Apnea/Reflux/LPR/ and Daytime Shortness of Breath Anybody?

[DavidCarolina]

Newbie here. My story:

50 year old male who walked appx. 20 miles per week with wife. Maybe 20 pounds overweight but in good shape.
I knew I had apnea, because I would occasionally hurl out of bed at night stomping around gasping for air, not knowing
who or where I was. Never did anything about it.

3 Years later, finally "broke down" during a walk, had trouble breathing. Was sent to the ER, then sent home. Cardiac referral, complete workup normal. Proceeded on to possible "thyroid" doctor. And then Pulmanologist. Still not sure why I didnt
suspect Apnea was causing shortness of breath and agitation during the day, but was told by numerous doctors that apnea cannot cause shorntess of breath during the DAY.

Went to Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, worked up again. Did a sleep study. Found to have "moderate" apnea, and many hypoxias. Also got an esophogeal reflux test which was negative, but now Im studying LPR--larygneal reflux that affects your windpipe and lungs, and I think I have that problem. Have read extensively about Dr. Jamie Kaufman's research how
gasses from reflux during sleep cause respiration problems.

Got a cpap right away, have been on it for 2 weeks. Loved the cold airflow down my trachea right away, and never felt cluastrophobic. Have the full face mask, a few leak problems, but the sleep doctor says the cpap flex plus is WORKING since the episodic apneas are way down.

I try to sleep on my side, and elevate myself with pillows to prevent reflux. I also never eat after 7 pm. and try not to take naps during the day to solidify a regular schedule.

Still feel somewhat short of breath during day and agitated. Anybody else have this syndrome? I use klonopin every day to
combat this terrible feeling.

But what I've learned here is that you have to give it MONTHS to restore your oxygen levels and then your central nervous system healing to get the proper results. Im currently at a "10" setting with the full face mask, as I have a terrible deviated septum. Use a "3" on the humidity.

Anybody else have daytime shortness of breath or agitation (as if you just drank 30 cups of coffee) during the DAY before you cpap, and that the condition was solved by months on cpap??

Thanks, david in south carolina

[sleepycarol]

For me it is keeping the GERD (reflux) at bay that helps with the shortness of breath.

I am overweight, which contributes to mine -- but have had this issue for the last several years and think I understand your symptoms as I have experienced what you have described. I have had work ups for heart and nothing has showed up -- but have had terrible fits with chest pains -- enough pain to send me to er. On one trip they had me drink a concotion of lidocaine and almost immediately the pain/shortness of breath went away. I was told that my esphogus goes into spasms and is the cause of the discomfort and pain. I even asked my pcp if she could just give some to keep here at home but was told no due to the possiblity that if my heart acted up at some point she didn't want to take a chance on me not getting medical attention if that were the case.

I have panic attacks as well which causes the jitters and the feeling that I need to escape (what isn't necessarily well defined but it the flight or fight feeling). I have learned I can typically slow down and concentrate on my breathing it gets better.

[Mrs.O.]

Don't know if it's related, But...
I was an adult asthmatic. At 54, I began having symtoms, felt like asthma in many ways, but the cough was different. Chest X-ray was clear.
Began using CPAP for pretty severe apnea and within one week, the daytime shortness was gone. No "Asthma" attacks, even with former "triggers".
Anyone else have anything similar?

[breakfast]

I have LPR diagnosed by EGD and some funny string-swallow test. Yes, I occasionally feel short of breath during the day. This is usually because of inflammation in my upper respiratory tract from poorly managed reflux. I do not feel that I can get enough air. 120mg/day of Dexilant helps keep the stomach contents less acidic. I will probably have a fundoplication in the next year or so to resolve the problem permanently. CPAP has not seemed to help significantly with this problem (mine is caused by a malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter). The only thing that has truly helped keep stomach contents in my stomach is elevating the head of the bed. The actual bed, not propping myself up with pillows-- bending at the waist, even during sleep, even when sleeping on the side, puts pressure on the midsection which is not where you want to have pressure when you are experiencing reflux.

My LPR was diagnosed by an ENT but I was referred to a gastro for further testing and management. Gastro might be a good place to start if you think you may have LPR.

[Julie]

You just replied to a 3 yr old thread...

[breakfast]

Looks like someone bumped it this morning before I replied to it. sigh.

[old dude]

You just replied to a 3 yr old thread...

I've never quite understood why this is such a cardinal sin.

I too have LPR and found the responses interesting and informative, yet forum police treat it as if it were a crime.

[breakfast]

You just replied to a 3 yr old thread...

I've never quite understood why this is such a cardinal sin.

I too have LPR and found the responses interesting and informative, yet forum police treat it as if it were a crime.

I never understood this either. Even if the information isn't useful to the original poster, people do search forums for threads and sometimes, the polite thing is to bump an old thread rather than create a new one.

A few weeks ago I got tsk-tsked for asking a question about something because the person reading the thread looked at my join date, not the post date, before deeming whether the question should be answered or a snarky (inaccurate) comment left instead.

I think Mrs O may have found this thread and, assuming that we were reasonable and polite people, bumped it. I understand we might all be a little sleep deprived, but we can at least try to be helpful. And if not helpful, then quiet.

[Mcfly]

I appreciate reading replies...no matter how old they are still pertinent. Thank you!!

[NoDramaMama]

I appreciate any info regardless of the original post age. Today is my first time researching my GERD/apnea together and all of the information written is greatly ssociated, REGARDLESS of when it was submitted.
Thank you all!