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Posted 11/27/2014 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys i'm new to all this forum business so please excuse me if i post something somewhere incorrectly. I'm male and turned 24 yesterday and have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks since i was 20. After a year of anxiety i started suffering with severe/ chronic indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux, i also get a lot of nasal and throat congestion. I also have a heart condition called Aortic stenosis since birth which the doctors say is not affecting me in any way yet due to it being mild to moderate although i have to avoid over exherting myself. I have been to the A&E an embarrasing 45 times in the last 4 years due to all of this and have always been given the all cleae. Currently my biggest problem/fear is that when i eat something i feel as though i can't swallow and my throat is tightening up and i cant breath due to my nose being congested and in the process i work myself up, heart starts pounding, i start belching/burping feels like acid reflux, food coming back up and i get a really bad choking sensation and feel as though i am going to choke and die. Has anyone ever felt this way? I'm really sorry for such a long post
Posted 11/27/2014 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum. As you can imagine with Thanksgiving tomorrow, many people are busy tonight & tmr preparing food & traveling, so you might not get many responses in the next couple of days.

With that being said, I don't have much experience with GERD/reflux but A LOT of ppl here do & they have described almost identical symptoms that you described. GERD & anxiety seem to have a distinct correlation.

What're you doing to treat your GERD/reflux? How about your anxiety- what do you do to treat it?

Just so you know, you're not alone with your health anxieties & this is the best forum I've found for extremely helpful advice & support. You may try to do a search in the search area on this website for "GERD & Anxiety or reflux & anxiety. You may find some helpful posts from the past while you're waiting on replies here.

Wishing you the very best-
Lisa
Posted 11/27/2014 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
4,

You may want to speak with your family doctor and see if an EGD endoscopy is recommended.

John
Posted 11/27/2014 8:53 AM (GMT 0)

lesweet1971 said...
Welcome to the forum. As you can imagine with Thanksgiving tomorrow, many people are busy tonight & tmr preparing food & traveling, so you might not get many responses in the next couple of days.

With that being said, I don't have much experience with GERD/reflux but A LOT of ppl here do & they have described almost identical symptoms that you described. GERD & anxiety seem to have a distinct correlation.


What're you doing to treat your GERD/reflux? How about your anxiety- what do you do to treat it?

Just so you know, you're not alone with your health anxieties & this is the best forum I've found for extremely helpful advice & support. You may try to do a search in the search area on this website for "GERD & Anxiety or reflux & anxiety. You may find some helpful posts from the past while you're waiting on replies here.

Wishing you the very best-
Lisa

Hi and thanks for making me feel welcome here, and thanks for your reply as i can appreciate it everyone is busy. I have been taking meds for GERD on and off in the last couple of years lansoprazole 30 mg and cimetidine 400 mg and my symptoms feel alleviated somewhat until the anxiety kicks in again and has a huge impact on my digestive system.

Have been to own family doctor and to the hospital emergency dept on numerous occasions and always given the clear nothing serious going on. I have had an endoscopy 2 years ago which only found excess acid in my stomach so again nothing serious therefore the lansoprazole. In Feb next year i'm due a laryngoscopy which is a camera which they will insert through my nose to my throat to check whats causing the congestion.

For the anxiety i've only ever been on fluoxetine for about 2 months in 2011 which made me feel better and therefore i stopped taking them in case of dependency , side effects etc. about 2 weeks ago i thought i'd give anxiety meds another go so this time was prescribed with paroxetine 10 mg although only ever took 1 tablet and had really bad side effects so stopped taking that also.

Post Edited (4yearsofAnxiety) : 11/27/2014 2:07:34 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/27/2014 9:05 AM (GMT 0)

1039smooth said...
4,

You may want to speak with your family doctor and see if an EGD endoscopy is recommended.

John

Hi thanks for your reply, i have been to my family doctor on numerous occasions as its an ongoing issue, been on cimetedine 400 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg many times in last 2 years on and off, gaviscon as and when required, had endoscopy 2 years ago and nothing serious and i dont think my GP will refer me again due to my age 24 and GP strongly suggests its all anxiety related.

I have been referred for a laryngoscopy though to see whats causing the nasal and throat congestion.
Posted 11/27/2014 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
I have had anxiety since the age of 17 and it has always affected my stomach. I think our "guts" are very sensitive to our mental issues and just act up when we're feeling anxious or stressed. I have had the swallowing/choking issues too at various times but this is just another thing that happens, I think because we are so "uptight" that every muscle tightens, although it's not due to any real physical condition. Sometimes we just have to try to talk ourselves out of it....keep telling yourself that what you're experiencing is normal for someone with anxiety...I have to do it all the time...sometimes it works, sometimes not. But keep doing it anyway, until you may finally believe it. Alot of people say we should just accept our anxiety and not fight it because it makes it worse...but when you're experiencing a physical symptom, that's very hard to do. Anxiety is a tricky bugger...it works real hard to make you feel bad and it takes all forms in order to do that. I'm quite sure you are fine physically and am sending you good thoughts to help you through this.
Posted 11/27/2014 10:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to the forum I am glad you have found us but sorry to hear you have been suffering with anxiety and other health conditions. Anxiety can cause all sorts of symptoms but the good news is lots can be done to help the best being doing some talking therapy such as CBT which gets great results but does take a bit of work to master have you ever done any? If not ask your doctor about a referral.

Hibee
Posted 11/27/2014 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi 4yearsofanxiety, welcome :)

I suffer with similar things to you.. (only I'm not as bad by the sounds of it)
I have had anxiety for the past couple of years but never really struggled with the indigestion or heartburn until recently. I constantly had a pressure in my chest especially after eating, which was constantly making me vomit, also burping ALOT! Have been on Lansoprazole 30mg twice a day for the past 2 weeks and this seems to have stopped! Still get the odd pains in my chest but I think thats more the anxiety than the reflux now!

Just letting you know that you are not alone, many people here suffer from at least a few of the things you've mentioned.

You will always get support here, so keep posting :)
Posted 11/27/2014 2:47 PM (GMT 0)

andwes said...
I have had anxiety since the age of 17 and it has always affected my stomach. I think our "guts" are very sensitive to our mental issues and just act up when we're feeling anxious or stressed. I have had the swallowing/choking issues too at various times but this is just another thing that happens, I think because we are so "uptight" that every muscle tightens, although it's not due to any real physical condition. Sometimes we just have to try to talk ourselves out of it....keep telling yourself that what you're experiencing is normal for someone with anxiety...I have to do it all the time...sometimes it works, sometimes not. But keep doing it anyway, until you may finally believe it. Alot of people say we should just accept our anxiety and not fight it because it makes it worse...but when you're experiencing a physical symptom, that's very hard to do. Anxiety is a tricky bugger...it works real hard to make you feel bad and it takes all forms in order to do that. I'm quite sure you are fine physically and am sending you good thoughts to help you through this.

Hi and thanks for your reply its comforting to know there are people who i can relate to regarding this problem although i dont wish this condition an anybody.

I seem to have my good days and bad days and on bad day iy seems very difficult to reassure myself that this is just anxiety and not life threatening, sometimes i succeed and other times i dont in being able to talk myself through the attack
Posted 11/27/2014 2:55 PM (GMT 0)

CT 2014 said...
Hi 4yearsofanxiety, welcome :)

I suffer with similar things to you.. (only I'm not as bad by the sounds of it)
I have had anxiety for the past couple of years but never really struggled with the indigestion or heartburn until recently. I constantly had a pressure in my chest especially after eating, which was constantly making me vomit, also burping ALOT! Have been on Lansoprazole 30mg twice a day for the past 2 weeks and this seems to have stopped! Still get the odd pains in my chest but I think thats more the anxiety than the reflux now!

Just letting you know that you are not alone, many people here suffer from at least a few of the things you've mentioned.

You will always get support here, so keep posting :)

Hello and thankyou so much for your support it is a huge relief you know and i am glad i found this forum because only people who have or are going through anxiety can empathise and understand what one is going through. Also the lansoprazole do seem to help i've been on them on and off for past 2 years or so few months here and there.

I truly believe its also about watching the diet and making some healthy lifestyle changes, for me spicy foods, fatty fried foods and even too many cakes, biscuits and chocolates can make me feel terrible
Posted 11/27/2014 3:01 PM (GMT 0)

Hibee said...
Hi

Welcome to the forum I am glad you have found us but sorry to hear you have been suffering with anxiety and other health conditions. Anxiety can cause all sorts of symptoms but the good news is lots can be done to help the best being doing some talking therapy such as CBT which gets great results but does take a bit of work to master have you ever done any? If not ask your doctor about a referral.

Hibee

Hello and thanks for your help and support, i have been for counselling about 2 years ago and i dont think that helped at all as the counsellor thought i was "ok and would be able to manage my symptoms on my own" as i kind of knew everything already what the counsellor would advise me. Would that be the same as CBT??
Posted 11/27/2014 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome!

You have received some great input and support already...so I will just add my encouragement on reaching your health and recovery goals. Through treating both the physical and mental challenges...I am sure that you will feel your best.:)

Here are some great anxiety reducing exercises to learn and put into practice. These will help to keep your anxiety and symptoms thereof as low as possible.  I also second the CBT recommendation.  It goes beyond talk therapy, and teaches you tools for managing your thoughts/perceptions.  This can help you to deal with the worries regarding your health and physical issues...but for now...these coping skills are great to get started with!

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I



Keep posting with us. We understand and are here to support anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat

Posted 11/27/2014 10:23 PM (GMT 0)

Scaredy Cat said...
Hello and welcome!

You have received some great input and support already...so I will just add my encouragement on reaching your health and recovery goals. Through treating both the physical and mental challenges...I am sure that you will feel your best.:)

Here are some great anxiety reducing exercises to learn and put into practice. These will help to keep your anxiety and symptoms thereof as low as possible. I also second the CBT recommendation. It goes beyond talk therapy, and teaches you tools for managing your thoughts/perceptions. This can help you to deal with the worries regarding your health and physical issues...but for now...these coping skills are great to get started with!

Panic attack relief exercises:
<font color="#ff0000">

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/


http://www.healthyplace.com/


http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/


http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html


http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I



Keep posting with us. We understand and are here to support anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat

Hello and Thank you so much, really appreciate all of the help and support and indeed everyone has been so helpful.

I am going to check out the links later currenty anxiety is pretty high due to cold/fever, throat infection which now has manifested itself within my right ear
Posted 11/27/2014 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
sad Oh no!! Illness can really trigger extra anxiety for sure!

Rest and recover!

S.C.
Posted 11/28/2014 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I had the same thing happen tonight. Actually right now. I ate thanksgiving dinner and had to stop eating because I could feel my throat tightening up. I immediately thought I was allergic to something I ate. I realize now it's acid reflux from not eating at all earlier. My throat feels like it's burning now because of all that acid. I hope you feel better!!
Posted 11/28/2014 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
I too suffer from GERD and anxiety. It really messes with my mind. I am taking omeprazole and it seems to alleviate my symptoms until I'm really being irresponsible with what I eat.

The anxiety may be effecting yr stomach more then you think. It does terrible things to mine.

I'm sorry you are having issues to this degree.
Posted 11/28/2014 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hey i think i'm kinda feeling a little better for now, going to bed now as its almost 00:20 am, here in the UK.

Eating large meals or even spicy foods or food with a lot of fat/sugar content can trigger it off for me, i'm having a lot of herbal teas these days which seem to help with the GERD and reflux in particular ginger tea and fennel tea. Hope the burning/acidic sensation settles down for you
Posted 11/28/2014 9:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hope you feel even better today :)

I struggle controlling what I eat, I'm a massive lover of food (not overweight though!) so tend to just eat what I want and then suffer the consequences later! But I'm lucky enough that I don't get many consequences now I'm on the Lansoprazole!

May try the teas if I start getting bad again though! - Thanks for the tip!! :)
Posted 11/29/2014 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hello just thought i'd post seen as i'm not doing too good at the moment, went over to a relatives house and ate quite a lot, even foods i should avoid.

Like CT i also am not overweight but enjoy my food and hard to say no therefore now suffering the consequence of acid reflux which is making me feel very anxious
Posted 11/29/2014 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
4YoA,

I hope that the discomfort passes quickly and that you can rest and digest comfortably for the rest of the night!

Maybe tomorrow do a 'bland cleanse' type of day! :)...

...and don't forget your coping skills!

S.C.
Posted 11/29/2014 7:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Scaredy Cat i think i coped ok last night, didn't let it turn into a full on panic attack and aslo managed to get some sleep, thanks for the tips and i also checked out them links, going to start practicing the breathing method too
Posted 11/29/2014 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome!!

Great job on getting through last night and avoiding an attack.:)

I am glad to hear that you are going to utilize the self-help ideas. I see a big difference in the members who use the techniques regularly. (and in my own experience too!!)

Keep posting!

S.C.
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