Anxiety Issues (with added GERD)

@lvon - I gave up anxiety meds and found breathing exercises more helpful. Here is a set I googled for you. I do the belly breathing any time I have an anxiety/panic attack and it has helped each time.
https://www.verywellmind.com/abdominal-breathing-2584115
Also for GERD attacks in between scheduled meds, sipping a little water helps to relieve the pain. I always have a glass of water or a water bottle within reach, to take a few sips as soon as the pain starts.

Yes, I tried it before and like you made GERD worse. Are you suffering with anxiety as well. Thank you.

I’ve been going to see my primary care Dr. I’ve had blood work up. My one level that checks liver, etc was mildly high. But she wants to recheck the numbers in a couple of weeks. I was sick prior to that. Sometimes that could make it go up. I’ve had an abdominal ultrasound. It was pretty similar to a test I had a few years ago. (CT etc). I also had an upper GI. It had shown I still have GERD with some backup going up a 1/3 of esophagus. Suppose to have a scope. Don’t know how I’m going to get thru that with my extreme anxiety. This is why I’m wondering if Seroquel will help my issue with anxiety. Plus it will be a low dose. I just don’t want it to get out of hand and he increases it. But we were told from pharmacists it’s a safe drug. And would they say otherwise. Don’t know if I should ask PCP if it’s ok. Hate to have 2 drs telling me 2 different things. Having reflux issues is like a loop. Anxiety bothers it and reflux bothers anxiety. Any info is appreciated. Thank you.

I’ve had acid reflux for years. Also on medication for it for years. I wasn’t diagnosed with anxiety until way after the reflux. I was on Celexa for years but I took myself off of it back in early 2020. My psychiatrist stopped seeing patients. Now he’s back and I’ve been seeing him again for about a year. I suppose I must of gradually weaned myself off of celexa because at the time I didn’t have any problems. He’s tried several different meds for anxiety but I’m very sensitive. I get side effects very easily and can’t tolerate them. Even tried going back on Celexa. Couldn’t do it unless dosage was too high. Tried Pristiq and it wasn’t good. Pure hell to wean off of that. I was on low dose 50mg a day for 5-6 weeks. Wasn’t feeling right. He had me wean off of it in 13 days. Then put me on propranolol (beta blocker) for anxiety. Since being on all different meds, especially Pristiq sometimes I lose my train of thought. He has me on Nexium twice a day for awhile for the reflux. In the past I would only take it twice a day if reflux acted up. Read beta blockers can give heartburn and weaken the splinter to your stomach. In turn cause reflux problems. Has anyone with anxiety and reflux experience any of this? If so, what did you do? Thank you.

I’ve had acid reflux for years. Also on medication for it for years. I wasn’t diagnosed with anxiety until way after the reflux. I was on Celexa for years but I took myself off of it back in early 2020. My psychiatrist stopped seeing patients. Now he’s back and I’ve been seeing him again for about a year. I suppose I must of gradually weaned myself off of celexa because at the time I didn’t have any problems. He’s tried several different meds for anxiety but I’m very sensitive. I get side effects very easily and can’t tolerate them. Even tried going back on Celexa. Couldn’t do it unless dosage was too high. Tried Pristiq and it wasn’t good. Pure hell to wean off of that. I was on low dose 50mg a day for 5-6 weeks. Wasn’t feeling right. He had me wean off of it in 13 days. Then put me on propranolol (beta blocker) for anxiety. Since being on all different meds, especially Pristiq sometimes I lose my train of thought. He has me on Nexium twice a day for awhile for the reflux. In the past I would only take it twice a day if reflux acted up. Read beta blockers can give heartburn and weaken the splinter to your stomach. In turn cause reflux problems. Has anyone with anxiety and reflux experience any of this? If so, what did you do? Thank you.

My Stage 4 esophageal cancer & hiatal hernia surgery in 2020 left me with the loss of 1/3 of the esophagus. My stomach was detached & relocated higher up & sewn into the remains of the esophagus. I lost the valve that is mandatory in the esophagus to close after food is passed thru to the stomach. Thus, gerd flows like a river 24/7. No meds have worked on gern, even Sucralfate. Constant chest pain wakes me multiple times a night ruining my sleep. Am told by gastro docs that nothing can be done about the valve so situation will never change. I fear erosion of my remaining esophagus by the gerd over time will mean the rest of my life on a feeding tube . Was on one for 7 mos. while hospitalized from the surgery & resulting coma. Never again! It plays havoc with your intestines & results in uncontrollable severe diarrhea.
My surgery was an "Esophajectemy With Gastric Pull Through".

My Stage 4 esophageal cancer & hiatal hernia surgery in 2020 left me with the loss of 1/3 of the esophagus. My stomach was detached & relocated higher up & sewn into the remains of the esophagus. I lost the valve that is mandatory in the esophagus to close after food is passed thru to the stomach. Thus, gerd flows like a river 24/7. No meds have worked on gern, even Sucralfate. Constant chest pain wakes me multiple times a night ruining my sleep. Am told by gastro docs that nothing can be done about the valve so situation will never change. I fear erosion of my remaining esophagus by the gerd over time will mean the rest of my life on a feeding tube . Was on one for 7 mos. while hospitalized from the surgery & resulting coma. Never again! It plays havoc with your intestines & results in uncontrollable severe diarrhea.
My surgery was an "Esophajectemy With Gastric Pull Through".

Also sorry you had to go under the knife. I remember in my much younger days going to a European nursing conference & they showed us slides of the most amazing looking pates they make for patients. Maybe pates are something to consider if you haven't yet.

I’ve had acid reflux for years. Also on medication for it for years. I wasn’t diagnosed with anxiety until way after the reflux. I was on Celexa for years but I took myself off of it back in early 2020. My psychiatrist stopped seeing patients. Now he’s back and I’ve been seeing him again for about a year. I suppose I must of gradually weaned myself off of celexa because at the time I didn’t have any problems. He’s tried several different meds for anxiety but I’m very sensitive. I get side effects very easily and can’t tolerate them. Even tried going back on Celexa. Couldn’t do it unless dosage was too high. Tried Pristiq and it wasn’t good. Pure hell to wean off of that. I was on low dose 50mg a day for 5-6 weeks. Wasn’t feeling right. He had me wean off of it in 13 days. Then put me on propranolol (beta blocker) for anxiety. Since being on all different meds, especially Pristiq sometimes I lose my train of thought. He has me on Nexium twice a day for awhile for the reflux. In the past I would only take it twice a day if reflux acted up. Read beta blockers can give heartburn and weaken the splinter to your stomach. In turn cause reflux problems. Has anyone with anxiety and reflux experience any of this? If so, what did you do? Thank you.

I’ve had acid reflux for years. Also on medication for it for years. I wasn’t diagnosed with anxiety until way after the reflux. I was on Celexa for years but I took myself off of it back in early 2020. My psychiatrist stopped seeing patients. Now he’s back and I’ve been seeing him again for about a year. I suppose I must of gradually weaned myself off of celexa because at the time I didn’t have any problems. He’s tried several different meds for anxiety but I’m very sensitive. I get side effects very easily and can’t tolerate them. Even tried going back on Celexa. Couldn’t do it unless dosage was too high. Tried Pristiq and it wasn’t good. Pure hell to wean off of that. I was on low dose 50mg a day for 5-6 weeks. Wasn’t feeling right. He had me wean off of it in 13 days. Then put me on propranolol (beta blocker) for anxiety. Since being on all different meds, especially Pristiq sometimes I lose my train of thought. He has me on Nexium twice a day for awhile for the reflux. In the past I would only take it twice a day if reflux acted up. Read beta blockers can give heartburn and weaken the splinter to your stomach. In turn cause reflux problems. Has anyone with anxiety and reflux experience any of this? If so, what did you do? Thank you.