Heart/Stomach Palpitations

[Dakota102010]

28 Yr old Male, i have been under alot of stress with a very serious fracture to my foot last year. Since i went back to work, i have been under alot of work stress, and financial stress. Ive been experiencing some old symptoms i did when i was younger and in college. I find them similar to may of an anxiety attack? They have seemed to settle down with lots of rest and change in diet. But the past few days i have been having upset stomach again. I have post nasal drip, so im sure that that is building in my stomach and causing my stomach to be upset. Does a heart palpitation and stomach palpitaiton feel somehwat the same? When my stomach feels upset/gas it seems to be when i have these "flutters". I tried to take my pulse when they happen to see, but i cant feel these palpitations in my pulse. Would this be a stomach palpitation, or just related to the gas? its on the left, right by my rib on the low side. I seem to have alot of gas, but dont feel as though i need to fart, or burp. When i burp i feel like i am going to get sick, and sometimes if i do get sick, i feel better. I've always been an anxious kinda person, but its never been to an extreme. I am going in to see my family doctor to get his opinion, but wanted to check on here first to get some advice as it will be a week or so before i can get in to see him. It seems to only occur in the morning before work, and while at work, i usually feel find after work and in the evenings, so ive pin pointed that its stress/anxiety. Anyone have any suggestions? Advice?

[LivingInHope]

Stress and anxiety can actually increase acid production... stress management is essential.

Seasonal affective disorder I believe typically is caused by not getting enough sunshine for a person's mood, so unless you live where you are seeing cloudy weather a lot in the summer time, I tend to doubt this is what you are suffering from.  

If you have to stay at your job, I know you've lost some staff, but is there anyone that has a low stress job there where you work that you could delegate some of your work to (with management's approval, if you're not management)?  Might you consider seeing a psychiatrist to prescribe some mild tranquilizers on a temporary basis until the stress lessens at your work?  Also, if you could get some counsel from a Christian counselor of pastor to help you work through the break up issues that may still be lingering in your mind and contributing to your stress?

[Dakota102010]

I did see my family Doc, and it is acid reflux, he has me a losec, ive been taking it now for almost a week, ive seen a difference so far, i havent had any heart palpitations since, so it seems that that was what was causing that along with the stress. I still am experiencing a little bit of the panic feeling at work at some points, ive been doing this job for quite a few years, and it has never really been this stressful before, we lost a few of the staff in the last while, so the pressure to meet deadlines has increased a little, and im probally making it more stressful than i should, i seem to take my work personally, and maybe am putting to much pressure on myself? With the year ive had, the emotional rollercoaster ive been on and the stress, it just really seems to be taking a toll on me. I often wonder if i might have Summer SAD (seasonal affective disorder) , i always had high anxiety as a kid, and it seems as though, ive felt this way before at the same time of the year, i associated it with a bad break up about 8 years ago when i had these panicy feelings, so im wondering if they are all linked together. Thanks for all your unbiased opinions, these forums are great for speaking your mind. The fact of knowing that other people have and are going through the same things, eases my mind in the fact that im not going crazy, and that its not just me, haha!

[LivingInHope]

You're welcome: glad you are felling better today and I hope your reflux goes in remission if that's what it is this time and your foot feels better with time and therapeutic exercise/massage or whatever they say to do to aid in recovery!  Glad too you are planning to speak with doctor about the acid reflux.

[Dakota102010]

Thanks for the Advice!! I am feeling better today, than the last few weeks, some good sleep and rest and relaxing nights have seemed to help, lots of good food and less caffene, am going to see about the acid reflux though, as i have had this in the past, and i seemed to have gotten over it, but it has come back with a vengence!!

My foot has healed, am still working through muscle/tendon stiffness due to being in a cast for several months, its a slow recovery, and they said that from the start, but it eats at you after awhile, when you find it hard to see the day to day progress.

Thanks Again!

[LivingInHope]

To be on the safe side, your doctor may want to check out your heart as well... stress can affect all parts of your body.

[LivingInHope]

It's very possible you have acid reflux, which an ear, nose and throat doctor or GI specialist could diagnose for you.  Acid production increases during periods when you are stressed, so it would make sense acid reflux could act up more at those times and also after you have been sleeping, if you lay pretty flat.  Esophageal spasms can feel much like heart pain.

You need to have a doctor diagnose you and seek treatment, because if you are getting acid on your esophagus, that is very bad for it... I had a GI doctor say it's like pouring hydrochloric acid on your arm because of what the esophagus is made of is like skin as opposed to the stomach, which is meant to withstand the acid contained in it.  Also, I hope it is possible for you to take steps to reduce your stress level, from praying and casting your burdens on the Lord if you are a Christian, to finding a job that is less demanding.  Stress can also affect healing, so if your foot isn't already all the way healed, this could be hampering that.