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To those who also suffer from Gerd/Reflux...
A recent fight with a yet another persistent cough led me to an ENT (no sinus issues this time) followed by a GI doc who diagnosed me with a mild case of Gerd. We thought it explained all the coughing but a CT scan during the placement of a 96 hr Bravo capsule (long story, I was in a lot of pain) showed the Bronchiectasis which I have no doubt had for some time. I've been waiting to see a Pulmanologist at the Mayo in Phoenix as he is the head of the Bronchiectasis Clinic - he's uber busy and my appointment is coming up in June.
Right now I am trying to work out where the coughing is coming from. The assumption was that it was from the reflux (the silent type - no heartburn) and I have chronic post nasal drip too. PPI's don't seem to help and I struggle to work out which foods set me off. I am beginning to wonder if most of the coughing is from my lung issue as I see a variety of colors in my sputum (pale green, pale yellow sometimes clear) and most reflux sufferers say their cough produces only a clear mucus.
I also constantly clear my thoat and can't work out if the "taste" it produces is salty or acidic. I'm very confused right now and I am wondering if any of you can shed some light. Thanks
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Bronchiectasis is known to produce a productive cough in most cases.
Thanks for your quick response Scoop. A chronic cough is also very common amongst those who suffer from reflux especially the silent kind LPR. I seem to have the "double whammy" so I am trying to discern which cough is which - the reflux cough or the Bronchiectasis cough? Maybe I have one and not the other? Wondering if there is a tell-tale sign - perhap the color of the mucus? The time of the day?
you can test the acidity of sputum with indicator-paper-strips !?
Can the sputum or what you cough up come from the esophagus ?
I think not, but am not sure.
I had fundoplicatio in 1999 and since about 2005 occasionally woke up at night
with sudden productive cough attacks. Takes about 1 h with forced air-pressing
through reduced openings, to replace coughing (how is that called).
I always thought it was due to reflux. how I lay at night, not enough head-elevation,
what I ate.
Then pneumonia in 2024 and these attacks
are much more frequent, even at day without sleeping.
Not in the morning, as most have, but in the afternoon,evening.
And CT showed advanced bronchiectasis in both lungs, among other things.
From what I read a connection GERD-bronchiectasis is still rare, debated.
One study where they gave PPIs showed no effect, but I nevertheless take PPIs
(for my lung) now.
I have had gastritis/GERD/IBS for years. BE produces clear, yellow and green mucous. GERD also produces clear sometimes foamy mucous.
To rule out a lung infection, your pulmonologist needs to order a sputum culture and MAC culture.
Sometimes I am not sure the coughing is from my lungs or stomach.
Most of my coughing is in the morning from lung. Later in the day is probably GI.
Good luck!
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2 ReactionsHi mustlovedogs, I too suffer from Gerds and postnasal drip. I use Ipratrooium Bromide Nasal solution 0.06% , 2 sprays, 3 times a day and it works great. It doesn't work for everyone but it may be worth a try if you haven't already. Good Luck
I think I also have that "double whammy" and wish I could tell if the mucus is not only due to BE but also to the fact that I have been told I have a "small" hiatal hernia that could cause mucus production I was not told at NJH after a 24 hour monitoring test with the monitor through the nose to the stomach that I had acid reflux....just hope I operated the mechanism correctly.
If I have an acid problem it would have to be classified as "silent reflux, LPR" because I do not have the symptoms of heartburn etc.
I just wish they could tell if I have two sources, lungs/hiatal hernia @ stomach, of mucus production coming up.
Barbara