Anxiety and symptoms

Hi there

Good morning....Yes I have had those same symptoms....I wonder if you have a bit of gerd,or acid reflux, you know? I think alot of what you describe is stress induced tension, especially in your back. When something stresses me I get tense. May I offer a suggestion for the next time....close your eyes and say    " Jesus , I give this moment to you, I need your strength...With you nothing is impossible. Take the fear out of me.

Amen               Do come to the chat rooms...lots of love there, lots of hope and peace. Annie

 

Hi oakley, I think mine is something other than reflux related as I am always feeling alot of gas in my upper abdomen, not to mention being able to hear it not only with a stethoscope but hear it audibly without also, and when I belch the pressure is gone. These gastro doctors fail to make note that gas in the upper abdomen comes out through belches, not the other direction. I am on protonix 40mg daily. I will get on the chat later this evening. Is the chat by category like the forum??? Thanks. Lisa

I just saw a chat schedule for UC, Bipolar Disorder, Prostate issues, MS, and Lyme disease. None for Anxiety and Panic.

I have the gas/belching problem in a big, big way. When I used to get panic attacks they weren't like most of the panic attacks you read about on here. What would happen is that my abdomen would bloat up as if I were a pregnant man! There'd be so much pressure in there I'd get very nauseated.

Piecing together what a couple of doctors told me, it seems that when a panic comes on the body diverts blood flow from the digestive tract and into the brain, limbs, and elsewhere. Fight or flight, you know. So I guess the gas just gets trapped in there and with your digestive tract shut down it just sits there and makes you uncomfortable.

I found that most of the time simethicone would help. That's Gas-X, basically. It's not really a drug, but a chemical that when ingested causes the gas to coalesce so that it may be expelled easier. A lot of antacids also contain simethicone. Once you get that going, if you're lucky you'll burp.

I also have GERD and gas is also a symptom of that. I was on Prevacid throughout the entire time I was having these panic attacks and it never helped much. When I started Klonopin, my GERD went away! It was really something. So naturally I quit taking the Prevacid and then the GERD came back (though not as bad as before). It seems I need both drugs to keep that under control. I very seldom have GERD problems anymore. I have to eat three bad meals in a day and just sit around to get it to act up.

It should be noted that there MAY be an interaction problem between Klonopin (should you decide to ask your doc about that) and H2 blockers (zantac, pepcid). PPI's like Prevacid, Nexium, etc. are safe. I think Protonix is a PPI but I'm not sure.

I cannot tell you what caused your GERD or whether you even have it or not. Eating too fast is bad, indeed, and that's something I'm often guilty of too since I regularly go long periods between meals.

Discussing "modified" or "atypical" panic attacks with your doctor may be a good idea.

I just found this forum ... thanks to all.
I have no idea what I have - except the usual Panic / Anxiety.
But my symptoms sound just like yours ... for no (evident) reason at all ... my nervous system kicks in (for fun - though it's NOT fun) and for anywhere from an hour to hours - I have this described KNOT in my abdomen - hard to tell if it's something being tied like a knot or bloating discomfort.
But the BELCHING ... OMG ... I can belch literally every 10 seconds ... non stop ... for hours. My kids think I am messing with them - rudely I might add. I keep telling them - Dad is not showing off!
I try all the OTC anti-gas meds - little use.
Eventually - and I do not like drugs - I take a PRN dose of Xanax. Seems to calm me down ... but I've had to increase the dose over the years from 0.25 to 1.25.
My girlfriends - one a time - have been GREAT - had nicknamed me "burpy" and "bubble butt" (even though it's strictly belching). But it's embarrassing. It always come on during apprehension anxiety - driving to a client - burp all the way in the car. Then get there and it (has to) stop.
The bit I don't get - the bloating feels abdominal - so why indeed is the flatulence NOT farting - why is it belching?
I'm in my early 50's (had it for 20 years - GAD MD thinks) and if there are any notes I can share with anyone here ... let me know.
Rob

I have noticed a direct correlation between stress / anxiety and digestive issues. If I have a big presentation my gut knots up and I belch a lot. If I have something very stressful like firing someone, I can get debilitating pains. The doctors thought I had a recurring bout of salmonella. My son had gotten salmonella and they thought it spread it to me. Turns out I was just freaked about my 6 month old being so sick. This however, was the first was indication that I have a condition between my head and gut.

I have to go see my GI doctor today. Been belching like crazy and my side is all knotted up again. Can't say I am too awful stressed though. Family is well and work is busy. Really don't think I have too much to be upset about. Maybe its these big projects I am working on. This being said, they are all going extremely well. In fact I am kind of ashamed I cant control my own anxiety.

My stomach knotted up 3 times a year ago, felt like pressure in my stomach and about knocked the wind out of me. It happened while driving and I felt like my head would explore, I was red faced and knew something was wrong. Drove to the dr, had an ekg, everything was fine, told it was panic attack. I didn't feel panicky at all, but had been under a lot of stress with my husbands job loss, my adult daughter divorcing and moving home with no job or money, and my son moving out. I also went through menopause, had knee and leg pain, couldn't find the right shoes...and my horse went lame. I couldn't ride my horse for stress relief, my husband went to north Dakota to try and find work, and I felt lonely and scared as I live outside of a small town in the middle of nowhere. My daughter has depression and can't drive due to health issues, my marriage was suffering, and I basically have had anxiety off and on for the past 10 months. I wondered if anyone else has had stomach knots like that that knock the wind out of you.

I have heard that saying, and for me it must be true. I am trying to focus on exercise for stress relief at my Drs suggestion. When I was younger my heart would pound. Now it's my stomach.