Stressed related GERD?

I have GAD and have had anxiety since I was 9 y/o. Mostly untreated. I'm only prescribed xanax; and I know that isn't a solution. I'm too ashamed of my issues to get help. I've never had digestive problems growing up. I lost my job two months ago and I moved away from my family to live with my boyfriend. Long story short, I'm under ALOT of stress. Majority of anxiety is due to health (crazy hypochondriac ) - constantly making up diseases and such then having ghost pains. When my stress levels rise, so does my obsession with my health. I was convinced I had a heart disease and I had to much time to obsess over it after I lost my job. Refused to see the doctor even though I have amazing health insurance. Everyday I was in a 24/7 anxious state believing I was about to drop dead any second. Then weeks later, I started to have indigestion problems. Mild. But i believe my anxiety made it worst.

FINALLLLY went to the doctors. Heart, lungs, literally everything about me is perfectly healthy. Doctor prescribed me zantac for GERD. Wasn't tested for it, she just agreed with my self diagnosis. Made me feel soooooo much worst. Chest tightness and problems breathing. She then prescribed me another medicine and it only made me feel more awful. I literally can't eat anything anymore without these symptoms ruining my entire day. I'd take how I felt before the medicine in a heartbeat. At least I could eat.

I read a post on here that made sense to me. They said they started to feel better after they stopped taking those meds for GERD and started to get treated for anti depression and anxiety. So, if you don't have GERD, can taking these pills make it so your stomach won't produce enough acid and you'll get a handful of other terrible side effects?

Like I started to get GERD symptoms anxiety can't cause the day after I took zantac. Excess saliva, hoarseness in voice, sore throat, regurgitation. I've been on it a week and its only getting worse! All I had before was a sharp pain in my upper abdominal and excessive gas after I ate. I'm starting to think I didn't have Gerd at all...if so, I hope these pills aren't destroying my esophagus.

Post Edited (Anxiousqueen) : 10/5/2017 5:27:15 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Sharon, Thank you for taking your time to read and respond!
I stopped Zantac three days later because the upper chest pains - more like a heavy weight was dropped on my esophagus region than an actual pain that would last all day, and the air hungry sensation scared me off them. Also this is around the time I started to get actual GERD symptoms. I've had anxiety almost my entire life, I can decipher the difference between an anxious trigger of SOB. The Zantac side effects were nothing compared to what has been going on since I switched meds (pantoprazole 40mg) and I've taken them for a week and a half now. This air hunger feeling is nothing I've experienced before. Xanax doesn't take it away either, another indicator it isn't anxiety. These pills are making me afraid to eat because of the unbearable/ frightening outcome I feel chronically weak, but I also believe the constant stress is to blame as well. I'm only 22/f too. Barely overweight. Declared perfectly healthy by my doctor last week, besides my mental illnesses (Depression, anxiety) Neither being treated. BUT I am going to my primary doctor today again and going to ask for meds; meantime while I search for a physiologist to help me. Anxiety has destroyed my life and relationships. I feel 80 when I'm still so young. Afraid to go out, drive, etc, and it's making me physically sick and making me take medication I don't need. Hopefully everything will work out!

And my boyfriend told me the exact thing. He actually wanted to take away my phone and computer because I was obsessively googling symptoms. It's driving us both nuts.