Unusual symptoms making me depressed and anxious Help!

[AJ124]

Hey guys

Recently I had I bout of heartburn and chest pain like nothing before chest pain was quick and intense. I've had what the doctors say is gerd before but lansoprazole doesn't seem to work. I'm now on pantoprazole twice a day which I don't think is working either.

My current symptoms are a twitch between the middle of the ribs whilst sitting. Wave like stomach spasms while sitting which makes my whole body jump. And the odd pain in abdomen. I don't have heartburn very often though. The weirdest symptom is after eating I get a sinking feeling in my chest almost like can internal hiccup which takes my breathe away for a second. If I'm talking it would stop me for a millisecond it's right in the middle of my abdomen upto my chest. The twicth also appears when I'm sitting and my abdomen feels so sensitive since this apparent gerd attack.

These symptoms have made me depressed and anxious not knowing what's going on. I feel as though I have been constantly misdiagnosed and doctors just fob me off with PPIs. I've had an abdominal scan which was all clear all major organs were fine. I now await an endoscopy finally after years of these symptoms.

Can anyone relate or understand what kind of symtoms I'm talking about? I would love to hear from you guys

Thanks for reading

[Jaby86]

Hi, sorry to hear this. I can relate to the anxiety of reflux symptoms causing you to feel depressed. I also went through a similar phase where I was experiencing very strange symptoms and new symptoms almost on a daily basis. I had a clear abdo scan and endoscopy too. I think the initial symptoms were caused by my lifestyle (not eating enough, eating acidic foods and over exercising), however for me stress and anxiety I think played a huge part and turned into a vicious cycle. I have now changed my eating habits and lifestyle but more focused on stress reduction by incorporating meditation and acupuncture and so far I have only had minimal symptoms when I drink wine or eat too quickly. I always tell myself that your body is fighting for you and not against you so things will get better.

[Epiphanies in reply to Jaby86]

I have had stomach issues similar to you and these only started in lockdown…. And mine is stress related.. kept endless food diaries, had Ct scan, endoscopy, and colonoscopy all clear…. Unfortunately where I live and during lockdown both of my neighbour have children… one is a teenager who screams for pleasure (playing with his friends… the other has 2 who constantly fight so scream for different reasons.. However the body mine… hears screaming and it’s always a fight or flight situation… This was the cause of All of my symptoms. Stress and anxiety… I have just been hit with it again more recently.. as both of my parents have been diagnosed with cancer within a week of each other… so it’s all kicked off again… I think finding out what makes you less anxious helps massively. I have started going out walking again with headphones on.. Another thing I have picked up on is my better half has a more pessimistic view on life and this too has a massive effect on my well-being. So I have explained he may be happy to be like that but I don’t want to hear it.. and he needs to consider the affect it has on other people . I am naturally cheery by nature usually, so little things like this have a massive impact on me…

[Hidden in reply to Epiphanies]

I read your post with interest as I WAS being investigated for a peptic ulcer but bloods have promoted the GP to test for digestive organs cancers. On 29th Dec my step Dad died at 0705, later that day at 1720 my Dad also died. Then my symptoms started. Since then my ex husband (67) also died on 17th February. There has been lots of stress and drama and lots to sort out, Wills, probate, care fir ageing widows , supporting my (adult) sons with their Dads funeral next week and so in, I do seriously wonder if emotional stress like this can enpower illnesses like this. I think I may try your headphone walking idea; do you drown out the outside noise or listen to music etc ?

I hope you don’t mind me butting in on your reply?

[Epiphanies in reply to Hidden]

Hi…no problem at all…I am so sorry for your losses. I am under stress again as both my parents have been diagnosed with cancer, within a week of each other..my dads is not survivable SCLC. So I am expecting another bout of pain but thankfully nothing has appeared yet.

To answer you questions.. I am massively motivated by music.. so I will have a certain type for the gym, pleasure, etc.. So for walking I put a collection together of upbeat songs that I like, however if I start to flag I will change it to my gym tracks which push me.. and I will confess most of my gym music is the Rocky soundtrack from the Ivan drago one 😂😂. But it really does help reduce my stress levels.. My top happy song is Coldplay sky full of stars followed by empire of the sun walking in a dream uptempo .. not a massive fan of these 2 bands but the tunes are fabulous.. also sometimes I have it on loud… mostly though just an enjoyable audio

[Hidden in reply to Epiphanies]

sending you strength to face the situation with your parents .

I shall try walking to my music choices when I feel well enough, hopefully soon. I’m 61 soon so the 70s is my time, glam rock and heavy rock so I could be exhausted soon 😉

[AJ124 in reply to Jaby86]

Hey.Thanks for sharing

Did you ever have a sinking feeling in chest like air blowing upwards which took your breathe away after eating? This is the most troublesome symptom for me right now. I'm waiting on an endoscopy for diagnosis which will probably take another month or w with these crazy NHS waiting times

[Epiphanies in reply to AJ124]

I had pain in the centre of my chest a couple of weeks ago and kept waking up in the night. I found some prescription omeprezonale tablets and took one and the difference it made. Plus doing lots more deep breathing, not watching depressing news and watching a bit of comedy self help really made a massive difference as well as my walking

[hjskev]

I can sympathise. I get anxious too, mainly like you because I don't know what's happening and I worry about the damage that having acid in the wrong places is doing. It seems to me that reflux is really a simple complaint so how come its so difficult to fix? I think some of the so called remedies cause more problems. For me its the not knowing that makes me anxious and I'm aware of getting into a kind of anxiety loop and becoming anxious about quite insignificant stuff in life's big picture. Having reflux can take the pleasure out of life too. I used to have a cast iron digestive system. All tests come up clear so there is nothing to identify as the problem I'm having a big flair up at the mo which means my mouth feels very burnt. I don't know if it really is burnt or if its all in my imagination. If I was a doctor and someone came to me and said their mouth was burning the first thing I would do is take a swab and test for acid, but they look at me as if I'm mad. I am wondering if I could actually do that test myself with some sort of kit. Sorry to ramble on. Hope you get answers.

[hjskev]

Actually I've just looked up testing for acid and you can buy test strips on Amazon so I'm going to get some and test myself. I also came across info on an alkaline diet so I'm going to try it.

[Opelcorsa]

To avoid avid reflux and the feeling of having a golf ball lodged in my chest plus occasional vomiting, I've had to cut out fizzy drink, alcohol, chocolate, crisps , I take 2 nexium daily and eat regular small meals. Hope u get sorted. Had my endoscopy last week and all seemed to be well

[Hidden]

hello ,.I can so associate with you.I have the same sensations in the centre of my oesopheagus,Have had every PPI going -lansoprazole,pantoprazole,omeprazole and another and recently Famotidine and now Nizatidine.These seemed to help.I have been without them for 5 days because forgot to request them when I placed my prescription request.After eating ,I experience pain in the centre of my oesopheagus/sternum area.My last endoscopy was 2018 which confirmed gastritis and a gastric polyp and narrowing of my oesopheagus-whcih I think is where food is sticking and where I experience pain.The gastroenterologist have told my GP they will not carry out any further investigations saying " I have had what they consider to be "extensive investigations" but they did not consider what these "extensive investigations" had detected.I recently had an abdominal Ct scan which said no abnormalities (in organs)Do you have any swelling in the centre of your chest?I do but my GP has not addressed this .The Thymus Gland sits in this area and I read it can cause oesophegeal problems.I take Acidex to relieve acid reflux a couple of times a day .

Hope you do not have to wait too long for you endoscopy and it gives you some answers/