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Used Anesthesia During Nose Surgery. Having Loss Of Appetite, Elevated Heart Rate And Acid Reflux

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Posted on Fri, 22 Mar 2013
Question: Please help me find out what is wrong with me. This issue is seriously impacting on my personal and professional life. I have listed out my symptoms along with the causes below:

Symptoms:
•     heavy weight on chest, difficult to breath in and out
•     Feel like the Diaphragm is constricting the lungs
•     acid reflux
•     suffocating feeling
•     lack of hunger
•     elevated heart rate

Cause/instigator:
•     stress
•     heat
•     eating (even small meals)
•     drinking
•     being bloated
•     lack of sleep
•     talking
•     walking

This issue began after i had general anesthesia combined with a nose surgery to remove excess tissue inside to help breathing through the nose.

I have tried Ventolin and steroids provided by my GP but it does not help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (18 minutes later)
Hello,

Thanks for your query.

The symptoms as mentioned by you suggest that you might be having Gastro esophageal reflux disease, where there is reflux of acid from stomach to esophagus due to relaxation of the sphincter at the lower part of esophagus.

General anesthesia is not a causative factor for your symptoms.

Management consists of:
1. Lifestyle modification- like weight reduction, sleeping on the left side, or with upper body raised.
2. Dietary modification- avoid consuming irritating substances such as acidic & XXXXXXX foods, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
3. Medical management- Proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole (which prevent acid formation in stomach)
It should be taken for a prolonged period (minimum 15 days) to appreciate its effect

If symptoms still persist, it will be better to consult a Gastroenterologist.

There is no need to worry, you will be fine.

Wishing you a good health.

Let me know if I need to clarify further.
Thanks & take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (17 hours later)
Thank you very much for your helpful response. I have booked an appointment with my GP for tomorrow and will discuss the possibility of GERD. I will then try to get the medication you specified.

I just have a couple follow up questions:

1. I actually had two nose operations to remove excess tissue as the first one was unsuccessful. After the first one I noticed that it was difficult for me to breath. The second one exacerbated my symptoms and now makes me constantly feel like I am being strangled and suffocating. This feeling is made worse under certain conditions like stress, heat etc... I may be wrong but I am seeing a relationship between the operations and my symptoms. How do you develop GERD and could it have been due to having a breathing tube placed down my throat or the fact that some of my lung Alveolis flattened during the anesthesia and wont take any oxygen, because I did not do any breathing exercises after both my operations.

2. How does GERD impact my breathing and make me feel like I am suffocating?

Looking forward to your response,

Regards,
XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (6 hours later)
Hello,

Thanks for your follow up queries.

1. The pathology of GERD (Gastro esophageal reflux disease) lies in malfunctioning of the esophageal sphincter, not in the respiratory tract.
However, the respiratory symptoms can be attributed to trauma to the respiratory tract during placement of breathing tubes & subsequent anesthetization.

2. GERD can have an impact on breathing as the acid which gets refluxed may enter into the trachea and cause chemical pneumonitis.

Hope, I have been able to answer your queries.

Let me know, if I need to clarify further.

Thanks & take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (5 hours later)

Great info. My final question is how can i find out if "Trauma to the respiratory tract during placement of breathings tubes" has occured? Is there a specialist i need to see to rule this out?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Polash Sannigrahi (1 hour later)
Hello ,

Thanks for the appreciation.

Trauma to the respiratory tract can be directly visualized with the help of a Bronchoscope.
For this you need to XXXXXXX a Pulmonologist.

He can rule out any pathology in your respiratory tract based on the examination findings.

Hope, I have been able to answer your query.

Let me know, if I need to clarify further.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Take care.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Polash Sannigrahi

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 3353 Questions

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Used Anesthesia During Nose Surgery. Having Loss Of Appetite, Elevated Heart Rate And Acid Reflux

Hello,

Thanks for your query.

The symptoms as mentioned by you suggest that you might be having Gastro esophageal reflux disease, where there is reflux of acid from stomach to esophagus due to relaxation of the sphincter at the lower part of esophagus.

General anesthesia is not a causative factor for your symptoms.

Management consists of:
1. Lifestyle modification- like weight reduction, sleeping on the left side, or with upper body raised.
2. Dietary modification- avoid consuming irritating substances such as acidic & XXXXXXX foods, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
3. Medical management- Proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole (which prevent acid formation in stomach)
It should be taken for a prolonged period (minimum 15 days) to appreciate its effect

If symptoms still persist, it will be better to consult a Gastroenterologist.

There is no need to worry, you will be fine.

Wishing you a good health.

Let me know if I need to clarify further.
Thanks & take care.