HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Not sure what is happening :-(

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/8/2015 6:59 AM (GMT 0)
OK I'm not even sure where to begin here, but I need to write this out to talk myself through it and if anyone has anything to contribute, it is always welcome.

A few weeks ago when my acid reflux was getting worse and the Zantac I had been on for 6 months seemed to stop working, my doctor decided we needed to go "stronger" and she prescribed me with the Proton Pump Inhibitor Pantaloc 40mg (Pantoprazole). I took it for 5 or 6 days and felt miserable on it and felt I was burping and having way more acid indigestion than I ever had experienced since December. So, right or wrong, I stopped on my own and went back to the Zantac. Well that didn't work either and it almost made things worse...the heartburn pain, I couldn't sleep and my anxiety was increasing.

On Friday (July 3), it had been about a week since I put myself back on Zantac, a week where I had still barely slept and I had 2 panic attacks in one day....which was new and extreme, even for me... I had taken Ativan each time. The first ativan worked. The second time it did not.

My heart was racing and I could not get it to calm down...so I went to the ER. They took me immediately and did an EKG and hooked me up to a heart monitor so they could watch me. Everything came back normal except that it was high.

The doctor and I talked about how I was just prescribed cipralex for my anxiety (which I believe is an equivalent to Lexapro many of you have talked about) and how I need to start taking it. (Ok I had the prescription for a while and had been too worried about starting) But this experience was my breaking point and I needed to try. He also gave me more Ativan as a back up until it kicked in.

So the very next day on July 4, I started on the lowest dose 5mg. Four days in I already notice a difference in that regards -- my heart rate is calmer and I am less focused on what is happening with my body.

But tonight has me concerned. You see I had still been feeling miserable with my acid reflux and a friend with a similar experience told me to try Pantaloc again because it will help heal my stomach and esophagus because Zantac won't cut it. I started that back up 2 days ago and figured maybe I didn't give it enough of a try. Well -- the excessive burping and acid indigestion started up immediately.

I made a mistake today and drank something too cold which seemed to trigger some esophagus spasms which although and luckily hasn't happened too often, causes pain in the chest and in the back. Hours went by and the Cipralex seems to be working because I wasn't worrying too bad and distracted myself enough and kept telling myself they will pass and handled it okay. At bed time, the pain was still there and I just told myself I will feel better in the morning. Well it's 3AM -- I went to bed 3 hours ago and I woke up at 2:30 soaked in sweat, having to burp like you wouldn't believe, some pain still there, legs absolutely shaky and I was shivering. I don't know what just happened. I've held myself together, have kept calm and haven't run to the ER like I normally would have in an uncomfortable situation -- but this is still alarming to me.

Is this an anxiety reaction; is this an Acid Reflux moment, is this a side effect to taking new medication or is this something else? Whatever it is, it needs to stop.

My next Dr appt is suppose to be on July 27, but I may have to see if I can get in sooner...the pain is uncomfortable, the burping is uncomfortable and I need some sleep. I don't know what else to do. My diet is right, but something else is not...

Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for reading and thanks for letting me get it out.
Posted 7/8/2015 7:52 AM (GMT 0)
Keep fighting!
Posted 7/8/2015 8:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SS

Sorry to hear you are still having these symptoms yes an earlier appointment with your doctor would be a good idea I think and will help put your mind at rest.

Yes cipralex is the same drug as Lexapro and imo is a good medication with not to many side effects but it can take up to 8 weeks before you see the full benefits so stick with it if you can and the usual target dose for anxiety is 10mg.

Medication will only help ease your anxiety symptoms so it is worth while seeing a therapist to do some talking therapy such as CBT or Mindfulness Meditation. Your doctor should know all about these therapies and know what is available in your area.

In the meantime have a look at our resources thread for some useful links to self help guides.

Keep us posted.

Hibee
Posted 7/8/2015 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Spirit, I'm so sorry you are struggling with these symptoms.

Did you eat right before bed? Did you NOT eat for several hours before bed? Your blood sugar may have dropped too low during the night. That can cause those symptoms.

Are you taking your PPI on an empty stomach? So many things can cause the symptoms you woke up with.

The most important thing you can do is call your doctor, and let them know of the symptoms you experienced. Then, follow their direction. Sometimes when serotonin builds up in your system, it can cause you to have the sweaty chills. It happened to me once.


Edited to add: I remembered that you mentioned in another thread that you have thyroid issues. This could certainly be a contributing factor. Do call your doctor, tell them of the sweating/chill symptoms, and ask about the thyroid issue.

Post Edited (Jake'sMom) : 7/8/2015 7:24:33 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/8/2015 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry you still going thru all this, I agree with contacting your doctor for a visit sooner, at least tell them what your symptoms are.

Keep us updated please.

Prayers going out to you that you are feeling better soon.
Posted 7/8/2015 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. After I wrote my post, I got back to sleep for about 2 more hours and was awoken the same way. I'm really tired today and up until half an hour ago, I still had pain in my chest and back and also radiating down both my arms. The anxious part of me goes to all kinds of things like heart and gallbladder etc etc; but I've really forced to try to tell myself that all this is not overly serious and will get sorted out.

So normally when I get up in the morning, I take my thyroid medication, then wait an hour and eat. Since I am supposed to take the Pantaloc in the morning, the last 2 or 3 days since I started, I had taken it with breakfast, which my pharmacist said should be fine -- but that has come with ill effects and almost immediate sour taste in my mouth. And then an hour after that, I take the Cipralex.

I remember reading somewhere here recommending that Proton Pump Inhibitors be taken on an empty stomach and don't eat or drink anything for 30 minutes. Although this is a long time for me to wait to eat from when I get up, take my thyroid meds and then the Pantaloc, I did just that today -- so we'll see how it goes.

Last night since I was having esophagus spasms; I finished eating around 7pm and ending up going to bed around midnight. Normally, I finish my last snack at 8pm and go to bed at 11pm -- so there was certainly more time in between last night.

I realize what happened could be numerous things - thyroid, time of medication taken, how, blood sugar, etc -- I just want it to stop. Last year was my healthiest, most active and happiest year I had had in most of my life - this year is the complete opposite. I don't know where I went wrong.

I called my doctor's office this morning and this is the only Wednesday of the summer they are closed!! Sigh. Go figure.

I don't get the sense that what happened was a reaction to the Cipralex, but has something to do with the Pantaloc - but then I've been wrong every other time I've been to the doctor lol.

I will be calling first thing tomorrow. I only hope today goes a little better.

Thank you all for your support. I hope you all have a good day!
Posted 7/8/2015 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hey S.S.,

I am really sorry you are not feeling well. I know how frustrated you must feel.

You will get your answers and make progress...kept up faith! You are taking the right steps...but sometimes some trial and error is required before finding the right treatment plan.

You could try talking to your pharmacist today for insight...as they are very knowledgeable regarding Rx's!

....and keep us updated, so we can keep you in support.:)

S.C.
Posted 7/9/2015 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your encouragement!

So, even though my doctor's office was closed today for a new computer system training - I found out they opened this evening for their walk in clinic. There are 4 doctors in this office, that rotate on walk in clinic days, so you never know who you will see, but I took my chances and went - just to see someone.

It wasn't my doctor on duty but I shared my new symptoms since starting the Pantaloc for my GERD and the Cipralex for my anxiety and my concerns about both. He didn't really seem overly concerned about much I said.

Since I've been getting all these new pains - up my back, down both my arms, in my abdomen, specifically on the right side; he pressed around all over there. He suspects that I may have a mild case of IBS (and to get tested with my own doctor) and the Pantaloc is too hard on my stomach and GI tract and is amplifying everything - the gas pains, the indigestion, the lack of sleep and just making my body feel miserable. <---all of this was on the milder side prior to the Pantaloc experiment 2 weeks ago and then retrying now. He basically told me to get off that and go back on the Zantac. Unfortunately the Zantac had stopped working for my GERD....So I am in a dilemma. Do I stick out the Pantaloc a little longer or try to work with the Zantac a little more?

My whole chest area feels like it's burning on the inside; like not just in the middle, like my whole chest. He basically told me to suck that up.

This all sucks; but I appreciate the support though! I hope I can get some sleep tonight for sure.
Posted 7/9/2015 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
If zantac stopped working already why would he suggest it
Does not make sense.....
Posted 7/9/2015 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I asked him -- isn't the pantaloc suppose to heal my stomach and esophagus and the Zantac does not. He said yes, but, the downside to Pantaloc is that it is giving you all these negative symptoms. Not everyone gets that, but go back to the medication that is less grief. Sigh.

I see my regular doctor in less than 2 weeks. I managed to bump my appointment up one week.

He was also so kind to tell me that people with IBS experience a lot of anxiety and are miserable a lot of the time too. We don't know if I have that as well -- but that was his suspicion. Thanks MR. Doctor.
Posted 7/9/2015 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
S.S.,

Sorry you were kind of left with more questions than answers.:(

Hopefully you can get some better insight at your upcoming appointment with your regular doc!

Do you take, or have you tried a probiotic yet? This could be of some help...for your digestive system in general...

S.C.
Posted 7/9/2015 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Scaredy Cat.

Yup - that doctor was of little help unfortunately. And he didn't even address my night sweating concerns.

Here I am second night in a row, woken up the same way, covered in sweat and my chest is still burning. Does heartburn really last for days like this?

I don't know if it's a combination of the cipralex and pantaloc in my body; both being new and all - but seriously, can I get a break somewhere? And I am also pretty sure that acid reflux medication isn't suppose to make those symptoms worse than you've ever experienced them without medication. Am I right?

I could run off to the ER again I suppose, but as the other 10 times I've been there, they'll run the same tests and once they deem you a non emergency, they tell you to go follow up with your family doctor. That's the one thing about free health care.... But seriously this burning pain is more intense than I've felt prior.

I'm inflamed somewhere in my body, that's for sure. Trial and error for sure, but man oh man this is sometimes pretty brutal....sigh.

Oh and to answer your question on the probiotics -- yes I do take them. A pretty good one too that was doing me a world of good until something somewhere changed and my acid reflux got worse....

I would hate to think that all this changed because I had a bit of gluten -- but that was the one thing I did differently from the 6 months prior. I've always had bread in my life, but when I started having GERD and anxiety, I couldn't swallow it, so I didn't try.....but whatever I did, I am paying for it now.

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

Post Edited (spiritspinner) : 7/8/2015 11:41:39 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/9/2015 6:23 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know about acid reflux but mine seemed to go away with vitamin b12 tabs... Ok don't mind me.I'm just talking nonsense...gonna crawl back to my cave...

Cheer up Ss. stay strong! You're alive! Keep swimming!
Posted 7/10/2015 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rei,

Vitamin B12 tabs are very good to take -- but I am a bit of an anomaly I guess because I have never had an issue with my B12 levels -- always on the higher end of normal range.

Yet - my iron levels have often struggled.

I ended up going to the ER tonight to deal with this - the burning in my chest, the anxiety, the weight loss, the lack of sleep etc.

I had an EKG done which was normal; my blood pressure was good, blood work done on red blood cells and white blood cells - very good; they did an ultrasound on my pancreas, liver and gallbladder and the doctor said they looked "EXCELLENT". It came down to the inflammation in my stomach and esophagus. He gave me this cocktail called pink lady. I have no idea what's in it, but it coats and soothes the stomach and esophagus (whiie also numbing the back of your throat) -- that part is a little freaky, so I took small sips. It didn't take the burning completely away, but it helped a lot.

His advice to me was to keep on the pantaloc - it takes 2-3 weeks of "annoyances" to see the rewards....and when I see my doctor on the 20th, if I want to taper back, I can. But apparently what I have gone through is not uncommon.

Ohhh and the psychiatrist I met at one of my ER visits happened to be there. She wanted to help and filled out paper work so I can get counselling sooner than later. That was a huge sign from the universe for me and I feel grateful for that encounter!!

Well...still hoping I get some sleep tonight. I do hope you all had a good day!
Posted 7/10/2015 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
S.S.,

Great news that you are working towards getting into therapy with the help of the ER P-doc!! That was providence that she was there and wanted to help! :)

Keep up the good work...and keep us posted!

S.C.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply