GERD or panic atttacks or what???

[mkramer]

For the past 6 weeks I have been having 'episodes' (for lack of a better word) that resemble panic attacks but I'm not convinced that's what they are.  I've been to my regular MD and an internist - a blood workup and hormone screening were done - everything appears normal.  I'll try and describe the 'episodes'.  They seem to start in my stomach, my stomach gets extremely nervous (acid?), I also get a lump in my throat (like you do when you are getting ready to cry or vomit), my mouth waters, I get hot, nauseous, I feel like I'm not getting enough air and then I get a very panicked feeling like I just can't sit still or I'm 'freaking out'.  I do not hyperventilate and my pulse feels normal during these episodes.  They seem to happen the most during the late afternoon or evening.  I wake up with these feelings in the morning sometimes.  The other night I was almost asleep and I could feel the 'episode' starting - I felt like I had a huge wad of bread in my throat and started to get panicky.  I got up and took a zantac and 1 mg valium and sat upright on the couch for approx 2 hours and was then able to lay down to sleep.  I can go for 2 or 3 days and start to feel normal and then the episodes start again.  I felt good Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, then Wednesday night I had the episode described above, felt somewhat normal Thursday morning but by Thursday afternoon the feeling had returned and lasted most of the evening.  I was finally able to go to sleep but woke up Friday morning with the lump in throat and panicky feeling.  Some history:  have suffered from heartburn off and on for years (I take zantac), irritable bowel, hyperactive pituitary gland (galactorrhea - take parlodel), allergies (hayfever), headaches.  A couple of confusing points - the night I had the first episode I also had an aura and during these episodes if I made myself get up and do something physical (clean etc) I feel somewhat better;  sometime the zantac seem to help.   Any ideas?  Thank you very much!

[Concerned lady]

Please also take a look at my website about VCD(Vocal Cord Dysfunction), which includes some holistic treatment options (see page 10) for the type of GERD that you may have, called LPRD (Laryngeal-Pharyngeal Reflux Disease).

Laryngeal means larynx (voice box), where the vocal cords are, just behind the "adam's apple".

Pharyngeal means throat area.

LPRD is a higher up type of GERD than the "heartburn" type of GERD. With LPRD, the "refluxing" stomach liquid backs up all the way to the throat, causing a "lump in throat" feeling (called "globus"). The LPR episodes also often cause a feeling of suffocation (choking or throat closing feeling) when the corrosive stomach liquid burns the vocal cords, causing the vocal cords to spasm shut or partially close up.

This is called a VCD (Vocal Cord Dysfunction) attack, and is also called a "laryngo-spasm".

Here's a link to the home page of the website:
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

You might also be having some adverse (bad) reactions to one or more medication that you're taking. You could ask your pharmacist and doc about possible drug interactions, in addition to bad side effects of the meds.

And since you have several medical conditions, you will need a very good doc to help you sort them all out! Good luck to you.

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[cmb174]

GERD produces panic attacks for me.  Usually at night or just going to sleep.  Treatment with lansoprazole helped.

[iamamy]

PLEASE tell me more about the yeast infection.  From what I have read, it only seems to affect people who have AIDS or who have been on Chemotherapy.  THANK YOU for your input...And are you speaking from experience.  Is this something that you have had?  If so, what were your symptoms, and how did they treat you, and how long did it take to get rid of it?

[mkramer]

Thanks for the interesting links!  I do have some of the symptoms of VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION and the yeast relationship is fascinating.  I passed that one onto my mother who does have fibro.  As far as interactions between medicines all I take is parlodel, allegra, zantac (as needed, more frequently lately) and a multi-vitamin.  I've taken all of these for at least 10 years.  I was wondering about some type of food allergy.  I have a few M&M's every evening and I have peanut-butter toast every morning - but I've done this for at least the last 2 years.  Recently I quit those 2 habits for 3 weeks but I still had the 'episodes'.

[PAJ]

Your symptoms suggest a yeast infection, panic attacks are a marker for the condition, plus of course your gut problems , there are other conditions with similar symptoms but I would recommend you check out  a candida infection sooner rather that later, search for candida infection symptoms or yeast infection see if you relate to the information . I can tell you from experience that it

[mkramer]

Thanks for your reply.  Does the panic feeling last for a long time?   I can't figure out if my stomach problems start first and then I panic or my panic causes the stomach problems :( I have set up an appt with a gastroentologist.  My regular MD wanted me to try some of the new anti-depressants.  Unfortunately with my pituitary problem I can't take those.

[lemaygirl]

I suffer from GERD and panic attacks. My attacks are "feeling like I am losing control of myself", and fear. Very similar to the feeling you might have if someone came into a room and pointed a gun at you. Recently, I started having different symptoms. They involved profuse sweating that would come out of nowhere, and upset stomach along with diarrhea and feelings of surrealness. Of course when this happened, it scared the heck out of me, but I did not connect it to panic attacks. I ended up at my doctor and she prescribed Xanax...along with the facts of it's potential to be addictive etc. Looking back now, within about 40 mns of taking one, my symptoms disappeared for the rest of that day! I have sense done more research on panic attacks and have found there are numerous different symptoms-not just panicky feelings and tightness of the chest and shortness of breath. Sorry for this being so long, but, if I were you, I would talk to your doctor, describing all this and then you can make an informed decision if he/she would suggest Xanax. I take mine only as needed (which is not often anymore)and I can't tell you how grateful I am to have it. Even though I know it is a panic attack when it happens, it does not diminish how real the feeling of fear is to you when it is happening. Good luck.