Gastritis and panic attacks

Hi,
I've just joined this site tonight and already feel less panicked!
In Oct 2013 I got rushed to hospital thinking I was having a heart attack....turned out it was reflux...phew! Since then I gone through various tests as am still suffering with stomach burning and chest pressure. Gallstones was 1st thought by docs but wasn't that. Then had a camera down throat and I've got gastritis.
I have got the pain side of it sorted but my reflux/indegestion is really bad. I get really bad chest pain and dizziness which is causing me to have panic attacks and I think I'm dying!! I live on my own with my 4yr old daughter which panics me more as I always think what if I am dying?!! Sounds silly, I know but when it happens, its real!!
Doc has given me diazepan but I have been too scared to take!! I have a relaxation app on my phone which sometimes helps. This is really getting me down and wondered if anyone else suffers like me snd do they have any tips to control it?
Thanks

Hi,

about two months ago, I started having stomach issues. Low appetite, when I ate I could only eat a few bites, pain on both sides of my abdomen. Then I woke up one day feeling really terrible with nausea and diarrhea. On my way to work in the car, it suddenly felt like someone was squeezing my chest and stomach. My limbs felt tingling like they were going numb and even my mouth felt funny. Thankfully I have co-workers who care so they took me to the ER where they gave me a blood test, chest x-ray and EKG. Everything came out normal and I was diagnosed with GERD.

about a month or so later, still dealing with GERD and medications that may or may not work, I went out food shopping with my father and felt the same symptoms. I was in the middle of downtown and didn't want to deal with any ER in that area, so I tried to relax, drink some water and let it pass. However, on the way home it happened again. I thought I was going to throw up so I forced my dad to pull over. The symptoms got worse to the point where I couldn't move my left arm, my stomach felt like it had a boulder in it and every nerve from head to toe was vibrating and on fire. I thought I was going to pass out so I laid down on the ground and begged for an ambulance. After a four and a half hour wait, they finally checked me out, gave me an IV and did some blood work. Again everything was normal, they said it was gastritis and an anxiety attack. I had never experienced anything like it before two months ago and naturally was surprised.

Unfortunately, I still get them in the car sometimes if it's hot and I'm not feeling well. Only I just talk myself through it because I really don't want to go back to the ER. I'm sure this has something to do with my GERD and gastritis. You're not crazy, but maybe try some alternative methods instead of always taking pills.

Hope you get better.

C

Hi,
I only take Omeprazole which helps the stomach pain and acid. Like I said I have been prescribed diazepan for the panic but haven't yet taken one.
My main reason for coming on this site was to see that I'm not the only one suffering with these weird episodes. As I read more I have come to realise that panic attacks is fairly common with people who have stomach issues. I just don't get why sometimes I feel so awful with dizziness, feeling like im gona pass out, chest pain and rapid heartbeat is all to do with stomach issues. I'm slowly getting used to it and telling myself I'm not going to die its just gerd but every time it happens I cant help but panic a bit!!

Thanks for all your feed back.....the reassurance I'm not alone is the best cure!!

Thank you. I will ask my doctor when I next go. Im guessing the panic attacks will go once stomach is sorted? ☺

I have gastritis and the start of ulcers in my stomach.I am getting down also and I was feeling like I was dying too, but I think the dizziness came from not eating very much. I felt better by carrying my phone around the house with me at all times, out to get the mail, laundry room, even bathroom. I told my self if it was bad I could call for help. I would be too scared to take the diazapan also! You are not alone, I wish you well!

This sounds so familiar to me. I was just diagnosed with Gerd and I have had 3 similar panic attacks that I have always felt were related to my stomach issues somehow. I am going to be tested for H. Pylori bacteria this week. Has anyone been diagnosed with that? Also my panic attacks are always in the middle of the night between 3 and 4 am. The first one was awful, I thought I was dying and it came in waves for a couple of hours. The second was bad too, but I was able to handle it a little better because I had experience with it. The third was easier to handle as well because my doctor gave me xanex to take when for when they occur. I am desperate for the Dr. to tell me what is wrong with me and fix it so I dont wake up with these attacks anymore. They are so scary and make me fearful to go to bed at night sometimes. Has anyone else had them in the middle of the night like this?

As far as my GERD goes, a couple things that help me are Coconut Water and Aloe Water. They are extra helpful in hydration and they are very soothing on the esophagus