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Anxiety ? GERD? Post Nasal drip ?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
Anxiety ? GERD ? Globus?
Anxiety - 85.7% - 6 votes
GERD - 14.3% - 1 votes
Mucus - 0.0% - 0 votes
Globus - 0.0% - 0 votes
Sinus - 0.0% - 0 votes
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Posted 12/4/2016 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone, my name is Victoria I am 21 year old, overall I was always healthy and fit but since April this year have been a nightmare 😭And I am feeling so anxious and stressed , everyday is a challenge!

Everything started 22nd of April 2016 as I suddenly started to feel like I can't breath and I am going to die, I was rushed to A&E were they told me it was throat infection or tonsillitis, I could not eat or drink properly for over 2 weeks because I was so scared that I can't swallow and I will choke, which got better but very slowly I can now eat and drink mostly everything but only when someone is with me (I do try to eat alone sometimes, but only when I don't feel anxious which is very rare)

I have been experiencing symptoms such as trouble swallowing, a feeling of lump in the throat, feeling of choking or drowning, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing m, clicking noise when swallowing, blocked ears , red throat, panic attacks,mucus at the back of throat like super glue(literally) which is very hard to get rid of

After the infection it never get better! I have been treated for GERDS, infection, sinus! Some of the symptoms have disappeared with time , currently I experience a tightness at the left side of throat , it feels like I can't control it and cause me to have difficulties with breathing, I feel like I can take deep breath, sometimes I can feel the tickling feeling at the left ear which goes down to throat! I am very scared that I will experience same situation I was when I had a tonsillitis 😢😢😢
The doctor gave me Avamys nasal spray for mucus which he thinks is the cause , now been using it for a week but still no help with difficulties breathing. Today I also had a panic attack when I was alone which make me very nervous. Now I rarely stay alone as I am very scared something happens. I stay with my boyfriend nearly 24/7 which is actually embarrassing:( now I don't stay home alone , but I do try to fight this fear , but it's not easy :(
I Tried omeptazol, gaviscon, antihistamines sprays , semimar, dymista spray but none helped :(
I had a camera put down my throat and the doctors told me it is all clear. I don't know what it could me ? Is it just anxiety ? Could it be that I just look for a problem when there is none? Could it all be in my head?

Every time I go to visit my GP in the back of my mind I still hope they will give me some magic tablet to make this all go away 😭😭
I don't go out anymore, I can't even go to town ! I can't stay home alone a I start to feel like I can't breath ! It's slowly taking over my life :( I can go to visit my family because I am scared that something happen on the journey ( it's 4 hour by train)
I just want my life back ! I was so active and outgoing before but this last 6 month I feel like I am a different person! Before I was never and anxious person! I am still not anxious In anything except my HEALTH! Especially my BREATHING!
Doctors tell me that all my scans are fine and I am ok and can't diagnose me with anything - the only thing they say it could be Silent reflux , sinus related, globus sensation,mucus related or anxiety.
However they never offered anything for anxiety and never really mentioned it and basically told me it will get better

Should I consider taking antidepressants maybe ?
Does it sound like it's only an anxiety ?

Sorry for a long post and I know it is probably all over the place but it's just I have so much thoughts and emotions that I can't share with others , my mum is not well so I don't want to bother her ,my boyfriend doesn't understand what I am going through and thinks it's not a big deal- but inside my head it's making me crazy 😭😭😭
Thank you for taking time to read it , any thoughts or ideas or world of advise would be greatly appreciated! I am thinking maybe of doing some relaxation techniques to reduce the tension in my throat which is what is causing everything
Posted 12/4/2016 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Victoria

Welcome to the HW forum... What a hard time your having, but you have definitely come to the right place for support and encouragement.

You did the right thing going to see the doctor about the physical symptoms your experiencing.. And all the tests coming back more or less OK will be a weight off your mind when you are able to manage the anxiety better.

All the symptoms are very common either with kicking off the anxiety or with it. Throat ears stomach nausea and breathing issues can all be connected.

I had them all together when my anxiety issues started.

For now until either Scaredycat or hibee can give you more valuable advice as well as all the other members you will find the resources page very helpful.

I would also ask your gp if he can prescribe you something to help break the cycle of anxiety that your in. My gp did for me and I found I didn't need to take the full dose, and it took the edge off so I was able to then work at learning coping skills and finally break the cycle.

You are not alone sadly anxiety is very very common and so many suffer with it in varying degrees.

I'm sending you encouragement and support there is life after anxiety so hang in there ..... It will get better xx

Keep posting and asking anything that you want to know....help is here

Post Edited (gilly2) : 12/4/2016 3:25:46 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/5/2016 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome Victoria,

I am sorry to hear of your symptoms and anxiety that you are currently experiencing. :( It is often hard to distinguish where to physical issues and anxiety begin and end...

...and as Gilly mentioned...often is it a matter of the two being comorbid.

Therefore treating the anxiety...while you continue to search for a physical cause will be your best approach.

Have you seen an ENT yet?

If not, asking for a referral from your GP will be a good move...

...as well as discussing your anxiety management options.

Keep posting with us if you find it helpful. . We understand, care and support is key!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/5/2016 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi gilly2!
Thank you for your reply, I was never aware of anxiety before until now so it's quite difficult to manage it. Some days I would feel like it's anxiety that causing all of the symptoms but others I would think maybe is some illness that doctors missed e.g silent reflux
So i can't focus on treating the anxiety because I don't believe it's 100% is an anxiety :(

Sorry to hear that you have suffered something similar and I hope you are better now! Was it a health related anxiety? How long you had it? What were your symptoms ? Did you get fully better ? And how long it took you and how you overcome it

I am considering maybe to try some antidepressants but I don't want to be using they for a long time, the GP told me the average is about 2 month, I bough some "herbal remedy" today to see if it helps.

Thank you for support xxx it's so nice to share your feeling with someone that understand
Posted 12/5/2016 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Scared Cat
Thank you for taking time to reply to my post, this is actually the first time I have posted on forums.
I have seen an ENT and the results was all clear , the only thing they suggested is for me to continue using the omeprazol and gaviscon in case it was a silent acid reflux. After using it for some time I have stopped because I didn't see any changes and didn't want to be on medication for a long time.

The only medication I am using now is the antihistamine nasal spray to reduce the mucus which again could be the cause of throat tightness and problems with breathing. Would you recommend any anxiety management options ? I heard breathing exercises are good, than again the main thing that scares me is my breathing as at times i feel like I can't take full breath so i imagine that will cause me to stop breathing and also throat tightness occuringb everyday which makes me stressed/annoyed
The only thing that seems to help is if I close one ear with my finger for few seconds- this would somehow cause my throat to relax a bit
Does it sound like it is anxiety ?
Posted 12/5/2016 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
I am considering that the incident that happened to me in April when I had difficulties with breathing scared me so much! And at the back of my head there is always a thought that it will happen again 😭 I think if I can make my self believe that it is just the anxiety that is causing all the symptoms I wouldn't care so much , but the feeling of unknowing is making me crazy , some days I would force my self to be strong and ignore the symptoms but other days it's so hard when the only thing I can think about is the tightnes/link in my throat.
Posted 12/5/2016 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
And the main thing that is a bigest concern is how can I learn to stay alone at home again?! I get so panicy and scared when no one is home (now very rarely). I would get throat together and difficulty breathing as soon as someone has walked out of the house 😭😭😭
Posted 12/6/2016 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
Here is the link to our Resources. You will find a lot of great material to get started on there!

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

If you find you need.mote help than working on self help/coping skills can provide...then talking to your doctor about a therapy referral would be the next step.:)

Both will be instrumental in reaching your recovery goals!

S.C.
Posted 12/6/2016 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, and if you do a 'Search' for fear of being alone...you should find many archived threads that could be helpful reads for you.:)

Keep posting!

S.C.
Posted 1/2/2017 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi - I've recently been having the same exact anxiety issues lately & was kind of relieved that someone else has this problem. I really don't understand it because I have had sinus/allergy problems for years & years. And years of having post nasal drip without freaking out about it. I am also better when I'm with other people & when I'm occupied, because once I start thinking about it, I start to obsess and I can't focus on anything else.

I went to the store today & bought all these sinus products, hoping to reduce the phlegm & help my stuffy nose - because it's a bad combo to have both. I see my ENT on a pretty regular basis and have been getting allergy shots for 3 years. I also had sinus surgery about 3 years ago. So I am no stranger to this kind of thing.

I'm wondering if you have found any relief since you first posted? I feel like I'm going crazy!

Thanks!
Posted 1/2/2017 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SW and welcome!

I am sorry to hear of the continued struggle with sinus trouble...and the anxiety it is now causing.sad It's not unusual to have anxiety that co-exists with long term health issues.

Please see our Resources for great self help material to help manage your anxious periods...

...and see your doctor about other treatment options if you continue to be challenged.

Post with us anytime for anxiety sharing and support.smile

Wishing you much healing...body and mind,

S.C
Posted 1/8/2017 9:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi
Sorry i have only just got back to replying.
Yes unfortunatly it was all health anxiety that kicked it off. I had some digestive problems that were freaking me out and i did the dreaded google... NOT recomended at all ,
With sheer determination and tons of daily self help i can say once i got my head around accepting it was anxiety that was causing it... i started to improve.
Your body becomes so sensitive after high anx so you notice every twitch, twinge, ache, etc etc. Dizzyness freaked me out big time.

I do morning and evening positive affirmations , in bed guided ones with head phones.
I use my own personal mantra,s daily whilst going about my day. I drink more fluids and eat a balanced diet.
It isnt easy but it all helps to get you back on to an even keel.. Also plenty of sleep and remind your self this is just a blip and you can get there.

The list of symptoms would be too many to list... mornings were always worse and if i didnt remain strong i could have quite easily stayed in bed... But i believe in feeling it changing it and Breathe... breathing exercises are incredibly powerful... And never google your symtoms ever.... if your worried see your qualified GP xxx
Posted 5/24/2017 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Victoria,

I have all these same symptoms and would love to hear how you are doing?
Any update?
Posted 5/31/2017 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everybody, i think im also suffering the same. On the last week of April i had been doing exercise for four straight days 1 hour each day, and the 5th day, after eating lunch i decided to take a nap. I woke up at 6pm and then when I woke up I felt that I cant breathe, i beacame nervous and hadnt slept until 2am. The next day after i woke up i tho had felt that everytime i bend my head towards my chest my back hurts a lot but when im just standing or in my normal position it doesnt hurt, so i decided to go to the doctor since I think i have any lung issues because i also have a cough and stuffy nose. When I went to my doctor she just diagnosed me with acid reflux coz just a day before, I had stomach pain and had a diarrhea but it just went off, however i dont have any symptoms of having a chest pain or heartburn. I thougt it was really just acid so i took the medication for a week. She gave me antibiotics, dolcegas, antacids, and a cough syrup. After a week, my cough was beginning to heal but still, i feel like its difficult to breathe and my back still hurts. I waited again for another week if it would go off and then its still there. Then, i went to another doctor and he recommended me to have x ray. I took an x ray but the result was just fine, he even listened to my back but he said theres nothing. And so after that, i became more doubtful and even with the normal x ray result i try to think every night that what if im having pulmonary fibrosis? Or what if its not acid after all? And the x ray result was just not true. I became really more anxious and after it I went to an ortho if it was my back that causes it because ive been having this back pain near the scapula for already a month. He said it was just muscle sprain bcos ov over exercise and my shortness of breathe is just maybe psychological. Right now my back pain doesnt seem to go off and I still experience difficulty breathing, has a runny nose everyday, cough, and when i wake up i feel like theres something in my throat and when i gargle, i spit phlegm but in the afternoon or noon the phlegm goes away. I constantly clear my throat and thats it. Everyday i become anxious about my health and afraid if Im going to die esp. That I think if im having pulmonary fibrosis. Can you please help me if this is just post nasal drip with anxiety or any serious condition? Thanks M 16 -sorry for my english.
Posted 5/31/2017 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
When I googled about pulmonary fibrosis, i became more really anxious bcos i think i really have it cos i have a cough and its difficult to breathe. However i was suspicious that what if the cough was caused by my runny nose? And its just that Im anxious or its just in my head that i cant breathe? Also, i always keep on listening to my back with a stethoscope if there are any abnormal sounds but theres nothing and i always check my nails if there are clubbing but nope. Pls help me. Im so stressed. 😢😢😢
Posted 5/31/2017 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello amd welcome!

I am sorry to hear that you are struggling currently with these fears. Is this the first time you have had health related anxiety...or is this just a new specific worry in an overall anxious pattern regarding illness?

Since you have been checked out thoroughly by doctors, it would be a wise step to now focus on your anxiety management.

The first step is to steer clear of 'Googling' symptoms...this will only increase your fears. Instead, put your time and energy into working self help for health anxiety. Find links for this at the top of the main forum page here for great material to work with. Our Resouces have help specifically for the health worries you are challenged with!

If you find you need further help, then talking to your doctor about other options such as medication, therapy....or both would be the next step.

Keep posting with us as well if you find it helpful We care, understand and support is key.

Scaredy Cat
Posted 6/3/2017 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

It's been about 4 years since I first got diagnosed with GERD, esophagitis, and gastritis. Anxiety and insomnia and so many health issues also followed. I weaned myself from PPi, practiced sitting meditation, watched my diet and aside from occasional bouts of acid reflux everything else was manageable. Even if i was advised by our company doctor to go to the ER due to skipped heartbeats which tests results were non remarkable (stress test and 2decho). My endoscopy result though still revealed esophagitis and gastritis. This was late October last year. My gastro told me i dont even need to take meds but have to manage my being a "worrier". I think it was all written in my face then.

Middle of February this year, my opthal informed me my intra ocular pressure is again high inspite of my meds and she wants to do another laser iridotomy (touch up as she calls it). I was depressed.

A few days after, I had a bout of dizziness and since then, everything is "abnormal". I dont have the drive to work, dont even want to do walking, do shopping. All the usual things that I do seems of no interest to me. I always get anxious for no reason. This would usually happen if I reflux. My back is always aching, frequent head aches and all. about a month ago, I rushed to the ER because i went panic. I know it was just panic attack because i can breathe normally but I feel like dying. I was okay already when i got to the hospital more than 30 mins after. ECG was fine.
Posted 6/3/2017 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
I went for a second opinion on my elevated IOP and this time the doctor told me all my tests results are normal and he will see me every 3 months to check. He had me stop all my eye drops (3).

Now I am seeing a psychotherapist who diagnosed me with GAD and panic disorder. I am still on the 2nd session. I also had my second PT session for my back. My back muscles are sore and would radiate to my chest, neck. These symptoms I know are anxiety related. Oh, I had a CT scan on my head for my headaches too and result was normal.

I am 49, no period for the last 10 months, and my symptoms are sooooo depressing.

Thanks for reading my long story.
Posted 6/3/2017 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi PF and welcome to the A/P!

I am sorry to hear of your recent anxiety struggles...

...however, I am glad you are working with your doctor to get the help you need...both physically and mentally.

With continued therapy you will see results...

...and we also have great self help material that you can also add to your tool belt for anxiety management. Find our Resources at the top of the main forum page here.

Keep posting with us as well if you find it helpful. We care, understand and support is key!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 6/3/2017 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Victoria

Anxiety is very confusing when it starts , we all have been to different doctors for a miracle cure. But what helped me for reflux was Trustan 40mg it's an antibiotic , it is very good also helps post nasal drip..but you must take it for 4 -6 months , it is a bit pricey...and I suggest maybe u also try Activan for 7 days and see how you feel.If u do feel better then you will know its Anxiety. Then you must definately go and see a psychiatrist.. do Breathing exersises slowly while counting and chew gum. Yoga is the best.
Hope you feel better soon
Posted 6/5/2017 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Victoria

Finally beat the "breathing thing". It took me quite a while, and if you look in this chat room you'll see that you aren't the only one dealing with it. Mine began in the middle of the night (when all good things happen LOL). One of the advisers here helped me out by giving me specific breathing exercises to do. Also, I just told myself one day that I was going to ignore it, and believe it or not it worked - for that day. There are a million and one symptoms to anxiety - and mine are morphing constantly so try and relax - you will notice that you ARE breathing - you cannot stop breathing even if you wanted to.
Best of luck. Hugs - Reepin
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