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Is ALL this GERD?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 10/12/2008 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I am a 19 year old male, just diagnosed with GERD. After reading up on GERD though it would seem I have much more wrong, eventhough my doctor insits it is nothing else. The symptoms I get are pressure and tightness on both sides of chest and stomach. Also my left arm and leg, especially feet and hand are always numb or tingly. I often get light headed and feel like im going to faint... especially when walking. Even a medium length walk now has become to much, my chest tightness, arms numb and back is very painful and I become very dizzy. I have been to the hosptial several times and they have done numerous tests and reassured me theres nothing wrong with my heart. Also my back always feels like its going to seize up, especially at the bottom. Furthermore i get a very sharp pain at the top of my back and on the lower right hand side. The main problem however seems to be a constant pain near my heart that doesnt go away no matter what medication I take and seems to move around into the abdomian. Lastly I get random pains throughout my head, such as neck pains, numbness or jaw and feels like someone is squeezing the back of my head, inside. Anyone know what all this means and if theres a cure? It's ridiculous I have trouble walking to the nearest shop... 
Posted 10/12/2008 1:33 PM (GMT 0)

Chedda,

Welcome to HealingWell, I am Kitt.

Who diagnosed you with GERD, was it a GI physician?  Have you seen both a cardiologist and neurologist?

Would you mind giving a bit more detail regarding the physician's opinions and treatment prescribed.

Also do you have a history of anxiety?

I am sure we will be able to help you out and know we support you.

Kitt

Posted 10/14/2008 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi chedda.
I am a 42 year old male. I have gerd also and found out I have barrets disease.
I too have most of the complaints you list, after every test you can imangine, I was sent to a therapist for anxiety. for me the dizzy and tingles are from hyperventalation (too much oxygen, not enough co2)
I found that when I get those feeling I do two things.
First, I cover my mouth and one nostril and breath very slowly.
the second, I do not breath from my chest, I make sure I breath from my stomach by watching it move up and down.
as for the chest pain, I was told by my gastro. that pain on the right is gallbladder and pancreas, pain on the left always esophagus. (spasms)
my advice to you is to make an app. with a gastro dr. and he/she can help you deal with the nerves.
until then, give up the alcohol, cokes, chocolate, and eat as bland as you can until you see him/her.
I have dealt with this for five years now, and although they havent fixed me yet I feel they are very close to fixing this, it's alot of trail and error.
Know this after many attacks like you have had, I'm still here, and you will be to. I know is fells like you must be dying no matter what the doctor says, but your not. Its not a quick fix, you have to train you body on how to deal with the gerd giving you panic attacks. with the docs help you will, I promise.
I hope this reasurres you.
btw. my current meds are
prevacid 30mgtimes two(was on nexium for two years, doc took me off because nexium may affect the heart with long term use)
xanax .25 as needed (once i learned to breath correctly and meditate, a months supply now last me 4 to six months)
I was on anti spasms meds but I dont seem to toreate them well.
metoprotol 12.5mg times two
Posted 10/15/2008 2:21 AM (GMT 0)

Chedda said...
Hi I am a 19 year old male, just diagnosed with GERD. After reading up on GERD though it would seem I have much more wrong, eventhough my doctor insits it is nothing else. The symptoms I get are pressure and tightness on both sides of chest and stomach. Also my left arm and leg, especially feet and hand are always numb or tingly. I often get light headed and feel like im going to faint... especially when walking. Even a medium length walk now has become to much, my chest tightness, arms numb and back is very painful and I become very dizzy. I have been to the hosptial several times and they have done numerous tests and reassured me theres nothing wrong with my heart. Also my back always feels like its going to seize up, especially at the bottom. Furthermore i get a very sharp pain at the top of my back and on the lower right hand side. The main problem however seems to be a constant pain near my heart that doesnt go away no matter what medication I take and seems to move around into the abdomian. Lastly I get random pains throughout my head, such as neck pains, numbness or jaw and feels like someone is squeezing the back of my head, inside. Anyone know what all this means and if theres a cure? It's ridiculous I have trouble walking to the nearest shop...

Have you seen a chiropractor? You'd be surprised what can be caused by spinal issues, even when you don't feel any back pain at all. Given your back pain, I'd pay one a visit.
Posted 10/15/2008 9:36 PM (GMT 0)

At first, the doctors thought I had heart disease - because of the chest tightness and shortness of breath.  One day I was walking in Downtown Chicago and couldn't walk, I had to sit in the middle of the sidewalk . . . in the center of the business district.  I telephoned my physician on my cell phone and he told me to get my a*s into the Emergency Room ASAP (I wouldn't tell him where I was at so he could call an ambulance).  A couple of stress tests and an echocardiogram later (over a several week period) - and my heart was pronounced excellent, and healthy.  I had severe jaw pains and terrible headaches and one specialist thought I had TMJ, and I was fitted with a contraption for my mouth that I wore nightly, until I tossed it away because I thought it was useless.  The eye, ear and nose specialist said those areas were okay.  The Neurologist wanted me to start some psychological drugs which I resisted and refused to take, because I didn't think I had such problems. I underwent acupuncture for months - grasping for straws as to what was bothering me.  My primary care physician was stumped and said everyone expects the physicians to have all of the answers - which, he said, they didn't.  He also said that, through the process of elimination, one day we'd find out what was causing my problems.  Finally, I landed at the doorstep of a Gastroenterologist and testing with him confirmed I was suffering from GERD and the medication he prescribed (first Acifex and later Nexium) alleviated the problems and I've been fine since.  I wouldn't know what's causing the issues you're dealing with, but I was flabbergasted to learn that GERD could be the catalyst for disrupting my body the way it had.

Posted 10/15/2008 11:11 PM (GMT 0)

Chedda,

Some good information here for you. If you ae breathing fast and blowing off C02 you can always grab a paper bag and breathe in and out slowly.  Many people hyperventilate when they are afraid or having an anxiety or panic attack.

I am still wondering who dx your GERD? I hope you come back and talk to us.

Kitt

Posted 10/19/2008 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, sorry have been extremely busy recently, thanks for your help. The tests I have done are heart tracing, x-rays and blood tests along with standard testing. All which have come back fine. My GP prescribed me Gaviscon and Omeprazole, both seem to be doing very little. I have another appointment booked for this wedensday. When I breathe deeply, the pain in my chest worsens and I become very light headed. The pain seems to vary from day to day really, either way any type of excerise, even walking is very difficult. I heard ceratin foods and posture positions car increase the pain caused by GERD, if this is actually what I have. I have stopped drinking alcohol for 3 weeks now, the pain seems to be less intense in some areas but worse in others, like the fact I will randomly get the feeling im going to faint or pass out.
Posted 12/31/2008 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chedda,

I know this post is a couple months old, but I have been having very similar symptoms, with no relief from zantac or prilosec.

Did you ever figure out what was causing your symptoms?
Posted 9/11/2015 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
I had these types of pains and iron deficiency anemia, finally after 4 years it Turns out I have a !0 cm Type III Paraesophageal hiatal hernia. Having surgery on Sept.15th. Was diagnosed with a barium swallow test. I also was having shortness of breathe. Might look into this.
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