posted
I've written posts about this before, and it remains likely the most frustrating symptom I still deal with.
It has improved a little bit. I don't really know why, but it's not as bad as it was several months ago.
I can sleep in other positions now, before the only thing I could do to relieve the air hunger was sleeping on my stomach.
It feels like someone is stepping on my chest from my pecs to the top of my throat.
When it's at its worse, I have a very hard time taking a breathe. I also feel more fatigued during these flare-ups.
What I noticed was I have what feels like a considerable amount of gas built up in the chest, and when it's flaring hard, I cannot push it out of my chest.. It makes things feel much worse, and harder to breathe.
When things aren't so bad, I can usually get most of it out.
Position seems to matter greatly. Lying flat on my back makes everything much worse, where if I'm sitting slightly forward, I can find a little relief.
WHAT AM I DEALING WITH?
I had an endoscopy done, they said it was fine. Only minor gastritis. Pulmonalogist did check on lungs didn't find anything. Chest X-Ray Negative. CT Scan Negative.
I'm looking for some physical evidence of what's happening in this area, so I can look for ways to treat it.
This is a daily occurrence for me.
Anyone deal with the burping thing, and the position thing, I'm talking about with their symptoms?
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
Actually, I just read over the notes from the CT scan I had done in March.
If anyone would be kind enough to translate this, and let me know if there's evidence of a connection, I would be MOST GREATFUL.
Here are the notes, and I have a CD with images if that can help you...help me.
IMPRESSION:
1. No CT evidence of pulmonary embolism.
2. No acute focal pulmonary consolidation. Minimal right basilar discoid atelectasis versus scarring.
3. Mild thickening of the left adrenal gland.
INDICATION: Chest pain, hemoptysis.
TECHNIQUE: Multislice helical sections were obtained from the thoracic inlet through the diaphragms after administration of 90 cc of Optiray 320, intravenously.
No prior CT chest is available for comparison.
FINDINGS: The visualized thyroid gland is unremarkable. Evaluation of the pulmonary arterial system shows no evidence of filling defect to suggest pulmonary artery embolism.
No axillary, mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy is seen. No pleural or pericardial effusion is noted. The cardiac size is within normal limits.
Limited evaluation of the upper abdomen demonstrates unremarkable right adrenal gland. There is mild thickening of the left adrenal gland.
The central tracheobronchial tree is patent. No acute focal pulmonary consolidation is seen. Linear densities are noted at the right lung base, related to discoid atelectasis versus scarring.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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How many of you who have night sweats (I do), have had a CT scan to check for discoid atelectasis (AKA plate or platelike atelectasis)?
"Antibiotics are discussed as follows:
* Because secondary atelectasis usually becomes infected regardless of the cause of obstruction, broad-spectrum antibiotics should be prescribed if evidence of infection is present, such as fever, night sweats, or leukocytosis."
I get this too and it's not due to the weather!! All my tests have also been negative. I sometimes think I have some kind of stealth infection or yeast gone wild or something.
I know the exact feeling of the chest heaviness, like someone was stepping on my chest up to my throat. My fatigue also goes through the *#@ roof!
I hope you find some answers, I hope some people will come along with some suggestions. You're not alone!
Posts: 182 | From hills and valleys | Registered: Jan 2009
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Tammy N.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26835
posted
I can't speak to all of the symptoms you are having..... but I do get that gas/bloated feeling sometimes in my upper stomach area that causes an uncomfortable fullness making it uncomfortable to breathe. For years I have been doing Qi Gong (a Chinese exercise) and I learned a pose that seems to help. Let me try to explain...... Stand with your feet shoulder width apart (try to look at out something beautiful, like flowers/trees in your yard). Try to feel relaxed and rooted to the ground. Place both hands (right on top of left) on your upper stomach area (just below rib cage). Breathe deeply, allowing your hands to rise out with your belly, and when you exhale, exhale fully while gently pushing inward and upward. Don't remove hands, just continue with next new deep breath, and so on. Remain relaxed throughout. Do it for 9 times (more if needed.) During and afterward you may hear your stomach "talking to you" (probably saying Thank You:) as it's clearing out. Good luck! Tammy
Posts: 2238 | From East Coast | Registered: Jul 2010
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There ya go. Scopes can't really see much in my opinion (unless there are major physiological abnormalities), so that may be the cause of your problems. I assume you had biopsy for h pylori and was negative? Did you have a urea breath test for it as well?
For gastritis: Coconut water.
Why does it work? I'm not sure, but it does. It's a bit expensive buying it packaged at health food stores. You can get a case of young coconuts for cheap at an asian market. It's better too. However it takes a sharp, heavy knife to cut off the tip.
Before coconut water, I would belch probably several times a minute. I already have anxiety, so some docs were trying to attribute the belching to anxiety. It wasn't anxiety, however the chest pressure did cause much MORE distress, so I even thought perhaps it was anxiety until I was in constant pain from it. I got the cause and effect backwards.
You can also protect your stomach and duodenum with things like DGL and marshmallow root.
Forget the PPI drugs the GI doc probably already gave you (I am assuming right now). They give them to anyone and everyone.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
Wolfed Out, imho as another patient, it's Babesiosis! I've experienced most of the symptoms you listed.
The note about your L adrenal gland just screams "LYME!" Ducks love to ignore adrenal abnormalities. Endoscopy is just a waste of time & money. GI ducks like to play with expensive "diagnostic tools" but we know they're just like toys for those uninformed ducks. Most haven't even heard of Bartonelliosis!
Qi Gong is absolutely wonderful! Thx for the reminder, Tammy!
Borrow qi gong tapes or DVDs from your local library to get a sense of this proven ancient nourishing & healing art. It's very gentle exercise that provides "internal massage." Shown to cure cancer when done in conjunction with good nutrition. Qi gong classes are way better, but not available everywhere.
I much prefer qi gong over tai chi (a martial art), yoga, and even acupuncture. There are healing qi gong postures that you can even use to feel better while washing dishes or standing in line at a shop!
Another member (whom i now love, but cannot recall due to neuroborreliosis!) gave me a great tip that's helped me LOTS: Incline bed therapy. It's simple and inexpensive.
Begin raising the head/pillow end of your bed in small increments of ~2" at a time. I used wood scraps. 2" under both top end feet and 1" under middle feet for a week.
Then, if you've adjusted comfortably, add another 2" to the top end and a another block of wood to the middle feet the next week. PLEASE do a web search for better directions.
I love sleeping on my inclined bed! I'd taken to sleeping partially upright on the couch for a couple months before Inclined Bed Therapy aided me. (Thx, dear helpful member, whoever you were!)
Drinking aloe vera juice can be helpful as well as marsh mallow root suggested by kday. Marsh mallow is a beautiful Hibiscus native to the Eastern U.S. It grows naturally in mucky sites where Borrelia would thrive. Intriguing that God provides cures right beside the parasites...
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