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Avatar universal

GERD related symptoms?

Hello, I'm feeling really strange today and I cannot make it to my doctor until Monday so I figured I might ask here and see what people had to say.

I'm a 31 year old male, with GERD and Hypertension.  I'm currently taking Nexium 40mg 1x per day and Lisinopril 20mg 1x per day.  I am overweight and not as active as I could be.  I am 5'8" and weight about 220 lbs.  I am a non-smoker and I do not drink frequently or use recreational drugs.  

Currently I've been experiencing flushing of the face and episodes of light headedness.  I did go to my doctor once about the flushing issue but at the time the light headedness was not a pronounced symptom.  He tested my blood pressure and ruled that out as it has been well controlled by my medicine.  He also drew blood for to test for Gall Bladder issues and my blood sample came back within normal ranges on for all his testing parameters including blood glucose and cholesterol.

Today I am flushed once again, I have pretty bad stomach pain to the point where if  push on my stomach area it hurts.  I also feel as though if I move my head too quickly I might pass out.  I am not dizzy nor do I actually pass out if I move too quickly but the sensation is there.  The flushing seems most pronounced after eating but can occur at any time and can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour.  The light headedness comes and goes and varies in severity today is the worst it has ever been and it has been happening since I woke up this morning.  

Is there any chance this is related to my GERD?  Or, should I be looking at other possible causes for this problem.  My plan is currently to get back to my doctor on Monday and discuss seeing a gastro-intestinal specialist to further evaluate what is going on with me.  

Any advice or suggestion is appreciated.
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi,
These symptoms are not due to GERD.
Do you have symptoms like weight loss and diarrhea?
Was upper GI endoscopy done?
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I realized I've been bumping the doctor appointment back since I first posted and I'm not avoiding it.  I simply was receiving bad info from his office as I think he has a new secretary or something working there.  At first I was told this Wednesday would be the day I could see him and when I called yesterday to make the appointment I was informed by his other receptionist that he has been out of town all week at this conference and wouldn't be due back till next week.  Thursday was the earliest day I could make it work with my work schedule.

Should I just see about heading to one of the walk-in clinics in the area?  I thought of this originally but I figured it'd be wiser to see my doctor as he has all of my medical history right there.  A clinic is okay but they don't have any records on me there unless I've visited them before.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am not experiencing any weight loss, nor do I have diarrhea unless you're defining that as loose bowel movements.   I usually have a bowel movement twice a day.  My first one is always a very soft and loose movement, the second one is normal.  

I have never had an endoscopy done, my doctor never recommended it.  

I am seeing him this coming Thursday.  He is at a conference until then unfortunately which I did not know and that's why I've been unable to schedule an appointment with him.

The light headed spells seem to be fading maybe it was an unrelated thing that was just happening for those few days.  I'm uncertain though.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ive been having the same flushing n light headedness problem after eating, the symptoms are the worst in the morning after ive finished eating , symptoms start within 30 mins of eating , n i get this flushes on my face, hot flashes, lightheadedness, my voice starts to deteriorate , i start gettn really anxious , i start hyperventilating , n my neck starts gettn really swollen, and i keep burping , n my upper abdmon is in mild pain, my far most biggest problem is my HOARSE VOICE, sometime when i speak nothing comes out, im havn trouble with breathing when im really hoarse, iam having problems with my voice, dunno what to do :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No I am not on anything new and I am not on Niacin at all.  My doctor is not in today and the earliest I'm going to be able to see him is Wednesday.  Yesterday was excellent and today was good until about thirty minutes ago.  Now I'm light-headed again but not flushed.  

I should also mention I am diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder and I'm in therapy for it.  Specifically manifesting itself as Hyponchondria surrounding cardiovascular issues.  I have been evaluated numerous times for cardiovascular issues and every test has turned up negative.  So, I think we can safely rule that out as well.

I do worry that these symptoms could be purely psychosomatic but it doesn't feel like my typical hyponchondriac nonsense.  Usually that is focused on the heart and I imagine cardiac symptoms.  This is something vastly different and is not invoking the sort of anxiety I usually get if I'm having an anxiety attack or episode.  

I will make an appointment Wednesday and discuss these new developments with my doctor.  I also worry that he'll consider this to be a psychosomatic episode and not take it seriously.  He's the one that made the original diagnosis for the anxiety and recommended that I seek mental health counseling which I'm undergoing.  So he's aware of the problem and at times I think he feels that my symptoms are imagined or exaggerated because of it.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
While GERD can cause several peculiar symptoms, yours seem unlikely related to it.  Flushing can be caused by many things--medications, fever, blood pressure, emotions, allergies, infections.  Any chance you are taking niacin or a new medication?

Sure sounds like you need a doctor visit.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also forgot to mention that if I'm laying prone on my side and lift my head up at an angle I often times get a sensation in the pit of my stomach like I am going down a steep decline in a car.   I sometimes get this while standing and turning my head at an angle or on occasion when drinking a cold drink after eating a hot meal.  
Helpful - 0

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