Panic Attack sufferers and GERD

[benzos]

I dont know if anyone has heard of the connection between panic attacks and GI problems? I have just been reading all about it. I am going to do a bit more research on this one as I suffer wth panics. The article I just read also relates to IBS. It talks of a condition set up by panic disorder. Apparently Carafate is recommended. If anyone wants to know more I'd be happy to tell you more details.

Benzos

[kattjo5220]

I would like to hear about this.. I was just prescribed carafate but I haven't taken it yet, I am a big chicken when it comes to meds...

In my case I think my upper GI problems caused my panic/anxiety and not the other way around. Especially since I have atypical symptoms as well as silent reflux.

Now I have had IBS D for about 15 years but as the upper GI problems began my IBS got better, It is my belief that my lower GI is causing my upper GI problems, who knows....

Thanks, Katt

[moesciphish]

That's weird... I too suffer from panics, but don't know if it was the chicken or the egg...I also throughout many years have had bad lower GI problems, but once the upper GI started, I became quite regular and haven't really had the D problems. Though, I did also stop smoking, so that may have helped too. I am also a chicken and haven't tried the zelnorm I was prescribed for slow gastric emptying...which is supposed to help some for IBS also. The funny thing is... when I get up in the morning and empty my bowels, I can literally feel things begin to move again in my intestines and stomach. One GI doc told me that most of the time GI problems all orginate from the bowels. I'm pretty sure the panic started with my upper GI problems because it's such a scary thing to have strange unexplainable pain and sensations in your chest. My latest is horrible acute back pains that then spread to my entire back where my back feels electrified or like its on fire or like it is constantly moving. I'm having a chest CT today to see if it is anything serious.

[benzos]

Well this article dates back to 1999 so its been a theory for quite a while. It is thought that panic related GI problems with IBS and GERD problems as the main ones are due to abnormality of bile flow. This Carafate binds to the bile and helps the condition. Abnormality of bile flow with panic disorder has been documented but is not well known by most clinicians. Psyciaitrists dont recognise the GERD/IBS relation to panic and thats why it remains totally a gastro enterology problem.
PPIs help but apparently the caustic bile continues to cause gatric symptoms (is this why so many people are not 100% relived by PPI's) The Carafate would only be effective if the GERD/IBS is part of the panic disorder syndrome.

Its a good way to rule it out if you suffer with panic. It does however seem to go on quite a bit about diarrhoea and fecal incontinence (I've got the opposite most of the time!)

Still searching for more

Benzos

[kattjo5220]

That is interesting, I started my carafate today but I only took 1/2 of the pill this morning. I like to try small doses to see if I react. So far so good. My new family doc gave it to me. I don't know why my GI doc never offered it. I am feeling pretty darn good right now.

I found something interesting about the IBS D called Habba Syndrome. From what I understand it is a cause of IBS D that has to do with bile salts and your gallbladder. Like if you primarily have severe attacks of D right after eating that is what it could be. I am of the mind that I may have like a bile reflux, who knows...

I know with the IBS dx I was always told I must have anxiety and thats why I have IBS. Whatever! I didn't have any anxiety or panic until the upper GI crap started.

Katt