Panic attacks and GERD

I had never had a panic attack before until late June early July.  I had a cough for about two weeks when I started experiencing a strange sensation like was wrapped in cellophane with a hole poked through at the mouth.  I wasn't stopped up, I just felt extremely tight around my cardiovascular area.  I was having cough attacks that started closing off my throat.  I sounded asthmatic as I gasped to get a breath. I started living in fear of the next attack.  It would start with an intense tickling or irritation somewhere in my throat and strike so fast I sometimes wouldn't have time to take a deep breath to counter it...kind of like when you take a drink and it goes down your windpipe.  In the middle of the night I would fly out of bed when I felt the sensation (three or four times a night).  I went to the ER on July 4th.  The PA that tended me listened to my lungs...I just knew that's where the problem was...and said they were clear.  They said the problem may have been sinus drainage.  Recently, the panic started to return but I noticed I had been having some heartburn and feeling pressure in my chest, in my diaphram between my chest and stomach.  That's when I looked to see if there was a relation between the panic and GERD.gn

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the GERD forum.

The relationship btwn panic and gerd is the inability to breathe properly which causes teh panic....post nasal drip can cause gerd to flare up....this time many have allergies to mold might notice an increase of symptoms.

U said ur issues started in June....the only thing I can think of is possible mold from air conditioners....the filters can get quite dirty.....

I would suggest u see a GI  to check for a motility issue with ur LES and get proper meds and diet and lifestyle changes to aid in feeling better.

"selma"

[Vhoop]

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I totally agree a lifestyle change is in order.  I will turn 49 next April and we eat like teenagers around here sometimes.

Yesterday, I made an appt with my doctor to discuss these issues.  Thanks to this forum, I have a better idea how to narrow my focus when addressing this with him.  I have never had any allergy problems in my life but there were some issue that pointed in that direction when this started.  So long and thanks.

[selmaS]

U r welcome...please post an update on ur progress.

Godspeed
"selma"