Scared! Anxiety or reflux?

[Daxter]

Sorry to post so much but I've got such a long wait until I can get medical attention and I'm only getting worse. I'm on lansoprazole, gaviscon advance and sertraline at the moment. I've strictly controlled my diet; no caffeine and spices, virtually no sugar and processed foods, less dairy. I'm trying to be active and keep myself busy or drink more water AND I've got a wedge pillow to raise the bed head at night. Yet despite all these precautions my reflux-like problems continue. I'm really at a loss and worried I may be one of those "severe" cases but that I won't get surgery for it if I am. Every day without fail I get:

- Wet belches; they don't burn but they still cause other symptoms.
- Loads of post nasal drip and a lump throat feeling.
- Sore, dry throat which lozenges hardly affect.
- Feeling of liquid "pooling" in my throat while eating. This does burn!
- Hot burning feeling across my body but mostly on my tongue, forehead, face (!) and back of neck.
- "Hungry" feeling/gurgling
- Trouble swallowing when throat is really tight. Even water gets stuck.

Anxiety? Even with the setraline? That possibilty is the only thing that keeps me sane. I don't want anything for the rest of my life, I'm only 21!

[greenzebra]

Anxiety can fuel acid reflux, so that might be what you're dealing with. I get some of the same symptoms, especially when I've had a week where my anxiety's high. Maybe you should go see your doctor, just to get a second opinion.

[Slangevar]

I totally empathize, Daxter... I'm still dealing with the same thing.  Here are some thoughts:

1) Have you tried eating dinner early?  It's not my favorite, but I have noticed if I eat 4 hours before bedtime, I don't seem to get reflux. (Or at least I don't feel it.) 

2) Any chance your Sertraline is causing the reflux?  Sometimes reflux is a side effect of medication.

3) Is it possible you have low stomach acid?  It also causes acid reflux, but PPIs and acid meds make it worse.

4) Another poster here said her doc advised against the wedge pillow since it compresses your stomach... they recommend raising the head of your bed up 8 inches on blocks.

5) Any chance it could be allergies and/or post-nasal drip?  (My doc thinks mine is a combo of sinus issues & LPR.)

That's all I've got except sympathy. I go in next week for a sinus CT scan and a scope. Frustrating stuff!

[hypomom]

It sounds like reflux and allergies and the mucus from allergies causes reflux. The wedge pillow is a no no according to GI docs because is causes the body to compress and so you need to ditch it and put the head of the bed on blocks 6 inches.

[hypomom]

By the way.. I have Esophageal spasms that are from my reflux and THEY cause chest/arm/back pain but also: Wet belches; they don't burn but they still cause other symptoms.
- Sore, dry throat which lozenges hardly affect.
- Feeling of liquid "pooling" in my throat while eating. This does burn!
- Hot burning feeling across my body but mostly on my tongue, forehead, face (!) and back of neck.
- "Hungry" feeling/gurgling
- Trouble swallowing when throat is really tight. Even water gets stuck.