Acid reflux and anxiety

[Mollylolly]

Hi there

I am looking for some advice. About 4 months ago I started suffering terrible anxiety i stopped eating nearly and lost over a stone in weight and was put on valium then 4 weeks after that I started having terrible stomach issues symptoms are acid reflux, burping, grumbling stomach, pain at top of stomach, burning throat. The doctor gave me nexiem which at first worked well but I had to increase the dose eventually as its not as effective now. I had a ultrasound, ct scan,transvaginal scan,about 10 weeks ago . All OK just found a small fibroid and my adrenal gland swollen due to stress probably but nothing to worry about..... Fast forward now and still the stomach symptoms continue and my anxiety is so so bad. I just cant handle it anymore I worry constantly that its something awful . My doctor says ive had tests and i should feel reasured by this but I dont .

My worst symptom is the feeling like the acid is crawling up from my stomach and into my throat. My throat constantly feels like there is water at the back of it and my throat burns sometimes. My ears feel burny too . Its all wearing me down. My dh says this is all caused by anxiety.

I'm still taking the nexiem but it only helps with 60% of the symptoms and ive tried to stop it but just couldn't manage and ended up back on it .

Has anyone else suffered with this ?I would appreciate your experiences .

Thank you

I don't have feeling of excessive saliva or water at the back of my throat.

I've had acid reflux for quite a few years. Been on medication ever since.

Try the Peptac or Gaviscon Advance (prefer the peppermint version though). You can get them over the counter at the chemist.

Also try propping up the head of you bed so you sleep on a slight angle. It's supposed to help.

Hi thank you for your replies yes I have peptac and gaviscon and I sleep on 3 pillows also have my bed up . Nothing helps .

No i have not had endoscopy had ct scan .

I have had an almost continuous very tight chest for 5 months which I initially put down to hay fever as I could feel it in the back of my throat and nose sometimes.
I've been on omniprozole for a few weeks and have upped the dose to 20mg but it still feels tight, worse some days than others.

I had a chest x-ray which has come back clear but I'm anxious about it all and how long it's been tight and that translates into middle and upper back ache. Either that or its the GERD causing it too.
Funnily enough, I've been moaning about my left ear needing syringing as it feels blocked. Now you've made me think it might be connected.

I'm very fed up with it all.

Oh and horrendous burping and passing wind.

@Mollylolly

Try Silicol gel - you will find it on amazon. I recommend it to all my anxiety clients and it really helps when other over the counter stuff doesn't work. It should settle any nausea also.

I have had this for years on and off I find it comes in patches then goes again for a while. I am back on lanzoprazole again now

Not eating makes it much worse. If you aren’t eating your stomach is then creating more acid as it’s hungry. You must eat small meals and snacks to help this.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Its all wearing me down.

Hi all im still suffering and waiting to see gastro doc now. Doctor thinks its all anxiety causing it . My worst symptom is the excessive saliva water feeling at back of throat. Its really unsettling x

Hi I have just had a good Vega test done which shows what foods I am sensitive to and I really can't believe when I look over my food diary how they have affected me
So the severe ones are
Wheat oats barley
Eggs, cows milk, cows cheese
Tomatoes, onions
Apple's, oranges and lemons
Beef, pork, yeast
Coffee, chocolate, tea

And not so severe
Sugar

It was only 40.00
And I am now on probiotics and a multi digestive enzyme

I really hope you get sorted as this is ruining my life and it is causing me so much anxiety still

Hi OP, you poor thing. My son suffers from similar - nausea particularly at night, sleepless nights, waking feeling sick, retching (nothing comes up), burping, feeling of something stuck in the back of his throat, stomach pain, diahorrea (sp!) and this went on for YEARS. My aunt and grandmother both have/had stomach hernias which can be genetic so I wondered whether he had one too. Anyhow in lockdown he started on omeprazole and it has made a HUGE difference to him. We also use apple cider vinegar and a bit of lemon juice mixed with water when the burping is bad, that seems to quell it instantly (it's ayurvedic apparently - we googled it when desperate and no access to a chemist).

I think you need to ditch the meds you are on, move to omeprazole and see if that makes a difference. It takes about 2 or 3 weeks to kick in so bear with it. Good luck.

Also, my son's GP wanted to refer him to CAHMS for mental health issues causing the stomach issues, but she said the waiting list was too long so I should make my own arrangements and in the end it was a very constructive conversation with a dietician which helped point us to the omeprazole. Anxiety is certainly a reaction to feeling so awful, and my son's anxiety has improved massively since he stopped feeling so awful. So, rather than anxiety being the cause, maybe it's the reaction for you too?

Thank you for your replies.

Liverpool 1981 im sorry you are still suffering too its so awful. I just wonder if its all anxiety induced. I keep getting told it is by my family but I just dont believe it.

My threeknights

I have tried omeprazole but it didn't agree with me unfortunately and the ACV didn't help me .

I really hope your son gets some relief soon .xx

I’ve just come across your post whilst searching for the same symptoms. I’m 47 and for the last 3 years I have had the same symptoms as you. I have really bad anxiety (actually it’s all consuming), I have awful grumbling, growling guts, indigestion and burning stomach, a feeling of water in my throat and in my stomach, bloating and gas, nausea, a bitter taste in the mouth, the lot. Last year I had a gastroscope, colonoscopy and ct scan but nothing found. I’ve tried so many things but still I keep suffering with this bloody thing. I’m not sure if it’s perimenopause, anxiety, something I’m eating or a combination of the three? Whatever it is, I’ve had enough. I’ve just ordered some digestive enzymes in the hope they may bring me some relief. I understand your misery.

Hi Afternooninthepark

I'm so sorry you are suffering the same . The whole thing is awful.

Do you suffer with it everyday ? Are you taking anything?

My anxiety is horrific too so i completely understand. Its a vicious circle.

Feel free to message me .x

Thanks MollyLolly
I suffer most days and tbh it’s getting worse but then so is my anxiety, it’s a bit of a vicious cycle I suppose. Anxiety has been awful since the start of the pandemic if I’m truly honest.
I keep a food and symptoms diary and think there may be a bit of a cyclical trend, I think I’m in this cycle of symptoms, anxiety, more symptoms, more anxiety and my monthly cycle thrown in then exacerbates the whole bloody thing! And there is probably some foods which aggregate it but I still can’t find a direct link as yet.
I have tried so many different meds but not yet the antidepressants my gp keeps prescribing (tbh I’m scared of those!).
Do you get the feeling in your upper back too? I also sometimes feel as though I have swallowed a bowling ball which is on fire - horrible feeling.

It really is a vicious circle.

Yes i get that feeling in my back too especially if I try and stop the ppi.

Are you on anything for the acid ?

As another poster suggested try Silicolgel, it helped me where Gaviscon and Omeprazole didn’t. You can have it delivered by Amazon too.

Thanks i will have a look on amazon.

I’ve tried various things but they only help for a short time. I’ve been looking into Silicol gel or Enterosgel, I’m going to try one of those this weekend.

Hi have you ever tried a ppi long term ? Some people find this really helps . Im on nexiem but it only helps a bit .x

No, I haven’t. Maybe I should give them another go?

How long did you try them?

For about 3 weeks but they gave me headaches.

I also worried about a couple of possible long term side effects. I would really like to try something more natural or try to control it with diet. I’ve been referred to gastroenterology again, I was hoping to ask them but it looks to be a long waiting list!

My ds (10) has chronic reflux and anxiety.

He is on 30mg of Lansoprazole a day.
He sleeps propped very upright on pillows
We have to keep an eye on bowel function as when he is constipated his reflux is much much worse.
Anxiety seems to make it much worse for him, and of course he is also anxious about pain, and vomiting. It's a nightmare.