on the basis that it is a symptom of a already SC'd condition, then no biggie. If they deny for a bogus reason, then appeal it.

[BernieB]

Guys, ladies, the shortness of breath, when it is bad, comes after mild exertion. Walking around the corner to the drugstore and back or taking the groceries out of the car. I was once so out of breath I could only say a few words at a time. I told my private doc that my lower left lung hurts/aches - almost feels dead. He wants to do tests. I quit smoking 7 years ago.

[danang_1969]

I have been having periods of shortness of breath. My thought was allergies. My primary care doctor suspects that it is because of reflux. I am SC for GERD/IBS. What do I need to do if my breathing problem is related to reflux? Is that a secondary condition?

I do not have any medical training background; other than first aid and CPR. I speak strictly from my own experience which may or may not be as yours. I have had Gerd for better than 10 years or longer. I also have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The acid reflux when it's bad at night in my sleep always effects the COPD and makes it worse. I also have panic attacks from PTSD with severe depression and all is intermingled. One domino sometimes knocks them all over. My advice is have a cardiologist check you out and a Pulmonologist. The pulmonologist along with other tests will perform a PFT, which is a Pulmonary Function Test and this will tell the story if it is lungs. The most helpful thing I have found to correct the effects and flare up of Gerd is staying out of the Mexican restaurants and elevating the head of your bed as you sleep at least 6 inches if not more. Also Previacid, Prilosec, and other medication helps. Is it connected; not a doubt in my mind. If you find out how to convince the VA it is let me know, so far I have failed. My Gastrologist told me that PTSD will greatly increase a person's stomach acid and I had as much if not more than anyone she had ever seen; but so far she has ignored my request to put that in writing and send it to me.

God Bless Your Gerd and he can.

Danang_1969

Edited March 31, 2008 by danang_1969

[Pete53]

You have a serious Medical Problem. You need to get checked out quickly. I suspect that you may have a larynx that is almost closed.

Please seek Medical Treatment Monday. I would go to Emergency and jump the hoops to get the ball rolling.