Is shortness of breath a symptom of acid reflux?
I have all the classic symptoms of acid reflux described on line. I have been diagnosed with it and am taking protonix. Recently (within the last week), I have noticed that my stomach is bloated and I have difficulty breathing. Always difficult to get a doctor's appointment (have to call at least a week ahead) and I don't want to go to the hospital, so I'm hoping to figure out the cause and possible treatment myself.
Hello Ann Walker,
Shortness of breath is not a typical symptom of the acid reflux. In a posting by Dr Eisner, bloating is never a symptom of acid reflux or a side effect of the medication (Nexium in this case) You can read the entire posting here. There is another posting here that might be more closely related to what you are asking. In this posting, Dr Eisner says "Bloating, difficulty breathing, right arm pain and sensitivity to smell are not typically associated with GERD"
Hope this helps. Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Vicki M
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Before I knew that I had acid reflux I thought that I had asthma. I was having an attack at least once a day. It was not until I got an appointment with an asthma specialist that I realized that I did not have asthma. I don't throw up and the stomach pains I have are not that bad but they are daily even though I am on the medicine now. So short of breath or even severe attacks can mean you have acid reflux.
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I'd agree with Jessica.. I had the same
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Ann,
I have the same problem- When taking acid reflux meds. my stomach would expland and it felt like i was having difficult breathing and then it would go away about 30min after I took the meds or antacid. did you find out what was wrong.
Jeff
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YES IT CAN..........I have recently been diagnosed with Gerd myself. About 3 days after i had my first symptom i had the feeling of bloating (it fells like i am just full of gas) and i have been short of breath since then (as well as a few other symptoms). it has been over a month since this started and for the first few days i couldnt eat or drink anything, for the next 3 weeks a could eat nothing. i have been on ranitidine for 3 weeks and it is working..... slowly. i am not always short of breath and i can eat some selected things as long as it isnt too much. i still have good and bad days. today being a bad one. but before my medication started working i went to so many doctors and the emergancy room heaps before i found someone who would listern to me and help me sort this out. i still have to have a camera down my throat to have a look. but the amount of times i had a doc tell me it was depression or anxity was ridiculous. but i have read online that it can be controlled and the symptoms only re-apear occasionally. good luck ann hope you can get it sorted out soon
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YES IT CAN..........I have recently been diagnosed with Gerd myself. About 3 days after i had my first symptom i had the feeling of bloating (it fells like i am just full of gas) and i have been short of breath since then (as well as a few other symptoms). it has been over a month since this started and for the first few days i couldnt eat or drink anything, for the next 3 weeks a could eat nothing. i have been on ranitidine for 3 weeks and it is working..... slowly. i am not always short of breath and i can eat some selected things as long as it isnt too much. i still have good and bad days. today being a bad one. but before my medication started working i went to so many doctors and the emergancy room heaps before i found someone who would listern to me and help me sort this out. i still have to have a camera down my throat to have a look. but the amount of times i had a doc tell me it was depression or anxity was ridiculous. but i have read online that it can be controlled and the symptoms only re-apear occasionally. good luck ann hope you can get it sorted out soon
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After many many different doctor appts and 1 trip to the ER, I finally had a doctor actually sit and listen to my symptoms and diagnosed me with Acid Reflux. My symptoms consist of a bloated feeling in my stomach pretty much all the time, shortness of breath on and off all day long and throat feeling as if their is a lump in it located around my adams apple. My doctor prescribed liquid form of Carafate (2 oz) four times a day, 1 hour before each meal and protonix 40 mg once a day. I am 2 days a way from taking these meds for a week. The Carafate is excellent in helping me be able to eat but i am still having shortness of breath throughout the day. Seems the only time I get any escape from it is when I am sleeping. Interesting point for me is this all seem to happen after I stopped smoking. I have been smoke free now for 3 months and living with acid reflux for almost a month and half. Makes you wonder since I never lhad this while I was smoking should I have ever stopped lol. I definitely sympathize with those who have that shortness of breath throughout the day and especially when your trying to eat. It is a very scarey feeling. I am ready to go back to the doc and say the Carafate is working but now what do I do so that I can feel like I can breath properly again. Oh and yes many docs and people wanted to try and say my issues were anxiety as well... NOT!! hope this helps