1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Reflux Oesophagitis

Has anyone ever had these symptons of GERD ?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Flyersfan
Flyersfan

First let me start off by telling that I am a warehouse worker / delivery driver. Last week on the way back from my route I stopped at Speedway gas station and got a 5 Hour Energy and 4 Reese's peanut butter eggs. I was tired and had a 3 hour drive back so I wanted a little pick me up. Well about an hour in to my drive I started feeling bad, like I was going to throw up and just really shaky. It got to the point where I had to pull off and eventually had to have the paramedics called because I was having chest pains and my left arm began hurting and tingling. First thing I thought was - heart attack. Well the paramedics came out and did multiple tests and determined it wasn't a heart attack and they think I just overdosed on caffeine.

Fast forward to yesterday I was again out on my route and had been feeling bad all morning but still manageable. After my first stop I stopped at a gas station and got a chicken salad sandwich and a bag of chips. Well after about an hour I got to a stop and felt so bad I had to sit down, then my whole body was tingling and again my left arm was hurting and I was having chest pains. So I had the guy at my stop call for an ambulance because again I thought - heart attack. So I got to the hospital and they did an EKG on me took blood twice to check my enzyme levels and again determined it was not heart related.

I followed up with my primary doctor today and he is sending me for a stress test to ultimately rule out heart. He also wants me to go to my gastro doctor for a consult and see if they think I should have the test where they put the scope down my throat to check for any problems.

The emergency room doctor said it could be one of these:

GERD - which I do have but I take Prevacid for

Shingles - except for I don't have a rash so he ruled that out

Panic/Anxiety attacks - which I guess is possible but I'm not anymore stressed about anything than usual

Anybody have any ideas ? I know the doctor is the best source for solutions but I was just wondering if anyone else with GERD have had these extreme symptoms.

Thanks!

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Bissa007
    Bissa007

    Posted

    Yes. I have gone to the ER twice after eating. Once was a turkey sandwich. I got short of breath and tingly and felt dizzy and lightheaded. I felt like I may pass out so I went to the ER. They determined it was GERD. I got meds and have been ok for years until recently. My symptoms are now excessive burping and I have hard time swallowing food. It feels stuck in my throat or chest for hours. I had the endoscopy and they found nothing. Next step is the Barium swallowing test. I hope to find out soon what the issue is. They say to stay away from caffeine and chocolate. Those are big acid reflex triggers.
  • Flyersfan
    Flyersfan

    Posted

    Over the last week or so I have had the same thing with swallowing, it feels like it takes hours to go down. I have a feeling most of the stuff I love is going to be gone soon - smoking (I know its a bad habit and hell on the health), coffee, and chocolate. I guess its time to quit smoking and start hitting the gym again.
  • Bissa007
    Bissa007

    Posted

    Flyersfan. That's exactly what I've been doing. All the things I love I've had to stop eating/drinking. Coffee, diet coke, spicy foods...etc. I've been putting soups in blenders and living off smoothies until they can figure out why the food gets stuck. It's not so much painful as it is just annoying and gives me a bit of a panic attack when it feels stuck. Do you ever feel that way? I have found that running helps which I've started a week ago. I'm also trying yoga and a chiropractor. I'm not a big fan of taking meds and that's about all my MD does while I wait. One med after another. He even suggested a anti depressants because he thinks I am tightening my throat from anxiety over eating. Total BS. I didn't wake up one day being afraid to eat.
  • Flyersfan
    Flyersfan

    Posted

    Yes very annoying. The thing that stinks is both times I had these "attacks" was at work so it threw everything off there and my boss says that my health is the most important concern but I know my boss and he is the lest acceptable person I know. The first time it happened my boss and another driver had to drive 70 miles to come pick the truck up and take it back to the office while my wife had to leave work to come get me. The second time I was about 3 hours in to training a new guy on a two day overnight route and I went to the ER and he had to run the rest of the route by himself.
  • Flyersfan
    Flyersfan

    Posted

    I am also thinking of going to only soups and soft foods until I get something figured out. Doesn't make any sense, I know the first time it was triggered by the caffeine in the 5 Hour Energy I took but the second time all I had was a chicken salad sandwich on wheat bread and a bag of kettle cooked chips with a sprite (caffeine free). Then today I took off work because the ER doctor said last night to follow up with my regular doctor first thing this morning, and afterwards my wife and I went to Subway and I had a turkey and ham sub on wheat and I had practically no discomfort after eating.
  • debra27175
    debra27175

    Posted

    Flyersfan The second time you said you had a sprite and chips, fatty foods can cause reflux and the sprite was a bad choice too. No soda, chocolate, coffee or citrus. My reflux is mainly a breathing issue. today I am on day 3 of a whole foods plant based diet, I have noticed improvement of my breathing already, I will see how I feel in the next few days.
  • ooops64
    ooops64

    Posted

    I bought a lung exerciser on Amazon £10 well spent. Mouth piece is rather like underwater tank mouthpiece. there is a ball in a cavity, which when you breath in ball placed in recess area. All I can say is my lung capacity has improved and breathing much better. The device no bigger than my hand. You can buy more expensive ones. With Reflux which I have Asthma usually follows.
  • ccaiou31
    ccaiou31 Flyersfan

    Posted

    Hi, I have GERD , and it causes symptoms similr to a heart attack, and or stroke, I get a pain in my jaw, ad headache, even have had loss of breath it is horrible. I would definatley see a GI specialist. I would so change your diet, and bannanas,  and aloe drinks help.
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.