Acid reflux/Stress/Anxiety

[Dakota102010]

Hi, i was in to see my family doctor a few weeks ago, was having some acid reflux flare ups. We came to the conclusion that stress and anxiety were the cause. He has had me on losec now for two weeks, and that seem to calm my stomach down, and reduced the heart palpitations i was experiencing, i have also tried to maintain a good sleeping pattern, and eating more healthy. My question is, i have still been experincing alot of stress from a bad injury last year, and along with stress from that, some symptoms are still present. Yesterday morning i have yellow soft stool with some what looked like lettuce from the night before from supper, and then i didnt have a bowel movement for the rest of the day, and now this morning, i had the same soft stool, but was more normal brown color. It seems now that im almost becoming constipated, i typically have normally 2-3 bowel movements a day, with no soft, mushy stool. I have been alternating beween diahrea and constipation, and cant seem to have a week with normal stool. Am i being to over cautious? i tend to watch my body symptoms too much, i tend to be somewhat of a hypochondriac, and i dont want to waste my doctors time again going in, because i have been stressed alot, so im sure that these symptoms are the cause. My Anxiety seems to be going away, i dont have any panic attacks as much, i still feel anxious alot, Am making sure im well hydrated, getting lots of sleep, relaxing and getting R and R when i can, trying to stay away from caffeine and junk food. I am having a hard time not thinking about work at home, and not thinking about other things at work. Its really hard to do when your stressed. When i am able to sit and relax, i get anxious that im relaxed, i always feel like i have something i should be doing, or should be visiting someone. I think that ive been stressed for so long for the last year since my accident, that my body is having a hard time relaxing, and my body is telling my mind to relax, but my mind is keeping everthing on alert mode. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Alot of the stress is the financial "depression" i will call it, that the accident put me in, as i am still not fully recovered, and it could be years before im back to normal. Any advice? tips? Comments?

[Dakota102010]

ive actually felt better since i stopped the losec. ive gotten lots of R&R in the past few weeks, gotten some more exercising in, that i can do with the limits of my injury. i like to try things naturally, i think the losec may have gotten my stomach back to a normal routine. i had this when i was about 19, and they gave me zantac, but ive just had a really stressfull year, so i know that has sparked my stomach into overdrive, and i was drinking alot of pop too. i have a good support system with family and friends, but the people who understand even more are ones who are or have gone through it. i know sometimes meds are required, but i like to take a natural healthy approach first. the more stressed i was, i would then stress about how i was feeling, and be stressed because i was anxious, and then i was just its own viscious cycle of stress and anxiety. but i think ive lowered my stress and anxiety a bit, trying to think more positivly, and being on this forum really helps. since i am actually really shy, im able to speak open minded and no one is judging, because we are all here for the same reason.

[kellylevicky]

sorry the link doesn't work..just googe nami & click on "find your local NAMI"

[kellylevicky]

I was diagnosed w/ GERD (basically mild acid reflux)...after that I found out I had anxiety. I also have depression. If you are under a lot of stress it will increase the amount of stomach acid you produce. You should probably go see a GI & they will probably want you to stay on the meds. I was just discharged from the hospital today, I was having constant chest pain. They said it's probably b/c I stopped taking the acid reducer I was on, They told me I need to take the medicine everyday or my symptoms won't go away,...so now I will need an endoscopy to rule out an ulcer.

As far as your anxiety goes--I know the feeling. I have depression & anxiety. My advice would to go see a psychiatrist & a therapist. They will eventually get you on the right meds to help your anxiety. I also go to a weekly "mood disorders" support group that is run by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) They are #1 organization in the nation when it comes to offering support & awareness. The support group really helps me. We talk a lot about coping mechanisms & how to use them. Once you figure out what works for you it helps you to stay "stable." You may also reach a point where you are very aware of when your anxiety is about to flare up. If you can catch it before it gets bad you can use your coping mechanisms & meds to stop it from getting worse. Hope this helps.

Here is the NAMI website...they have support groups in every state so I recommend looking one up:  http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Your_Local_NAMI&Template=/CustomSource/AffiliateFinder.cfm