GERD/LPR and anxiety

Daxter

Regular Member

Joined : May 2013

Posts : 406

Posted 9/2/2013 3:59 PM (GMT 0)

Hello, I thought I'd post this on this forum too, to see if other people with anxiety have had experience with these symptoms.

I'm getting rather desperate now. I'm only 22 and I've never had a long running history of problems until just 10 months ago, I developed serious hypochondria about my heart. Once that was cleared up, I began getting symptoms of acid reflux 8 months ago including:

- Burning throat even after drinking water or following diets such as Dr Kouffman's Reflux Diet
- Constant throat clearing
- Occasional sore throats/heartburn
- Sheer depression
- Constant belching if I so much as wiggle.

I'm on Cimetidine and Gaviscon Advance which stop the burning but nothing else, and what scares me is the moment I stop them, everything comes back. Worst of all, the Cimetidine is only 400mg and it doesn't last all day. I'm on edge all day worrying what foods will make me worse, or when the symptoms will return. Sometimes they happen at the start of the day, before I even eat or drink anything. Sometimes they don't happen when I eat bad foods, other times they happen one day but not the other, even if I eat EXACTLY THE SAME foods at exactly the same times.

What can I do? Can anxiety/stress alone CAUSE reflux issues? I don't mean can it worsen them, because that is obvious in its own right, I mean has anything proven that stress can cause GERD and/or LPR? Is it guaranteed to be a lifelong problem? I'm really scared that it is, I don't want to suffer for over 60 years ;(

LB1976

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2013

Posts : 61

Posted 9/2/2013 11:14 PM (GMT 0)

Stress and anxiety can definitely aggravate your GERD symptoms.

I was diagnosed with LPR in 2011 when my throat was so inflamed it would swell. It wasn't that I couldn't breathe or anything, I just couldn't swallow solid food. I ended up with a PICC line to feed me intravenously for 3 weeks. I had an endoscopy where they stretched my esophagus and that seemed to help. I was put on Prilosec which I still take now. It does well controlling the burning. I notice I get it if I neglect to take the meds for a day or 2.

Like you, I suffer from horrible health anxiety. Recently mine has been concentrated on my heart. I suffer from palpitations and was diagnosed with PVCs.

Scaredy Cat

Elite Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 28868

Posted 9/3/2013 2:50 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Daxter and welcome.

I think that it is a combination of physiology and psychology when it comes to GERD and anxiety...they can definitley be present without the other...but more often than not, they coexist.

Try some of the self-help techniques in our Resources and see if you have any relief. Usually reducing overall stress levels, reduces our physical symptoms. Doing the breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation are all probably going to help you. You can find our Resources on the main page, 1st page.

I hope that you can get the relief that you need soon. Keep posting with us if you find it helpful. We are here for support and understanding anytime.

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

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