Brief Answer: Kindly view the details Detailed Answer: Hello Amie, Thanks for your query. In your post, you have not mentioned about any past or family history of Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma or any other recent illness. Under such circumstances, the symptoms as mentioned in your post are most commonly attributed to: 1. Cardiovascular pathology- Investigations like ECG & Echo being normal rules out any basic Cardiovascular pathology. However, a TMT (Treadmill test)/ Exercise stress test can be done to rule out Poor exercise effort tolerance. 2. Respiratory pathology- You are correct regarding the fact that reflux can cause Pulmonary fibrosis & COPD. It is usually seen in those cases where there is a history of recurrent respiratory tract infection secondary to aspiration/entry of acid or Gastric contents into the Respiratory passage. If there is any such past history in your case, then Fibrosis or COPD can be suspected. Investigations like X ray & PFT being normal rules out any basic Respiratory pathology. But, as your Doctor has suggested a HRCT, kindly get it done. It will be helpful in detecting any Lung pathology which might have been missed in X ray & PFT. 3. Anemia- seems to be the probable cause, in the background of normal Cardiovascular & Respiratory investigations. This can be detected with the help of a complete blood count & a peripheral blood smear study. So, get a fresh investigation done. If possible, kindly attach the reports of all the investigations along with your post. It will help us in understanding your concern better & formulate an appropriate management plan. Regarding the problem of acid reflux, management involves: 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 & rich foods, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. 3. Medical management- Proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole, Pantoprazole,etc. (which prevent acid formation in stomach) + Domperidone (strengthens the esophageal sphincter, preventing reflux) Wishing you a good health. Let me know if I need to clarify further. Take care.

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Brief Answer: Kindly view the details Detailed Answer: Hello Amie, Thanks for your follow up query. 1. Presence of symptoms like Breathlessness on minimal exertion can be attributed more towards Cardiac than Respiratory problems. But your initial investigations are normal. So, it will be better to consult a Cardiologist & get a TMT or stress test done to rule out any underlying Cardiac cause. 2. Even in the absence of any past history of anemia, a basic investigation like Complete blood count can be done to rule out the same. 3. The term Aspiration is used to describe the reflux of Gastric contents & its entry into the respiratory passage & lungs. This results in symptoms like obstruction, cough & recurrent respiratory infections. Hope I have been able to answer your query. Let me know if I need to clarify further. Take care.

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Brief Answer: Pulmonary fibrosis less likely Detailed Answer: Hello Amie, Thanks for your follow up query. 1. Fibrosis of lungs usually occurs following episodes of recurrent infection/ inflammation of the lung tissues. But there is no such past history present in your case. 2. X ray shows the structure of the lungs. If there was any structural abnormality due to fibrosis sufficient enough to cause breathing difficulty on minimal exertion, it would have been easily detected. 3. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) deals with evaluating the functional aspect of the lung. If there was any fibrosis, then you would not have been able to perform the test & results would have revealed that. Based on the above mentioned observations, the diagnosis of Fibrosis seems to be less likely as a cause of your symptoms. There is no need to get concerned thinking about it. So, it will be advisable to continue your medicines for acid reflux & get a proper clinical examination done by a Cardiologist. Wishing you a good health. Take care.

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