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Gas/Bloat creating Anxiety and worry

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Posted 9/24/2008 8:22 PM (GMT 0)

Since Yesterday Afternoon,I have had Gas and feel bloated in my upper Tummy.I have been eating lots of Gas producing Foods (Peppers both Bell and Jalapeno..Onions and Beans).In my Salad at Lunch Yesterday,I mixed in the remaining dried Kidney Beans I cooked the other Day.I did the worst possible thing to try and ease it..drank Original Alka-Seltzer instead of mixing Activated Charcoal Powder with Water and drinking.Original Alka-Seltzer makes me belch whereas the Charcoal Powder just relieves the Gas..it tremendously helps to belch..When I have Gas and am bloated,it puts pressure on my Diaphragm and makes me feel I'm suffocating or something heavy is on my upper Tummy and Chest.In turn it makes me question what's wrong with me,I obsess about the feeling and it creates worry and Anxiety.I HATE this feeling!Does this happen to anyone on board?

Posted 9/24/2008 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Nope sorry has not happened to me
I have gerd but doesnt sound anything like this

Take care and hope ya feel better soon

LYN
Posted 9/24/2008 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Sydnee,

I get shortness of breath from my GERD, and when it happens, I positively freak. The sense of suffocating is terrifying, and definitely turns the anxiety on full force. Try to remind yourself that the physical sensations you're having can't really harm you. You feel that you can't breathe, but you really are getting air into your lungs, and they really are sending oxygen around your body.

Try changing position to see if that relieves the sensations. Usually for me, sitting in my car or at my desk is worse. Sometimes if I lie down, the pressure goes away; sometimes, I need to take a little stroll. Just remember that when you know it's just gas and digestive upset, it can't really make you choke or stop breathing. It feels frightening, but you'll be fine, and it will stop at some point.

You can get through this!

percycat
Posted 9/24/2008 10:53 PM (GMT 0)

Lyn,

For the past 1 Month and 13 Day's,I drastically changed my Diet due to elevated Blood Sugar.I'm eating more Veggies (Raw and Sauteed) and Gas producing Foods like Beans and Legumes.When I have the Gas and bloating feeling,it is much worse because I obsess about the way it makes me feel.That heaviness feeling in my upper Tummy and Chest alarms me.I try not to worry,but it scares me and I become Anxious.Belching greatly helps the feeling subside.

Posted 9/24/2008 11:02 PM (GMT 0)

Percy,

I'm so sorry to read you suffer from GERD.Bless your Heart!I read that GERD and upper IBS causes symptoms of SOB and bloating.I haven't been diagnosed with either Digestive Disorders,but was told by a previous Doctor in the 90's I have Gastritis which is an inflammation of the lining of the Stomach.I do experience this sense of suffocating and a heaviness feeling when I have upper Abdominal Gas.I don't look bloated..I only feel bloated..I'm going to mention to my Doctor at my October 6 Appointment.

It scares me because I worry about something major like CHF,some other Pulmonary Disease or Digestive ailment.It puts my Health Anxiety into overdrive!

Thank you for your positive reply.It made me feel LOTS better! :-)

Posted 9/24/2008 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sydnee,

I worried about some of the same things. I had a pulmonologist check me out for all the lung diseases and what-not.

It does feel very frightening. All I can tell you is that if your doctor doesn't find anything seriously wrong, the bloating pressure truly can't hurt you. It feels so very much like it will, and like you may not even be able to draw the next breath, but you really are breathing, and you'll continue to. Sometimes when my symptoms flare up, I have to sit and tell myself out loud that I am breathing, and that I've felt this before and it doesn't hurt me, it can't hurt me - basically, lots of soothing talk as if I were comforting a 5-year-old. It helps me to keep the anxiety from piling on and making things even worse, because the breathing stuff goes away in a bit, but if an anxiety attack gets out of control, I'm shot for the day.

percycat
Posted 9/24/2008 11:31 PM (GMT 0)

Percy,

It's been a very long time (over 7 Years) since I had a complete and thorough Medical evaluation.When I first developed Anxiety Disorder,I swallowed lots of Air trying to take in Air and it was affecting my Digestive System,so my Physician ordered a UGI with Barium Swallow X-Ray.Yucky tasting Chalk,but thank goodness no abnormalities detected!I don't have the bloating pressure all the time just occasionally (and that's MORE than plenty!).Do you take Medication for GERD?What Tests did your Doctor run to determine GERD?Do you notice that Stress or being frustrated/disgusted makes it act up?Ya know more of us need to comfort ourselves as if we were 5.I think it a very Healthy thing to do!We need to pamper and baby ourselves.

Posted 9/25/2008 8:48 AM (GMT 0)

Sydnee

I am like Percy, I have Gerd and IBS. You could see a GI physicin to check out if your sx are related to GERD at all. We also have the GERD/Heartburn Forum you may want to read through.

The members of the GERD Forum are extrememly knowledgable.

Great advice by all and keep posting, we are all here for you,

Hugs
Kitt

Posted 9/25/2008 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Kitt..am going to talk about it with my Doctor at my upcoming Appointment..
Posted 9/25/2008 5:37 PM (GMT 0)

Terrific Sydnee, I am glad you will be talking with your Doctor.  Hope you are feeling a bit better today.

Keep us posted and know we care. :-)

Kitt

Posted 9/25/2008 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Sydnee
I am so glad you are going to talk to your doc about this as soon as possible
I was not making light of your situation I was
just saying I dont have that problem unless of course i eat the raw veggies but
then for me it is swollen tummy and
plenty of pain

Be well
Posted 9/26/2008 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
oh yeah,

i get really gassy and bloated alot. ive already spoken about this but my eating has been very off lately, and that might be a a reason why.
i would probably cut back on gas producing foods and (if you drink soda) i drink diet a lot and that makes me burp all the time so just try and reduce your intake of food and drinks like that.

i read that your gas/bloating causes you anxiety? mines the opposite! because im anxious and nervous i get gassy and feel sick to my stomach. you'll only worsen your anxiety! just watch what you eat and if need be, see a doctor.

best,
Posted 9/26/2008 5:14 AM (GMT 0)

I'm the same,

My anxiety causes me to bloat and get gassy..which gives me more anxiety and more bloating..argh! I find a day or two on watery soup puts me back in balance, but that is just what helps me.

I hope you are doing better Sydnee,

Meg

Posted 9/26/2008 10:41 AM (GMT 0)

I do not like looking  as if I am expecting a baby........  smhair    smhair   Sometimes walking around helps.  I used to get to feeling like this at work and would have abdominal cramping but I had to walk around and eat a roll of Roll Aids to feel better. 

Good luck at the Doctors.

Kitt

Posted 9/28/2008 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Sydnee,

I take two meds fro my GERD - Nexium and Zantac. I had two upper GI endoscopies done in the past three years, and they came back just fine. When I continuted to have problems, I went to an ENT doctor who did a laryngoscopy. She's the one who diagnosed the GERD. Since then, so long as I stay on my meds without fail, I've been fine. It's been a real relief, as I had myself terrified to death that I was going to stop breathing. Now I know there's no chance of that happening.

percycat
Posted 9/28/2008 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
I hjave looked like I was preggers many a time
I was so bloated it was unreal and kinda scary as well

At least I KNEW I wasnt having a babe lol
I have had my share .........

Almost at the retirement phase of life ya know lil sis lol

Take care all

LYN
Posted 9/30/2008 9:15 AM (GMT 0)

Lyn,

The other Day I felt bloated,but didn't look bloated..

Posted 9/30/2008 9:20 AM (GMT 0)

Kitt,

I have so much to discuss with my Doctor at my upcoming Appointment.I hope a Woman doesn't go into Labor or ready for delivery that Afternoon! :-)

In '95 when I had a UGI with Barium Swallow X-Ray it checked clear,but that's been many Moons ago.I'm wondering if I have GERD or upper IBS.

This Morning am feeling tender across my upper Abdomen..


Posted 9/30/2008 9:24 AM (GMT 0)

Behindtheseeyes,

If I quit eating gas producing Foods I won't be eating anything!It eases my discomfort when I DO burp.To answer your question..yes,my Gas/bloating causes Anxiety,but I probably also feel gassy and bloated because I'm Anxious.I tend to swallow air because I frequently sigh,yawn and take deep breaths.

Posted 9/30/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)

Sydnee,

Good Morning, I would consider making an appointment with a GI physician to check into GERD.  Many people have GERD and do not realize it.

Take care,
Kitt

Posted 9/30/2008 8:56 PM (GMT 0)

Kitt,

Good Afternoon :-)   a GI is a Speciality Physician.I would need a referral from my Doctor.I've read a list of GERD symptoms.Hardly ever have an acidic/sour (hyperacidity) taste in my Mouth.I have occasional Heartburn and Nausea.My Symptoms are upper Bloating,Gas and SOB..

On another note.I need to have a Colonoscopy.My Paternal Grandfather died from Colon Cancer.I have a lot of low Colon cramps and sometimes they are so severe that I salivate.My Mouth fills with a Water and I belch.It shortly passes.I notice the cramping happens after eating or when I go long hours without eating and then eat.Cramping is relieved by BM.I've woke at least 3 times with trapped Gas pains in my low Colon and sometimes there is Mucus.


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