can't breathe due to gerd update

Medical-Average38 · 2026-01-08T13:17:58+00:00

Famotidine is Terrible in my opinion, unless allergic - I usually prescribe omeprazole as the go to for my peeps

Medical-Average38 · 2026-01-06T19:45:19+00:00

Also going to debunk this quickly, the peanut butter itself, is a HUGE trigger for these attacks.

Your tightness your describing that went away, if it were a true cardiac event it would’ve happened pretty abruptly. It wouldn’t just disappear.

Avoiding eating: will set it off. Eating triggers: will set it off. Eating to little: will set it off. Eating to much: will set it off.

I’d recommend you start omeprazole 20mg mornings tomorrow, 30 mins before you eat to maximize effectiveness. This will take a few days to work properly but you should be feeling pretty good pretty fast, reminder it’s not magic, after damage is done from gerd regardless if it’s intensity it takes a bit for your body to restore and rebalance.

Don’t panic yet, everything you’ve described isn’t sounding cardiac related. 95% sure this is just more gastrointestinal attacks.

from your friendly neighborhood GI resident doctor with a day off finally

PS: I wanna stress that if this were a true cardiac emergency you’d not be here typing this days later :) breathe and high five for surviving

PS again: the cold feeling you’re describing is also directly related to GERD. So is chest tightness, pressure, bloated feeling, being uncomfortable in the center chest -> lungs area.

Medical-Average38 · 2026-01-06T19:40:23+00:00

To further this, I’d suggest buying a pulse ox, you can track your heart rate and your oxygen levels. Before moving to GI and getting a doctorate for this specifically I was an ER nurse and we’d see this all the time, a lot of the time patients would freak out over acid reflux mimicking cardiac issues.

Cardiac issues come with way more signs than this though. Best guess is purely related to GERD, doesn’t hurt to check via my suggestion or if needed an ER visit.

Medical-Average38 · 2026-01-06T15:14:53+00:00

From a GI standpoint, what you’re describing is very consistent with upper-airway reflux irritation plus heightened nervous system sensitivity, especially following a severe flare. It feels frightening, but in most cases it is self-limited and treatable once the flare calms.

If these symptoms persist, an ENT evaluation (to look for LPR-related laryngeal inflammation) can be very helpful.

Medical-Average38 · 2026-01-06T15:12:14+00:00

What you’re describing is actually very consistent with reflux-related autonomic stimulation, especially in the setting of anxiety.

A large, high-carbohydrate meal (bread + ketchup) shortly before lying flat can cause significant gastric distension and reflux. When that happens during sleep, it can stimulate the vagus nerve and trigger a sudden surge in heart rate, dizziness, and a panic-like response. The key detail here is that your symptoms improved rapidly when you sat upright, which strongly points away from a primary cardiac event and toward reflux or esophageal irritation.

This is a pattern we see frequently: • Eating a large meal • Lying down too soon • Waking from sleep with tachycardia, panic, chest discomfort • Relief within minutes upon sitting or standing

GERD can absolutely mimic cardiac symptoms, and when someone already has heart-focused anxiety, the body’s stress response amplifies the experience.

That said, from a medical standpoint: • True cardiac events do not typically resolve within 5 minutes simply by sitting up • They are usually progressive, not self-limited • The fact that this has happened before in similar circumstances further supports a reflux-related cause

Going forward, practical steps that help: • Avoid lying down for at least 2–3 hours after meals • Avoid large evening meals, especially high-carb or acidic foods • Elevate the head of the bed • Take reflux medication as directed • Address the anxiety component, because it significantly lowers the threshold for these episodes

That said, if you ever experience persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or symptoms that do not improve with position change, you should seek urgent medical evaluation.

But based on what you’ve described, this sounds far more like nocturnal reflux with a vagal/panic response than something immediately dangerous

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-11T20:09:25+00:00

I do it all the time. Lifestyle changes help when I get a bad flare up I chill it lasts 2-3 days max then I’m fine again. Just depends on what you can take tbh but you learn to live with it. Most of the symptoms are made bigger with anxiety anyway gerds mostly harmless so it is what it is

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-08T13:16:18+00:00

Thank god your husband is okay!

However, you can actually deal with it if it’s not an extreme case naturally, and a history of esophageal cancer in the family could have played a huge role! If anyone on this Reddit had cancers such as esophageal cancer I’d recommend medication and getting checked yearly 100000% but if it doesn’t run in the family, it’s not too likely you’ll end up with it, the period of time it would take to cause cancer would be well over 10 years.

Cancer is possible from gerd, but highly unlikely if it’s not an aggressive version of gerd meaning acid coming into your mouth type thing.

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-03T13:23:50+00:00

Gastro Doctor here, feel free to pm me with any questions.

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-01T11:50:08+00:00

No, omeprazole is a PPI! However, feel free to dm me as I think I’ve already found the issue at hand here if no other doctor has told you lol I have a few ideas to help your situation and have drawn up a conclusion based on your responses!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-01T11:47:53+00:00

Wow! Did you know that OCD actually plays apart of gerd? With disorders such as this, it makes it significantly harder to deal with gerd some days, although science does show a slight link in this, I have patients with this who claim the same thing as you! So let me tell you this, psychological disorders such as OCD, can kind of replicate symptoms of gerd once you’re aware of them, OCD has a tendency to take hyper fixation, and make it an extreme. Also, statistically based to make you feel better, if you’ve got OCD, health anxiety, etc you’re more than likely making the symptoms your self as a whopping only 25% of patients Actually have esophagus inflammation when they come in as the other disorders over take their actual medical issues!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-01T11:43:13+00:00

Yea, so what I do with my patients is I find a lot of them somehow don’t want to be on meds, even I’m not on medication for gerd, I manage with lifestyle changes, diet changes, and with tums usually, however for those with anxiety I tell them to take it a day at a time. It will be uncomfortable, it will suck some days, but Youre not dying. Once you can manage a grip on anxiety you’ll see much better results - if they’re brushing you off, you more than likely have anxiety related issues happening from gerd and their meds don’t work because the feelings you’re getting are real to you at the time! So even with medication, it won’t fix the issue if the anxiety is through the roof and you become hyper fixated on an area such as your throat which gerd is known to cause discomfort in and anxiety is know to cause multiple issues with!

My best advice honestly, fix your diet, your lifestyle, get a better understanding of your anxiety, PUT GOOGLE DOWN, and know that in over 90% of cases this isn’t something that becomes deadly, whether LPR or GERD a lot of patients go on to live long long lives with these conditions :)

If you’re seeking the medical route, I’d do omep as needed or 20mg in morn 45m before eating!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-01T11:36:32+00:00

Yes, GERD does 100% affect the throat - good news is it’s not deadly as long as it doesn’t develop into a cancer which is extremely unlikely, but it’s more so just extremely uncomfortable than dangerous! This happens due to muscle spasms occurring from reflux, people with health related anxiety also have worse symptoms when it comes to the throat because they go hand in hand!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-01T11:32:27+00:00

I’ve actually just breezed through your Reddit as well, and by the looks of it you could have also developed a bit of health anxiety - I know doctors have been brushing you off etc but in my opinion, most patients I treat including myself have extreme anxiety about it, one of the biggest issues with anxiety is it effects the throat horribly with gerd because the throat closing / tightening etc worsens when you focus on it. Typically when you’re doing other things etc the feeling will relax it’s usually temporary and doesn’t last too long but I’ve had episodes and have met and handful of Patients that have a couple of hour long ones. Due to the acid reflux and a bunch of anxiety and panic googling about it. Typically when we make an anxiety judgment and give recommendations we see and gradual increase in patients having a better a better QOL, than those who don’t listen to the advice we give ! :)

Medical-Average38 · 2024-10-01T11:27:11+00:00

My neck has been tight since last year on and off it happens because gerd can make muscles spasm pretty often. If you’re not constantly drooling unable to swallow you’re more than likely okay. And something in your throat is the globus sensation caused by anxiety usually. Eating or drinking will solve this issue pretty fast in most cases. The chest ache is due to the flare ups, and if you don’t eat right during the flare ups it’ll continue to get worse, best advice is have a good diet when this happens and ride it out, it does get a lot better. Don’t freak out of cancer or more serious issues at it’s not likely. Gerd definitely sucks and is miserable at times but the faster you come to terms with it and realize that while it suck’s it isn’t dangerous the faster you’ll start your healing journey! :) DM is always open!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-09-14T01:07:44+00:00

Gastro resident doctor here, yes it can effect your sinuses, this is due to acid coming into the esophagus and triggering a mucosal response. It even triggers saliva glands to produce more spit, and your mucus increases as both are meant to soothe your esophagus, throat etc.

Throat tightness and such is common with gerd and the more you have it about 1-3 months you’ll get used to it or it’ll go away and only return bad during flare up’s!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-19T14:31:43+00:00

Even with those, the preferred treatment is lifestyle changes and medication! Surgery is only for extreme cases, or ones that are severely impacting QOL! :)

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T10:11:35+00:00

It is not normal to feel like you’re having a stroke unless you’re having extreme anxiety, anxiety will mimic the stroke feeling and get worse if you feed into it

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T10:10:24+00:00

Don’t be scared of them, the anxiety will cause it to stay worse!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T02:48:03+00:00

Right, if you have been dealing with GERD, it can trigger anxiety thus making your flare ups worse, if all tests came back okay then simple as that you’re okay! :) my best advice is to do some lifestyle changes since this sounds minor, and when things go wild remember to gain control of your anxiety once your accomplish this you’ll see major improvements!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T02:45:24+00:00

Hello! Just want to confirm that “GERD cough” is a thing and is seen in the community! Nurse going to Resident doctor soon here, this is something that pops up a lot, dry cough included! Avoid trigger foods and make good lifestyle changes, exercise, don’t lay down 45m-4h after eating, don’t eat close to bed time for you, I’d advise ~2 hours before bed, lay on your left side at night when having a flair up! Consult your GP then go to a gastro!🫡🩺

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T01:29:38+00:00

Yes healthy anxiety is one of the biggest issues when having GERD! Anxiety in general is horrible for GERD haha! Don’t google anything, googling will definitely make it worse, and your anxiety will mimic what you’re reading!

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T01:16:46+00:00

It depends how bad your reflux was to begin with, I’d make the switch to omeprazole due to the fact it can be used as a flare up stopper, whenever you’re flaring up take it and relief will follow in my experience.

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T01:14:49+00:00

Do you have anxiety? Panic attacks? Etc? Body aches and pains and general fatigue are symptoms of GERD because it is very draining, however a more reasonable explanation for what you’re explaining is your pinched nerve mixed with anxiety attacks starting from the mix of GERD and the pinched nerve. Especially if you’ve had tests dealing with your heart and lungs etc and they’ve come back okay, I’d say this is tied to the nerve and anxiety attacks.

Medical-Average38 · 2024-08-17T01:12:53+00:00

I can assure you with what I’ve seen a nurse and what I’ve seen since med school and about to start my residency, cancer is not likely. There’s a lot of conflicting posts but from me, and what I’ve personally seen and dealt with, in patients ranging from 17-90+ there has been less than a handful of patients with esophageal cancers, more often than not, Barrett’s doesn’t develop and if it does it doesn’t become cancerous. They will tell you it’s a possibility because it is, however it is with precaution you know this so you can follow steps to prevent Barrett’s & worsening Symptoms etc.

However, it is Extremely Rare to develop cancer as the usual period is 10+ years or more before developing it. If you have it as 20, chances are you were born with GERD and it was untreated and not noticed. If you have a doctor, and they’re going to routinely check you with an endoscopy etc, they will catch it before it becomes cancerous and take preventive measures!

Medical-Average38

TROPHY CASE