I'm 25 years old and I was sick for couple months already, which I have tightness around my neck at first, but then it started to move to my chest, and I'm frightened that something serious is happening to me.
Here are the symptoms:
Talking difficulty
Pressure around my neck(which caused the talking difficulty)
Pressure/pain / heaviness behind sternum
Pressure in my left chest
Always tired
Dizziness
Regurgitation
The weird part is the pressure only happens one spot at a time, which it feels like the pressure is moving around from my throat, then my sternum, and my left chest( which is right under the collarbone).
Tests I have done so far:
Xray(which came back clear)
Nose throat endoscopy(came back clear as well)
The doctors said it is caused by anxiety /upper respiratorya infection, but they doubt it is GERD because I feel better when I lie down and taking hot shower. However I'm not convinced.
Meds I'm currently on:
Gaviscon advance
Tylenol
Omeprazole
Some kind of inflammatory Meds
None of the medication actually relieves my symptoms and I'm scared I'm going to die.
Hello marc. I also have similar symptoms, and have been sick for months, was diagnosed with gerd nearly 6 months ago. I'm 31 years old. I get a few more symptoms than that also tho. I have a swollen tightness feeling in my throat daily, a sore throat daily, chest tightness feeling, sometimes feels like your bot getting enough air in your lungs. I also get muscle twitching and tingling sensations in my throat amd face. I get alot of air and regurgitation as well. I am on omeprazole everyday like you. The tests I've have gotten because my anxiety got the best of me and thought I was dying from cancer, or heart attack, or heart failure you name it, and I thought I had it, but the tests I've had are, 3 chest xrays, a stomach CT scan, a head mri, a spinal tap, cbc blood work, celiac and allergies blood tests, thyroid blood tests, colonoscopy, a nose and throat endoscopy, an esophagus endoscopy, monospot test, I even went to the cancer center and they did blood work to detect any cancer signs in my blood, amd I'm going to a neurologist soon to do more testing for things like ms, als, and doing blood work at the end of the week to check for auto immune disorders or vitamin deficiencies. I had a heart monitor put on for 1 month, a heart ultrasound done, and a heart stress test done, and a blood circulation test as well. I've literally done just about everything you can do to check for something wrong, and the only thing they found was, gerd, inflamed esophagus, pvcs and leaky heart valves that are mild (which the heart stuff I already knew about, have had for 7 years now) and they found that my red blood cells are a little small in diameter than what they should be. Other than that, they have found nothing so far. So the only thing I can think it would be is gerd symptoms, and anxiety symptoms because I have both. I also get a very out of it feeling often like almost a high feeling, amd I've never done drugs in my life so feeling this all the time is strange. But anyway, I have these same symptoms and more, and have done every test know to man and they can find anything wrong other than gerd and anxiety. So hope this is a bit of a relief for you. Also the throat tightening feeling, I've been getting for 1 year and 3 months now and I'm still here, so hope this is a bit of a relief for you. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. If you have any tips on how to get rid of it ease share. I noticed that it helps mine a little bit by eating right, amd eating smaller meals through the day.
Marc....anxiety is a HUGE contributor to acid reflux...I had it REALLY bad and had a endoscopy. Came out OK.....but needed to know my triggers. Of course, Coffee, acidic food, spicey, fried food....and so on totally got it going....
BUT...I realized that every time my anxiety hit...my reflux started....
I let my doc know that I found a main trigger....She gave me a LOW dosege of anxiety meds and its helped...BUT....I have had to cut a lot of crap out of my diet...
-cut my coffee down to a couple sips
-fried food...is DONE
-even bread...bread is made with SO much CRAP now that we get sick
-SMALL PORTIONS...not to mention have some small snacks in between
This is THE BEST place you can talk about any issue you have!!!
Hi me again, I forgot to add, I get the dizzy feelings sometimes too, and always tired, and cold. I also get daily chest pains too, mostly in ribs area and shoulders, sometimes middle of my chest. I even get headaches in the back bottom part of my head amd radiates up the back of my head and have bumps in the back of my neck, and pressure feelings in head and neck and chest also. Ok I'm done now lol. Just thought I'd add that if you have that too.
I definitely agree with this statement, anxiety is a big gerd trigger, I actually started getting gerd right after I had my third baby a year ago, and got extreme anxiety and panic attacks for about 6 months straight and triggered all my gerd problems I still have today.
I was thinking that it might have something to do with that too, because the last time I had a baby before this one was 10 years ago, but I didn't think you could have post part. Symptoms for that long and ones this severe, and so many symptoms. cuz to be exact I had my baby 15 months ago, but right afyer I had her, 4 weeks, I got mono. Amd had it along with the gerd, amd the mono lasted about 6 months, up until about June this year is when I started feeling ok again, but, the past couple months alot of symptoms came back again, amd severe gerd symptoms, and not to give tmi, but these symptoms multiply by 10 right before, during, amd right afyer my menstrual cycle. I don't know. Hopefully one day well all feel normal again. Thanks
hi marc...i want to ask you and others following this discussion.has anyone gone on a gluten free diet or do you monitor what you eat....ive had these symptoms now for 18 months to 2 years and did ecg and chest xrays...ive not been diagnosed with gerd or reflux but have all the symptoms.all i take is nexium over the counter tabs and try to watch what i eat and drink but the anxiety thing is very difficult and for me is the thing i struggle with most..not everyday and it hits me mostly when i try and sleep.maybe a couple of times a week.i eventually get to sleep and wake up with everything settled down and then the daily symptoms begin again...its a viscious circle.diffrent symptoms at diffrent times seem to take thier turn...
Hi stevieboy, yes I actually thought of the gluten thing as well. Amd as of just under 2 weeks ago have been eating no gluten, wheat, or soy and Ben eating healthier amd smaller amounts more often through the day. So far it just has helped a tiny bit with the regurgitation but everything is still there. Amd I notice my symptoms are mild in the morning, a d get worse through the day too, especially the anxiety. It's horrible, no matter what I do its always there. I hope we don't have to go on for the rest of out life like this.
Thank you it means a lot and you gave me some kind of relief. I was so scared that I will die from some kind of cancer soon, especially after my colleague was diagnosed with lung cancer even she was a perfectly healthy person.The anxiety basically stopped me to enjoy anything in my life, and I am in constant fear of death.
I hope I can get over this really soon and I really hope it's GERD but not anything else. I might take an endoscopy test soon if I don't improve by dieting and exercising.
When I am busy on something / not paying attention to my chest, the tension seems to be relieved a bit. I will try to relax as much as I can but this anxiety thing is difficult to overcome.
I will try to prevent the foods you listed, guess I can't have my French fries and fried chicken for quite some time.
Thank you for your suggestions, and I hope I can get over this as soon as I can.
I haven't tried a gluten free diet, which might be worth trying if my symptoms doesn't go away. I tried to monitor what I eat for a week but it doesn't seem to get better.
I havent diagnosed with GERD and acid reflux neither, the Gp claimed it's not likely that I have GERD because I feel better when I lie down. However I have regurgitation hence I'm not convinced by that Gp's diagnosis.
I wish I know what's wrong with my body, and sometimes I just want to head to the er because I'm so anxious, but I'm just scared to find out the horrible truth.
Completely agree with this. I have been stressed out for years. I was in a disappointing job, I have high expectations of things due to actually being a positive person but got so astronomically ground down by life and had a couple of really horrible things happen to me in my group of friends all in 2014/2015. I kept going because I had to.
I then got a new job, things started looking up and I started relaxing and it all went haywire internally for me. I had headaches when I was extremely stressed but I think that was posture and tension related. I actually found the knot in my neck that relieves tension. I had a smear test scare that ended up going on for months, an infection, took antibiotics for it on an empty stoamch during a stressful week and still waiting for results from aforementioned smear, and got really sick. Now have GERD and oesophagitis.
I do think the antibiotics contributed heavily to my nerves since I don't usually suffer stomach issues or lost appetite or gut function when I'm stressed. I'm more a classic, fainting panic attack type. However, I do have OCD and focused so heavily on my stomach for so long it made me more stressed and I have suffered so much the past wee while. Since my GP explained my issues it's all calmed down and I find I'm hungry, able to sleep, able to eat a whole wide range of foods again and my throat doesn't feel as tight. Omeprazole is also helping and I don't get heartburn that often now. I'm hoping I'm getting out the woods with this but it's a huge lesson in stress for me. I let other people affect me too much and it's effed me up so I need to stop, breathe and appreciate good health from now on!
Fingers crossed, Marc. Have you had blood tests done? It's easy to say this from the outside but it sounds like anxiety and it's been exacerbated by witnessing someone else go through a tough time. I am so susceptible to things like other people getting a bad diagnosis or even adverts for hospices on the TV. I have been unable to handle any of this stuff for months since my stomach issues started. And until last week I also thought I was terminally ill. It felt like my body was shutting down.
A LOT of that was stress. Since I spoke to my GP my appetite miraculously returned. I have gone from sleeping an hour a night to not being able to get up in the morning (in a good, comfy way!) I have started eating normally again and just watching portions/fatty food which make me feel sick at the moment. I have less nausea although do still get it periodically - but I have noticed stress triggering it, and it feels like my stomach is jumping up into my throat when this happens.
I hope you find piece of mind and your appointment helps. I'm also going to a consultant. I have avoidance health anxiety so it's a big step for me seeing a specialist but I already feel so much more relaxed and on the planet since speaking to my GP. I've also been taking omeprazole prescribed, and digestive enzymes/magnesium oil on my skin/B vitamins/probiotics for everything else. They all help. Marshmallow root and passion flower tea in a strainer really helped me sleep when I was bad and coated my throat so I didn't feel like I was choking. Good luck, let us know how you go!
It sure sounds like reflux to me but don't worry to much or anxiety will make it much worse. I have double your systems and I don't believe I'm going to die. ;0)
You said Nose throat endoscopy, was this done by an ENT or GI?
Why are you taking Omeprazole? Did they check your stomach acid levels? If not, just because you have reflux does not mean you need PPI's like Omeprazole.
Did you guys suffer from anxiety before this kicked off? I was definitely wired, busy and stressed. But since this developed (the first time I got reflux I vomited and got a weird flutter in my oesophagus) my anxiety has been off the chart. I've had weird generalised anxiety where I'll jump out my skin out the blue if someone walks behind me in the street, or even when things are calm and I starte worrying about symptoms coming on.
My symptoms are so changeable and I have OCD focused on health anxiety so I don't deal well with the myriad of new symptoms coming and going. Thankfully I've started to see a pattern and it's pretty textbook - big portions, fatty foods, pizza and a large quantity of citrus will give me a feeling my stomach is about to jump into my chest, indigestion or nausea. Take your pick. I had heartburn solidly for 3 weeks when this hit its peak a month ago (and I went he doctor about it because I'd had enough) and since then omeprazole plus being strict with my diet has quelled it somewhat. I've even eaten chocolate withut repurcussions. I think a lot of mine is related to anxiety but it's so hard not to be anxious when your body is rebelling! Oddly mine gets better as the day goes on - I think I get a lack of control when I sleep so I wake up anxious in the morning in case symptoms hit. But it's dying down a fair amount for me, thank goodness. I thought I was dying till my GP ran blood tests, and even though I have a referral to gastroenterology and a potential scope I am so much calmer than I was and able to eat again. Good luck to everyone.
I noticed you said that you have double the symptoms he mentioned? I'm guessing that you have gerd as well?
And also can you explain all your symptoms that you get with it? I just would like to compare is all and I'm sure it'll also help Marc feel a little more relief knowing if we all share similar symptoms and we've been diagnosed officially with gerd, or at least I have anyway. Thanks
Yes, anxiety definitely contributed to my gerd for sure. But in my case a couple other things triggered it, I had just had a baby, and had been going through mono as well. My body was literally falling apart. I felt everyday that it was going to be my last. I actually still on some days feel this way, and noticed that the symptoms are ALWAYS worse when im stressed and especially anxious. Also noticed they are worse right before and during my menstrual cycle. The throat tightness, chest pressure, chest pain and headaches are especially worse with anxiety. I know thay it's alot easier said than done with anxiety, from personal experience, but try to distract yourself and relax and breath, and reassure yourself your going to be ok. This will pass. It always does. And just try to change your lifestyle to help with the gerd. Especially eating habits
I am facing the same problem or may b more worse then you..i feel left side chest tightness and feel like my heart stop beating...before i feel my heart escape beat now it feel fine some time i feel but its mild thats why i didnot have panic bcoz of that....i burp alot 6 years ago i do gall bladder surgery there is polyps in my gall bladder biopsy is clear....i go to different docs and its more then 30 docs medical specialist,cardiologist,physcian,gastro doc.. test i have done till now is...16 ecgs 15 was clear one show heart beat pause u call it my heart beat is little bit slow my cardiologist do 24 hours heart monitor holter ecg which was clear...2 heart echos,tyroid test,typhoid hepatites test,complete body blood test 3 times,stool test 2 times,ultrasound 3 times,urine test,cbc test,illergy test,chest x rays 4 times,endoscopy,colonscopy all of that is normal i m our weight and have little bit high cholestrol .......beside that i have constant burping problem i burp almost all day specially when i am working when i come home burping will stop...i use lot of medicine for my reflux omperzole esmiprazole lansoprazole nothing help me i talk to my doc here in japan about reflux surgery but in japan they didnot preffer surgery.....some time i feel hot sensation in my left side chest.........i have panic attacks and also anxiety plus reflux problem..i m 30 years old and my gp currently put me on proponolol 10 mg 3 times a day lexapro 20 mg once at night time and one tabket for my reflux dont know about the nane bco its in japanese...now also i feel heaviness in my chest but i didnot feel any panic bcoz i think if its heart problem it kill me bcoz i feel it from. 4 years ... Just b patient there is nothing serious and try to not discuss ur problem with every one bcoz no one will understand u and they will think u r pschyco....and also dont google ur symptoms dr google poop out some thing bad to u just try to relax and try to. Figure ur reflux problem once it settled every thing will become fine
Oh poor you, that sounds awful! On top of how exhausting childbirth is the last thing you need is mono! We call it glandular fever in the UK and I know people who have had it who were hospitalised! A horrible thing to happen and really hard to diagnose/treat.
I get the tight feeling in my throat and nausea! I have noticed that mine also gets worst when I'm pre menstrual, and certainly anxiety and emotions are heightened at that period, too. It makes a normal montlhy occurrence so much more difficult to manage!
My bout of reflux was started by antibiotic use, I'm convinced of it. I was really stressed (and pre menstrual) that week too unfortuantely, and had been treating a lower abdominal infection (gynecological) while waiting for smear test results which ended up being fine but was a bit of a scare when the nurse examined me. It was an awful time. I then developed oral thrush which made it difficult to talk or swallow, and since then I have ben scared of a choking feeling developing in my throat (GERD can do that too). But the anxiety of it has continued my GERd I think - confirmed by pals in medicine, my boyfriend, family/friends/doctor/dog!!
Since I saw my GP I have calmed down significantly since he said I still feel like I'll choke sometimes because I've inflamed my oesophagus and that the food I'm eating is churning in my stomach, especially during an attack. It's got a lot better since then but a way to go. I think I'll need to be free of these symptoms for half a year till I feel right again!
I did have GERD 2 years ago after a bout of the norovirus and I remember it took me about 4 months that time not to feel sick - though it wasn't as severe as this time. I hadn't considered going to the doctor about it, for example. I just kind of dealt with it but I remember it being really unpleasant.
What are your GERD symptoms? For me (and to reassure Marc) I get tightness in my throat, I've thought I had heart palps (it was oesophagal spasms, apparently), nausea after eatign, indigestion, heartburn solidly for 2 weeks once, weird burping, lack of appetite and feeling full/feeling like I don't digest food at night if I eat late or eat big portions...I've managed these things fairly well though by eating smaller portions and staying away from "bad foods"...it's getting there I hope!