Acid reflux? GERD? help please :(

Idgiebay · 07-03-2004, 06:29 AM

I have panic disorder and lately, I've been very, very worried about my heart. I've been wondering if a lot of my problems might be due to some digestive problem, though...

It mainly happens at night, usually after I've eaten. My heart beats hard and I have a funny feeling in my chest that feels somewhat like palipitations, but I'm not sure if my heart is actually skipping a beat or if I'm just feeling some type of air bubble or gas moving around (it sounds weird, I know... it's like a low, random grumbling). Sometimes I feel like I need to burp, but I can't, and other times I do burp and it seems to relieve some of the pressure, but not much. The feeling worsens when I bend over or lie down for sleep.

I never feel anything in the back of my throat like some people seem to... but when I burp, my throat sometimes burns, like I'm going to throw up. Gross, I know..

Anyway, I've been wondering if anyone else has similar feelings. I AM going to the doctor this Wednesday to get checked out, but I felt like I needed some peace of mind right now.

Also, perhaps unrelated, but I seem to get very winded after doing menial tasks, like walking up the stairs or getting out of the car, usually at night and after I've eaten. My heart also beats very hard.

I had four EKGs, an echocardiogram, and a holter monitor a few months back and everything was fine, but my worst fear is that something is wrong now. I had high cholesterol for my age (21) and every time this happens to me, I fear it's my cholesterol or that calcium has built up in my arteries and I'll die any second.

actudan · 07-04-2004, 11:32 PM

If you think it's your heart then get a full heart exam (EKG, holter monito, stress test, echocadiogram, and others). I have been (still am) in your shoes and I know how it feels. When I first started having panic attacks, I was 28 (31 now) and I swore that I was going to die. I was put on Xanax (which I still take from time to time) and Zoloft. A year of that stuff put me back to normal until I started having stomach problems. I still take Xanax from time to time but I now recognize the heart stuff and know it's not my heart but probably more due to andrenaline. If you have heartburn or acid indigestion, it will make you feel like you are having palpitations which will make panic kick in. I am so familar with that situation. I can control the panics for the most part and what I do is concentrate on something else or start breathing exercises. It has taking years to develop a natural remedy and still I nee meds for the owrst attacks. The best thing to do is get all your tests dones so you can rule out problems so you can tell yourself that nothing is wrong with your heart. I believe that helped me the most when it came to my heart. Good luck and take care!

Dan

Aries872 · 07-12-2004, 12:23 PM

I am in the same boat. I have acid reflux, IBS, costochondritis (from bracing myself during panic attacks all the time) all of which I am convinced is from my anxiety and panic and my last job as well was not ergonomically correct. My desk was on an incline and I was constantly holding myself up to keep from rolling down hill.

Anxiety does really horrible things to your body. I am currently learning CBT and taking Klonopin at night to help with the stress. I am a constant worrier. I worry about anything at any given time. I am seeing a therapist to talk out why it is that I worry and how to deal.

My latest symptoms, which change form regularly, is nausea and dry heaving early in the morning. I have begun drinking Aloe Vera Juice for this, my IBS and reflux. I will start a magnesium and calcium supplement today as well.

PLEASE RELAX. MEDITATE. BREATHE. I know it is easier said than done but the damage that stress does is horrible if you do not get your emotions and thinking in order. It is a struggle but, I am gonna do it anti-deppresant free if it is the last thing I do.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU
Aries87z

SuzyQPA2 · 07-13-2004, 01:19 AM

I have GERD and I have similar symptoms as you do which are worse at certain times of my life than others.
Whenever I am overweight (like now) or when i smoked/drank caffeienated coffee my GERD really kicked in.

Burning in the throat (acid) or refluxed food (backwash i call it) is GERD....it's lovely to taste your food a couple times isn't it? I actually refluxed some beer in the morning that I had the previous night the other day (a wake up call to cut back on my acidic diet)

My mother has the same exact thing and when she eats something that bothers her (vinegars, fatty foods etc) it makes her heart race and she has to take a pill. (sorry don't know what kind, but she's had a heart murmer all her life).

I know how she feels though because when my GERD is bad I have trouble sleeping, I feel anxious, I actually feel Ill throughout my whole body sometimes and I feel a pressure in my rib cage that is only relieved by burping (gas)-which simethicone helps with.

If you have reflux, you can go on nexium or prilosec or pepcid for a couple weeks to a couple months. Being on that kind of medication helps heal the erosions from the acid (stomach acid is really potent stuff and too much can do some major damage) and keeps your stomach acid content manageable.

You should try cutting back on certain foods (tomatoes, oranges, milk, spicy, fried, fatty, sodas, caffeine (try decaf)) and see if you notice an improvement. Some foods are alkaline and some are acidic.

Personally I think Gerd is hereditary...or our bodies refusal of all this overprocessed food.

bogmallo · 07-13-2004, 03:29 AM

It is all a big vicious circle. In my case depression created stress which lead to hyperacidity which kick started the panic attacks. Ultimately treatment for depression and anxiety controlled the pa's. Now when i do get pa's i am able to recognise them most of the time and ride them out by meditation or chanting a mantra to myself and reminding myself that it is only a panic attack.