Gerd and panic

Diseases & Conditions GERD & Acid Reflux
1
Unlike a lot of you I do not get gerd pains when eating certain foods.  I seem to get mine by not eating enough.  I now eat 6-7 times a day very small meals and that seems to help.  I have a question.  I have had all the tests and the doctor says I have massive acid reflux, I can't seem to get the heart attack fear out of my head.  My spasms seem to mostly stay in the middle of my chest and last for only a second or two, however I get pains as if my muscles were cramping in my upper chest left and right of center and I am going nuts thinking it is my heart and I know it isn't.   Did anyone else have issues with this and how did you deal with it? 
2
Hi linckstir!
 
Are you still experiencing anxiety?  Maybe your Dr. can prescribe a low-dose anti-anxiety medicine, to help alleviate your concerns. 
 
I know heartburn can be scary, especially when it mimics heart-related ailments. 

Maybe you could try thinking of something calming when you are feeling scared.  That might help lessen your symptoms.
 
Hope you're feeling better! :)

Toni

And days go by
I can feel them flying
Like a hand out the window in the wind
And cars go by
Yeah it's all we've been given
So you better start living right now
Cause days go by

3
Hi All,

New to the board (and gerd).
I went to the doctor complaining of chest pain, that is how I was diagnosed with gerd.
I ended up with fairly strong and frequent panic attacks. I recently started on nexium for the gerd, and xanax to help with the panic. While it does help, I still have the attacks and the often (almost constant) concern of heart related issues.

It is starting to subside, but it takes time. If you really want to rid yourself of the fear, I would get a physical and a stress test. The stress test does not lie, it really should ease your mind.

Marxxx
4
I have the same heart concern issue. Had all the tests, cardiologist found nothing but a healthy strong heart. He said any palpitations that I feel are normal and not a bit dangerous. Like that helped my fear. Every time I feel something in my chest I flip out into a panic attack. But, none of these palpiations or whatever have shown up on any monitors or tests. And lately I've been thinking maybe it's GERD or a hiatal hernia or something. I get a jump right in the center of my chest. In the past this was always accompanied by dizziness and rapid irregular heartbeat... thanks to my wonderful therapist, I have been dealing better with the feeling and the "side effects" that would happen have diminished, so apparently all the heart issues were due to my instant fear reaction.
I have noticed that food sits in my throat longer now. I have to swallow something two or three times. I have severe gas issues. I belch constantly, get chest pain (never the burning like heartburn though), and once I belch several times the pain goes away, if I lay down at any angle right after a meal it feels like it comes back. Have gas rumbling all through my sides constantly. And this all mostly happens at night, after supper time.
Is this GERD?? Even without traditional heartburn pain? And what is the easiest least invasive way to test for this??
-Sarah
5
The more I read about it, the more I think acid reflux and anxiety can be related! For the past two days I've had this weird lump in the throat feeling, also known as "globus hystericus" which is just a fancy Freudian name for a weird feeling resulting from anxiety OR acid reflux! My doctor told me that it could be either or. I also have a sensation of a dry spot on the back of my throat kind of far down, which I read is also associated with all this stuff. So, I suppose I should try treating this first with an over the counter antacid? What are some good ones that work fast?
Arg... I WILL get to the bottom of this! My throat feels so tight right now... its creeping me out!

ali
 
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." - Marie Curie
 
"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
 
 

6

I was preg with #1 when my GERD started.  One night I was having terrible chest pains (five months preg) and the Dr sent me to the ER in case I was having a heart attack (can you imagine?).  I actually had to take pain meds to control the pain until the PPI started working.

Do you think having a stress test to rule out heart probs would quiet your fears? 

Regards,

Cindy

7

I am so the same I have suffered panic attacks and severe anxiety for almost 2 years now main cause is heart concern related to Gerd (so they say) I suffer really bad pains and shortness of breath (I am 24) have had ECG Ihave been on medication for the anxiety but have recently come off it again I am suffering with my anxiety a bit at the moment I go to the hospital for an endoscopy on Friday to diagnose for sure my GERD I am hoping this will settle my fears once and for all.

 

I find the biggest thing to put my mind at rest is talking to others with the same symptoms.

 

Thay also do say that acid and anxiety are related and that it is a vicious circle the acid causes pain the pain causes anxiety the anxiety causes acid -great!!