Shortness of breath certainly is a typical symptom of acid reflux as the lungs are attempting to aspirate any acid that might find its way into them.  Also, a tender, inflamed stomach affects the diaphram.  Many people with acid reflux/gerd have shortness of breath and asthma symptoms.  Deep breathing helps.

I HAVE REFLUX, BUT ONLY SYMPTOMS OF IT, LIKE AIR TRAPPED IN THROAT, CONSTANT CLUCKING, BURBING. BEEN ON NEXIUM , 2 OTHERS & BACK TO NEXIUM FOR 8 YRS. 

YEARS LATER I STARTING HAVING ANXIETY ATTACKS. ALL BECAME RELATED.

 

     I WAS SELF MEDICATING FOR A FEW YEARS NOT REALIZING I HAD ANXIETY, ONTIL IT GOT SO BAD, IT LANDED ME IN THE E.R. TWICE WITH PANIC ATTACKS.  

WAS VERY SICK, CONSTIPATED, COULDN'T EVEN DRINK MILK, DROPPED 30 LBS. FAST. LIVING ON YOGURT & JELLO. WENT TO MY UPPER GI. HE SAID " YOU NEED TO GET YOUR ANXIETY IN CONTROL NOW"!!!

   YIKES, ALWAYS HAD A NORMAL LIFE JUST LIKE THE NEXT PERSON. THEN WAMOO...

    GOT SO BAD, COULDN'T DRIVE (DIZZY)FREAKED OUT, COULD'NT EAT, SHAKING, CRYING, PANIC ATTACKS, ONE RIGHT ON TOP THE OTHER.

   DRUGS, XANAX & CLONASAPAM WHERE MY TREATMENTS ONTIL THE PAXIL MEDICINE KICKED IN, THAT TAKES 3 WEEKS AT LEAST.

  3 WEEKS LATER, NORMAL LIFE, REFLUX IN CONTROL, TOOK SUPER STRONG ACCIDOFILLUS (ONLINE FROM MY GI DR.) TO GET MY INTESTINES BACK INTO SHAPE & WORKING PROPERLY AFTER BEING OUT OF WHACK FOR SO LONG (3 MONTHS).

   ANXIETY TAKES OVER YOUR BRAIN, PANIC SETS IN, THEN YOUR BRAIN IS SO  POWERFUL, IT TAKES OVER, LEAVING YOU PRETTY OUT OF CONTROL.

 

    TOOK ME 2 1/2 YRS. WENT OFF PAXIL TWICE, BEFORE I WAS FINALLY CURED OF FEELING ANXIETY. YA KNOW, I REALLY THINK I HAD ANXIETY YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER MY 1ST WIERD FEELING, LIKE I HAD SOMETHING STUCK IN MY THROAT AS I WAS DRIVING(A BIT TENSE) I TURNED AROUND & WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR A WATER JUG, THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CHOKE I GUESS. THEY CALL THE TRAPPED AIR FEELING IN THE THRAOAT (GLOBUS PHNOMINEN). YES THERE IS SUCH A THING!

 

THEN I HAD A CHOCKING SPELL IN A MOVIE, FREAKED MY OUT, AGAIN NERVES & VERY TIERD FROM A LATE NIGHT BEFORE. SO AS I KEPT GETTING ALL THIS STUFF, LOOKING BACK NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE.

 

I UNKNOWINGLY HAD ANXIETY 1ST, CAUSING GLOBUS, CAUSING REFLEX

CAUSING PANIC ATTACKS, CONSTIPATION, GERD, WEIGHT LOSS FROM NOT EATING, ANXIETY WENT OFF THE CHARTS.

NOW I'M LIVING A NORMAL LIFE, STILL TAKE NEXIUM DAILY, SO FAR SO GOOD, NO ANXIETY! CAN THROW IN PERI MENOPAUSE NOW.

 

IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, I'D RATHER BE ON ANXIETY MEDS THAN HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

SO BEEN OFF FOR  3 1/2 WEEKS NOW. SEE MY DR. IN 5 DAYS TO EVALUATE. I THINK I'M ON THE RIGHT PATH. JUST RETRAINING MY BRAIN NOW, TO DO ALL THE THINKING ON ITS OWN. BRAIN, WAVES & ZAPS ARE GONE,, BUT STILL HAVING A FEW BRAIN FARTS ( AS PEOPLE SAY).

 

TAKES A LONG TIME FOR ANXIETY MEDS TO WORK, & IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO NORMAL, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN EVENTUALLY, EVER PERSON IS DIFFERENT FROM THE NEXT. SOME ARE ON FOR LIFE.

 

 IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS TO THIS LETTER, I'D BE GLAD TO HELP OR EXPLAIN MY EXPERIENCE & HELP SOMEONE ELSE!  

 

   I'M A MOTHER OF 3, THAT'S WHAT WE DO!!!! SINCERELY,PAM

 

Dear Pam -

I found your story compelling - it so mirrors mine lately.  I have suffered from anxiety attacks for years now - they are increasing in frequency and severity.  I also suffer from fairly moderate GERD, IBS.  At times, I feel I am going to collapse - I do shake at times, but I just usually hyperventilate severely, feel like I'm going to pass out, have chest pain, pain down the left arm, lightheadedness, cold sweats, nausea constantly.  Have been to ERs - don't go anymore as I never received any treatment other than being told I was not having a heart attack and that it was anxiety and was given heavy duty meds.  I began a course of Paxil - was taken off by a new MD and put on Wellbutrin.  Find no relief from Wellbutrin.  Carry Ativan around as a security blanket - am needing to take it more frequently as time goes on.  I am undergoing extreme anxiety and stress recently as I am the sole caregiver for my 89 yr mom who is showing signs of progressive dementia; I find it almost impossible to cope as she and I have always been very close - she is a mother but also had been a friend and a 100% emotional support for me.  Now I don't have that anymore - only the expectation of losing her.  My anxiety is off the charts due to it.  I work full-time at a very stressful job - what job isn't - and I am stretched to the max.  All my MDs say I am stressed severely but offer nothing concrete to do about it.  They all say - "it's time to take care of yourself".  Easier said than done.  Anyway, I just recently took a nuclear stress test due to my chronic shortness of breath and it came back abnormal - my cardiologist now wants to do an angiogram to rule out an arterial blockage.  I do not have any history of heart problems - at 53 yrs old.  An angiogram, I've heard, is very risky - only have it done if all other tests point to heart problems.  But I also would like to rule out heart issues as the idea of having a heart attack sticks with me constantly.  And certainly my chronic panic attacks feel like heart attacks.  I also suffer from OA, spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia.  I often don't know what has come first - the proverbial chicken or the egg - how do all these conditions play against each other - if they do at all.  If you have taken your valuable time to read this, thank you.  I hope you remain on a healthy course and any feedback you can offer me would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you again

Susan 

suaz45@yahoo.com 

Hi.  I found your post as I was trying to make sense of what happened to me last night.  Maybe you can help as I understand you are not a doctor but you do seem to be suffering from a lot of the same symptoms as me.  Last night I had the scariest thing happen to me.  Around 3am I shot straight up out of bed, it was almost as though someone or something was making me get up. All of a sudden this burning sensation was in my nose and throat. (this has occured a few times before, but nothing like this) So I went into the kitchen to grab my Rolaids and as I was trying to open the pack, I suddenly couldn't breathe.  I was coughing from the irritation in my throat and the more I coughed, the less I could breathe.  I was trying to make my way down the hallway to get to my husband and he came running out of the bedroom.  He was asking me what was wrong, if I was alright, etc.  After the "attack" he told me that he had never heard anyone make noises like that in his life, he said it sounded as though I was being stangled.  I finally got the Rolaids to go down, following a big dose of Mylanta and after about an hour, I was better.  But even today I still have a slight burning sensation, my throat feels sore and my voice is hoarse.   I too, suffer from anxiety and depression.  I have experiences with Sleep Paralysis, which is scary enough.  The doctor is suspicious I have Sleep Apnea as well, just not yet diagnosed and treated.  I have a number of other health issues like Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Migraines, Fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain related issues.  I am on a lot of medication, obviously.  But each time I eat BBQ sauce, spaghetti sauce, mexican food, or something spicy, this happens.  Just not as bad. After researching, I have figured out that I probably do have Acid Reflux/GERD.  My doctor told me to chew Tums or Rolaids at night, I did last night, but it didn't help.  I was so scared.  I am not a religious fanatic or anything, but I believe the Lord was watching over me last night.  I fear what would have happened if I had not of gotten up out of bed.  I know this may sound dramatic, but I am afraid I would have choked to death.  I am a mother of two and the thought of not being here for them breaks my heart.  I know that I need to change things in my life, but you are right... When you look back at everything, it all makes sense.  STRESS can wreak havoc on a person.  99% of my problems derive from stress.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.  It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that is going through this.  God Bless You and feel free to email me if you would like to.  msknhayes@yahoo.com

Wow! Reading these responses is a relief that I am not alone! It is 3:30 a.m. and I am online because I woke up again with a shortness of breath and acid indigestion. I have had indigestion for several years and like the previous post, have on occasion, bolted up in my sleep, gasping for air. It's happening a lot more often now. I have awakened from a deep sleep gasping for air, feeling like I'm suffocating. My instinct has been to run to the bathroom for a glass of water and have had the sensation that I was going to pass out, but then it would pass and I would have the stomach acid in the mouth experience following that.

 

Lately the shortness of breath has occurred during the day as well. It happened while driving the other day. Although the weather was bitterly cold, I had the windows down, trying to get air and I felt the onset of a panic attack, but I prayed my way through it and my breathing eventually stabilized.

 

I do have to add that I realize that I have not been taking care of myself as I should. I am overweight, have fallen off the exercise wagon and eating all the wrong things, especially late at night. I have my annual physical next week and will bring this up with my doctor and realize this is my "wake-up call" to get my act together!

 

It gives me peace of mind to understand the cause of my symptoms however. Thank you to all who have responded!

 

P.S.I had a similar experience as one of the previous posters a few years ago, ending up the hospital with symptoms of a heart attack, but no heart attack. Since I have a family history of heart problems, I was in the hospital for three days, being tested. They sent me away calling it "muscular-skeletal," but now I see it was caused by anxiety. It was at a time in my life when my then-husband was sneaking out, having affairs in the middle of the night! I didn't suspect that at the time, but knew something was severely wrong in my marriage. It's interesting how our bodies react to things.

Hi there, I read your post online. I have woken up and jumped out of bed many times I think what is happening is the acid has come up into your throat.  It burns and takes your breath away I have gasped for air many many times and find that once I'm upright it's like the acid just goes back down and I feel the burning in my throat for a day or so. I hope this helps you. The best thing to do is to elevate the top part of your bed like but a phone book under the mattress so your beds on an angle so your head is higher then your stomach. I mostly sleep on my side and with a pillow kinda high  It's really a scarey feeling and you feel like you are going to die. I have suffered with this for like 15 years and even with medication I still have it. Hope this helps you a little

Thank you, Cindy. My doctor put me on Omeprazle, the generic of Prilosec and I no longer have the above-mentioned problems. On the rare occasion I eat too late at night, sometimes I will have a minor reoccurance, but at least I'm aware of what it is and what's causing it now.

dear pam

 

Pam,

Thanks for sharing I've been dealing with anxiety as well, but with good reason. Spent weeks Summer of 2011 telling the ER dr's that my chest hurt they kept telling me it was anxiety. Took 3 weeks for a handful of doctors to finally determine my pain was true gallstones.. So had gallbladder removed. Went on vacation my 13 year old daughter (whom had a mild heart condition) was put in hospital with CHF. We got back home and I was told she needed a heart transpant Man anxiety and panic set in big time. Been a year and she is all done got her new heart and is doing absolutely.. But a week after her surgery the husband served me with divorce papers and threatened to take my kids. So anxiety again my gut is killing me cant breathe, eat (althoough I'm sleeping) eating is ruff as well.. I see GI dr in a few weeks I think he mentioned a round of antibiltics to help and then a low acitic diet for awhile but will see.
Thanks again Lisa

Hi, i think i have anxiety and panic attacks, short of breath.. Wat will i do? My mind always think that everything happens is emergency :( pls help me... Email me here chuckpineda@rocketmail.com

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

http://sunild1204.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/anxiety-panic-attack-gerdacid-refluxmucus-after-mealshort-breathing-heavy-breathing-phobia-imaginary-fears/

 

Extracted from link above:

breathing is a subconscious process, so making it concious is something you should avoid. You must breathe without giving it any attention, and this shall help you in avoiding heavy/short breathing problem.

Remind yourself consistently that this short breathing is in fact a FAKE and is not real in fact. If it was real then it would be affecting you all time and not only when you are relaxed. Remember that it does not affect you when you are in motion or busy.

To Whom This May Concern; 

I am an asthmatic with IBS & GERD. What I'm trying to figure out is the feeling I am having underneath my rib cage right in the center of my body. It almost feels like gas moving around, but it stops my breathing in the middle of my body. 

I've always been abnormal when it came to my asthma, not wheezing then showing nearly 40% of small airways closed on pulmonary lung function tests. I took a "treatment" in my nebulizer - but the shaking of the machine and vibration on my teeth actually made the pain in my stomach more prevalent. Do you know why I would have tightness in the upper abdomen? Why does my breathing feels like it just stops in the middle of my body and won't let the oxygen flow through?

It's been a little while since I have had breathing issues and it is very very scary. HOpe someone can help.

Sincerely - Scared

I was diagnosed with GERD last January. The symptoms at the time were mainly severe heartburn. My doctor put me on Omeprazole (generic of Prilosec) for just 2 months and it cured the heartburn. Last month, however, I began to have bouts of shortness of breath. As I have a family history of heart problems, I grew concerned and went to see my doctor. After being examined, my heart and lungs are fine. My doctor said that GERD can indeed mimic asthma. He put me back on Omeprazole, and after a few weeks, the shortness of breath is almost completely gone. (Or at least when I do experience it briefly, on occasion, I know what the cause is!)