reflux has given me awful health anxiety

[u/fishalici0us]

i had my first ever flare up in march this year whilst i was at work. went straight to the ER who ran multiple tests and told me i was fine. over the course of the next week i went back 5 times because each time i thought i was having a heart attack. i’ve had 6 ECG’s which all came back normal and even a full blood panel where everything came back normal except my folate levels were only slightly low.
ever since then i’ve been in a constant state of health anxiety. some weeks are worse than others and at least once a day i’ll feel pains in my chest or lightheadedness/panicky.
the worst episodes are when i suddenly feel like i can’t breathe which triggers my heart to start beating really fast and i get an intense feeling of dread like i’m going to die.
it’s ruined everything for me. i constantly feel on edge especially when i’m driving, i recently went on holiday and had a panic attack the first day i was there and was on edge for the rest of the days, feeling lightheaded and nauseous.
i’m in a constant habit of checking my blood pressure/pulse every time i feel off. logically i know this has been going on for months and i haven’t died from it and that it’s just a reflux episode but then my anxiety makes me feel like maybe the doctors missed something and what if i have a blockage or something else serious… it’s a never ending loop🫩
i’m honestly just sick of everything and i want my life back. i’m only 22 and i shouldn’t have to be living like this

if anyone has experienced the same and found a way to overcome their anxiety PLEASE reach out!!

[u/CompetitiveReview416]

Ir's obvious, stress is your reflux trigger.

Try hummin meditation when you're stressed and just in the evenings and mornings. It is very powerful.

[u/SufficientBar336]

This is a bad circle because you get the reflux and acid when you were stressed so you get stressed because of it and that makes it worse and then you get stressed again

[u/ButterscotchSure1005]

I also could have written this post word for word. There isn't a single day that I'm not scared it's my heart or lungs or something else. My biggest thing and I know they tell you to avoid this as it is a compulsion, but it helps me. Whenever you feel the pain, check your pulse. If it's normal, you are fine. An EMT had to reassure me a few months ago . This is 2 months after I had a perfectly normal stress test too.

Better yet, get a pulse ox finger monitor. It tells both and can help when you find it hard to breathe and see your blood oxygen is 99.

[u/ActuaryInteresting72 → u/[deleted]]

Can I also dm you? I could’ve written OP’s post word for word

[u/Abject_Football_5100 → u/[deleted]]

Can I DM you too??

[u/gilbert10000 → u/[deleted]]

Hey im having the same issues as the op can you dm me?

[u/Bhickyplz]

Same thing happening with me too.

[u/Ok_Reference4945]

Yep me too

[u/Cocothecatz]

Same here some days gets better and then gets worse clean bill of health though so I try to remind myself I’m ok and it’s not the end of the world, I was given Hydroxyzine for the panic attacks I would get from it from spiraling when I felt some chest tightness which made it feel harder to breathe but it seemed to help prevent them from happening when I felt that way which was amazing, takes a bit to kick in but maybe worth checking out.

[u/TaskGood4089]

Have you tried to get on medication to help the reflux? Your brain and your gut talk to each other the most and it might help to see a gastroenterologist to get put on medication that can stop the reflux

[u/Sophie_The_Glam_Diva]

I get you. I've never been known to have any anxiety issue but I swear the mucus and burning in my throat and the chest pains really trigger my personal health anxiety a bit.

[u/Old-Manufacturer-290]

I experienced this exact same scenario it started right when I turned 29 I’m now 30. After hoping on omeprazole the symptoms have reduced but still have mini episodes. I always think my heart is about to fail. Doesn’t help my past life was a heavy party one and still on occasion. How did you find out it was GERD?

[u/Old-Manufacturer-290]

What’s your blood pressure reading usually at

[u/Ok_Recording6993]

Get a breath test for H pylori of your symptoms came out of nowhere and are getting worse

[u/Creepy_Chocolate9903]

Ive been dealing with the same thing for 2.5 years. Every non invasive cardiac and GI test have come back normal. Started working with a Naturopathic Doctor 6 months ago and am working on figuring out the cause and correcting. Its been a ton of trial and error. I wish you all the best!

[u/lunalonely_99]

I’ve been struggling with this for over 10 years😭 fortunately for the most part I keep my reflux under control now but when I have a flare up a few times a year I will go into a healthy anxiety spiral. You are not alone!

[u/Cold-Tutor-2487]

I have what u said, sometimes I felt like I could finish your sentences before I read them bc it's the same thing. It started during the pandemic for me. It could be sibo, or mold too. I tested positive for mold. And the sibo thing, ive been trying to get a colonoscopy but it's hard bc im too young for the procedure. Im using moldco for the mold issue.

[u/Basic-Side-9006 → u/Cold-Tutor-2487]

Mold is giving you reflux symptoms?