Going crazy, need answers - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

ryleetn · 10-28-2007, 02:40 PM

I have posted several times, but am just wondering if anyone else has all the same symptoms as I do. I am going crazy thinking it is something way more life threatening than reflux the stress is making me nuts.
My newest symptom is pain or maybe stiffness in my neck
One of the worst is at night when I start to fall asleep I feel as if someone puts a pillow over my face and I can't breathe.
I have this pain that goes through my left breast into my back, sometimes when I breathe but not always, sometimes just random.
Bloating and pressure in my upper stomach.
Dull achiness on either side of my breast bone.
Shortness of breath, again just at random times.
Pain that seems to jump around all in my chest.
Heart jumping.

It is all making me sooo crazy, and I was just put on a Z pak, due to a sinus infection and the last couple days have been miserable.
I am also achey today, not sure if it is still the infection or what?
Any comments would ease my mind. I have an appt. on Nov. 2 for endoscopy, but that dosen't give me any peace of mind today.
I have been to a cardiologist to have my heart checked because with all the pain in my chest that is where my fear lies, but dr said everything checks out.

lala-whatsnext · 10-28-2007, 05:04 PM

are you a hypocondriac?

ryleetn · 10-28-2007, 05:20 PM

Sounds like it huh! Are you being sarcastic?

Texas Tomato · 10-28-2007, 09:35 PM

Hi, ryleetn --

Just want to commiserate. Certainly sounds like reflux. I hate to tell you this, but antibiotics may make it worse before it gets better. I took a long course of antibiotics in May for a sinus infection, and it just about ruined my whole summer.

I'm going to give you the advice that I wish somebody had given me when I first went on the antibiotics: take some probiotics (acidophilus, live cultures) and eat yogurt. It will help keep a balance of the good bacteria that you need to feel well. The antibiotics are killing ALL the bacteria in your digestive system, including the good stuff, so you need to replenish it. Also take fiber supplements like Benefiber, and take some Beano before each meal. It should help with the bloating. I had the shortness of breath and bloat, and I've gradually gotten better. Hope this gives you some hope.

stimi3ak · 10-29-2007, 10:57 AM

I am with Texas Tomato. I take acidophilus 4 times a day and it has made a world of difference in my shortness of breath and pressure. I break two capsules into 4 ounces of water, stir it and chug it right down. Every other day I take d-limonene which also helps a great deal. All of this can be taken with your regular meds as I'm also on Nexium and Effexor XR.

You can get acidophilus at any health food store and even some grocery stores in their organic or vitamin section.

Your symptoms are exactly like mine. My chest will have shooting pains so bad they wake me up in the middle of the night. I am not overweight and I am only 29 years old. I have been to the Cardiologist, the pulmonologist and the allergist to clear up any/all possible other problems this can be.

My issue came about because my sphincters do not relax enough to keep the acid from coming up into my esophagus. And I had silent heartburn meaning I never felt the burning sensation as it came up into my mouth. Therefore the damage had gone on for a very long time before the other things (chest pain, shortness of breath, bloating, rib cage pain, etc....) became issues.

Try the acidophilus as I described above. At first I took it every two hours from the time I got up til around 5pm at night. Now I do it 4 times a day.

Good luck!