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do you have acid reflux or GERD

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Posted 5/6/2007 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
a psychiatrist who specialises in panic disorders says most sufferers also have acid reflux or GERD, that these conditions go together

I never had reflux, but how many here do have it?

details on the net if you arent sure

Posted 5/6/2007 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Yep. Used to be a lot worse before treatment of anxiety, too.
Posted 5/7/2007 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
I have acid reflux disease and have had my throat dialated many times.  I wonder why this is?
Posted 5/7/2007 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Well, the stomach is very sensitive to emotions. At least that's what I've always heard (from doctors, my mom, and other wise people). I have a hiatal hernia that causes my reflux. It's gotten 90 percent better since I started taking Klonopin, in spite of the fact that I smoke at least a half pack per day. If I'd stop smoking I might could stop Prevacid and control the rest with diet and Maalox. I actually tried to quit Prevacid not long ago, but it soon became apparent that I still need it.

Basically, lots of people have acid reflux to one degree or another. If an anxiety sufferer has it, the anxiety definitely makes it worse. And I think it's possible that if someone has a bad enough case of GERD, they could probably even develop an anxiety disorder from it. GERD (the way I experience it) is such a weird disease with so many crazy symptoms that I could see it really getting into a person's head. It keeps you guessing a lot, and if it's not just simple heartburn then after a while it becomes difficult to believe that something worse isn't going on.
Posted 5/7/2007 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
I also have acid reflux..which flares badly during high anxiety times. I think GERD causes anxiety from the many strange sensations that occur in your chest. Plus the sort of "guessing game"... can I eat this? what will happen? will I have chest pain? .... can really drive you batty.
Posted 5/7/2007 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I also Have acid reflux and will end up with vomit in throat at night sometimes

Exactly my prob Sarah.....I am always wondering what I can / cant eat and finding things for sure (most) that I cannot becuase of Crohns and other issues .....

Harry is pretty spot on here as well IMO
Posted 5/8/2007 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
i did have acid reflux but it went away, but my headaches and nervous shakes haven't. I had the acid reflux and headaches first.

apple cider vinger and acidophilus took care of that
Posted 5/8/2007 10:15 PM (GMT 0)

Ive had it briefly a few times and its not at all pleasant

seems reducing the anxiety helps, some meds are said to help, also avoiding food before bed helps

some say to raise the head of the bed

Posted 5/8/2007 10:29 PM (GMT 0)

harry4 said...
Ive had it briefly a few times and its not at all pleasant

seems reducing the anxiety helps, some meds are said to help, also avoiding food before bed helps

some say to raise the head of the bed

All of the above is good advice. Raise the head of the bed six inches. It does some good. Don't eat late, and in fact, don't eat for the last few hours before you're ready to go to bed. Everybody responds differently to meds. It's such a common problem that there's a plethora of treatments available: antacid tablets, antacid gum/chewables, natural remedies like DGL licorice, over the counter H2 Blockers (sometimes these interact negatively with anxiety meds so be careful), prescription PPI's like Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix....and there's probably a hundred more things. Hell, Mylanta and Pepto Bismol work to some extent.

Acid Reflux/GERD/Whatever can range from a minor inconvenience to a a really serious problem that causes even worse problems. It's a nasty one.
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