New to GERD...if that's even what it is

Sorry, this post is going to be all over the place. I'm experiencing a lot of things I'm not used to. I've been having GERD symptoms for about a month now (no days have passed where I don't have some symptoms) and have been to two doctors about it in the last week and a half. They both suggested it was GERD...but ran no tests on me. I've been taking Zantac for about 9 days now and Nexium for 2 days. Oh, and I also have a UTI which the doctor put me on Bactrim for. My symptoms aren't as bad as what they once were but they are definitely not gone. I'm broke and can't afford to go back to the doctor just yet. Some of my symptoms I still have worry me and I am also having anxiety/panic attacks. I had only had one or two of those before the GERD, but now it's almost daily. I feel completely useless at my job, I work retail. But anyway, I don't feel hunger pains anymore, haven't for a few weeks. Every now and then my stomach will burn and I assume it's hunger so I'll try to eat a bite of something but I experience discomfort in my chest immediately after taking a bite and it lasts a while. My face randomly gets hot but I'm not running a fever. I'm only 23 years old and I have a toddler so all of this stuff worries me. I thought I was dying for a while, still not completely sure I'm not. My head is in a fog lately, I can barely focus and I feel very forgetful. I burp a lot more since all of this started. My back already was in pain before but even more so now. It's not a gallbladder issue because that was removed a few years ago. I've lost about 15 pounds in the last few weeks cause I've barely been able to eat...most days can't eat at all. I'm afraid to exercise because a) i think i'll make matters worse and b) i have little to no calories to burn. I am overweight and I'm sure this doesn't help, I think I'm about 160 lbs. now. I'm 5'2'' or 5'3''. Doctor said my heart sounds good. My blood pressure was fine but that was the extent of my tests, other than urinalysis for my bladder infection. I just want to feel normal again. Any suggestions?

One doctor prescribed Nexium (once a day, didn't say when during the day), one prescribed Zantac (twice a day, 30-60 minutes before eating). A pharmacist said it sounded like the GERD got really bad and I should take both.

I had the stomach problem before the Bactrim, before the doctors.

Nexium has yet to make me hungry, Zantac seemed like it was the first couple times I took it but no longer does.

My face getting randomly hot started before the doctors as well.

I think most of your symptoms could be from stress. Sounds like you should try to relax and not worry so much. The anxiety could be causing the GERD symptoms since worry is like an acid factory. The strange aches and pains do not mean you are dying, so you don't need to let that idea get to you.

I think exercise would be helpful for you. Exercise is a great stress reliever and improves your digestion and would help you get your appetite back. It will also help you get down to your correct weight. Just don't exercise on a full stomach and avoid bouncy exercises that could slosh acid around. A stationary bike is a good exercise for people with GERD.

It sounds like maybe you are skipping meals. That would tend to make GERD worse since you aren't putting any food in there to neutralize the acid.

I agree with others that you probably don't need to be taking both Nexium and Zantac. Nexium is very strong all by itself.

try eating crackers,i buy ones without salt,it helps me..because i have not had much of an appetite either...all day so far i have had burning in my thoat,crakers helped .