Reflux without any symptoms?

[GCautist]

I’ve had pains in my stomach /lower chest for years. I’ve recently had every diagnostic test imaginable for this chest heaviness (it’s best way I can describe it ) and a kind of shortness of breath but more a feeling of not being able to breathe in deeply (despite being able to do so when I make a conscious effort to). They’ve ruled out heart and lungs after X-rays and ecg an and a battery of blood tests and they say it’s not gallstones as had ultrasound last year so yet again are saying it’s reflux.

Years ago when this started I had an endoscopy which revealed nothing but the doctor said I may have mild dyspepsia (indigestion)

I’m on lansoprasole up to 4 times a day and famotidine once. I also can take gaviscon advance if required after all that.

The thing is I don’t often have symptoms of reflux. I occasionally get indigestion if I eat too much bread so I don’t eat bread. I don’t have pain, bitterness, burping or gas, bad taste, burning, feelings of lumps in my throat. None of that ever. I’m taking so much reflux medication my stomach acid must be like water

I’m at my wits end with this. Drs tell me whatever it is, it’s not life threatening but it doesn’t address what it could be and how to stop it. It’s very uncomfortable.

I know you’re not doctors but I might as well be consulting the tea leaves or the stars- can anyone advise?

Ask for another endoscopy, or to see a gastro specialist. Not everybody has textbook symptoms.
Keep a diary. Could be something or a food causing or worsening symptoms.

Thanks @Daimyum I am on the waiting list for another endoscopy /GI visit but no idea how long that will be.

i have kept a food diary for over a year and nothing triggers this feeling (and bread does give me indigestion so I don’t eat it) - I can honestly say it’s not related to food.

“a kind of shortness of breath but more a feeling of not being able to breathe in deeply (despite being able to do so when I make a conscious effort to). They’ve ruled out heart and lungs after X-rays and ecg an and a battery of blood tests”

Yes, me too, did all of these tests. Mine flares up with exercise but has been low-level there for months now. It’s like a knot in my lower diaphram area. Plus shortness of breath/tightness. I’m getting really out of shape since I can’t do any exercise. Steroids/prednisone didn’t resolve it. They are starting me on a course of NSAiDS, to see if that cuts the inflammation. They have not yet called it reflux. They seem to so far think it’s lung lining inflammation. They aren’t sure yet but heart has been ruled out and lung function is normal. My rheumatologist and pulmonologist are currently collaborating. Wondering if I will need gastro next after reading your post. Keep me posted please!! Hope you get to the bottom of this and get better!

The PPI can cause shortness of breath and deficiency in iron, b12 and magnesium so take those supplements in the meantime.
Also suggest Haitian hernia and ulcer to the doctor. The NHS are really quite poor at diagnostics.

That’s a lot of meds - how many mgs of lansoprazole?!! Sounds like classic heartburn symptom- I get that too sometimes but I def have reflux. When it was bad I thought I’d was having proper chest pains even though I knew it was reflux I still went to a&e just in case as it was agony (as a 50+ woman whose dad died of heart attack I wasn’t chancing it).
I advise a barium meal if you haven’t had that yet. I may get that eventually if my issues don’t clear up although I know now it’s nothing life threatening I can wait (I’ve had a few x rays done in recent years so don’t want to add more radiation yet).