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Anxiety symptoms after eating

Posted , 59 users are following.

sue92125
sue92125

Hi.  I was wondering if anyone else has anxiety symptoms after eating.  

I have been diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder but I think more than that I have some sort of digestive disorder.  Often after eating my heart races, my stomach bloats and I sometimes feel a bit breathless.  This is enough to make anyone feel anxious smile  The doctors have always said there is no connection.  I have been experiencing this for many years and keep getting fobbed off by the medical world telling me that it is just anxiety.  

It has affected my life enormously, leading to becoming housebound for days, sometimes weeks on end.

 

8 likes, 94 replies

94 Replies

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  • Keckie
    Keckie sue92125

    Posted

    upon some research the common suggestions that does seem to help people was to eat less and more often as then our system doesnt have as much to process. It has worked for me, maybe worth a try.
    • crystal59357
      crystal59357 Keckie

      Posted

      This approach helps for some, but in the end your body becomes so adjusted to consistently relying on carbs for energy that when you perhaps by mistake miss a meal your body freaks out; at least this is what I have been experiencing for a year now in the attempt to manage my hypoglycemia... Short term fix, yes. Long term; does more harm than good. (Just my experience) wink
  • sara02672
    sara02672 sue92125

    Posted

    It sounds like you have a sulfite allergy. It's extremely difficult to pinpoint since sulfites are prevalent on most foods. I can tell you what I've done to treat my allergy, if you would like. It's not easy, but I feel wonderful now and wouldn't trade it for anything.
  • ahmed42650
    ahmed42650 sue92125

    Posted

    Same problem I have .i been suffering from anxiety since I was child, after that I became better but the other problem happened to me IBS and also I feel anxiety after eating and this problem remaining until now even if iam very calm before eat palpitation an anxiety severe after eating especially at morning.i did all blood and urine and gland test and all are normal
  • greg36468
    greg36468 sue92125

    Posted

    I am new to this thread and my anxiety has started to become more intense since the end of 2015. I have been suffering with anxiety since 1995 and have managed it with diet and exercise however lately i have been getting anxiety after eating and depending on what i am eating it can be mild or severe axiety and sometimes it get worse when i get up and start walking around. My BP has gone up as a result and will see my primary care doctor for full checkup!... Thanks

     

  • papote53
    papote53 sue92125

    Posted

    WOW, this one started a  long time ago so let me give you all an update. After many test, Cardio, Gi, Pulmo, Allergiest, ENT they came to the conclution I have Mild Reflux with Chronic Mild Gastritis and Sinus.  My present symptoms are pressure in the middle of my chest ( no heartburn or any normal symptom from GERD.)  It starts in the morning and ends when I lay back to watch TV and go to bed. Phychistris give me Diazepam 5MG twice daily which helps but basically he said I have GAD and it's mostly due to the pressure on my chest. ( I would say I have Medical Anxiety)  So they gave me multiple medication for Reflux and nothing helped.  Dizziness is gone and have been for a few months after taking biofeedback.  So I started a Low Gluten/Dairy diet with Vegies, chicken, turkey and so on and it helped a little.  Yes, still working on it but I just started a new diet which includes potato juice before meals and looks like is working better than the medication for reflux and gastritis.  I'm keeping my fingers cross on this one because my Phychistrist said if I get better he will take me out of Diazepam which he already gave me the green light to lower at my discreation.  If I do it wil be 10% less every 2 weeks.   I have a book I purchased which talks about how Gluten, Dailty and even Soy can give you Anxiety and how you can stop this by eliminating these from your diet one by one to see if any of them are the reason for your anxiety.  So if you are of those that eat wheat bread every morning I suggest you do the elmination process.
    • gale74616
      gale74616 papote53

      Posted

      Hi, I just read this whole discussion and yours has really hit the spot for me. I have been dealing with these same problems since 2007, which they took my gallbalader out and it did nothing to relieve the symptoms. After seeing several doctors and specialists they have not found anything and it just is so upsetting because I know this is real pain. My dizziness has started to subside in the last few days, but I still have that sense of just being off. Anxiety started about 2 weeks ago. I noticed it happens more after I eat or when my stomach is growling. I figured the anxiety was from being scared to eat as I get one of my "episodes" after eating, why I get the anxiety after I eat... I have no clue yet. 

      I have been getting that pain in my chest like you and have been to the ER 3 times in the last 2 weeks. The pain was just pain and uncomfortable, but the other day it changed. I had not eaten all day and I was sitting at the computer when I got that pain, but what was different was it was a squeeze/spasm pain. it only lasted a second but my god I thought I was have a heart attack because that pain went straight up my chest. It was the most scary thing I have ever encountered. It happened again about 2 hours later and again but not as badly about another 2 hours later. The last one I could actually feel it was the stomach that I guess spasmed. The ER said nothing was going on and sent me home. 

      I have been seeing a Chiropractor for an inverted cervical and just recently started seeing a physio. As apperntly my posture is very off. My left shoulder is leaning out and my neck is forward which they believe is causing problems with the chest area which in turn is apprently putting preasure on my ribs/stomach area. She is also starting accupuncture on me as I am very stiff due to extremly bad posture. she is hoping the massage/accupuncture will release and help the pain I am getting. This physio even though not a doctor she thinks I have IBS that is making things worse due my posture being really off. she hopes between the procedures she will do, the chiro and my home exercises for poster fix will help with pain and fix my posture for full reliefe. OMG I sure hope this is my answer. Anyways, sorry for the long winded response here, but I thought you like to know about the poster thing becuase you were getting the pain in the chest with no heart burn as I dont have any of that as well.

      I wish us ALL luck in recovery becuase what ever it is SUCKS and is dabilatating at times. And I esp. hate when the doctors who spend 5 mins with you say there is nothing wrong with you. 

      good luck, Gale 

    • sherry62
      sherry62 gale74616

      Posted

      Wow, gale, I identify with so much of what you said!! I have been having horrible pain in my stomach, especially right after eating. I have had scopes on both ends, all normal. They took out my gallbladder last year. Didn't help. If anything it made it worse! I now get the chest pains along with stomach pains. I feel very anxious and jittery (on the inside) after eating. I feel like I can't take a deep breath. They put me on Dexilant which helps a little with the reflux I now get from having the GB out but the other symptoms remain. I switched to Almond milk around a year ago. This past week I started trying gluten free, which I am still learning. I was feeling great awhile ago and just ate some cheese cubes and gluten free crackers. Now I feel anxious again, with the stomach pain and bloating and feel like I can't breathe well. This is driving me crazy!! I exercise and am appropriate height and weight. Oh, and I forgot to mention the constipation. So I've started taking probiotics too...I'm so tired of feeling bad...
  • Bri77
    Bri77 sue92125

    Posted

    Oh wow. I get the same thing. I've been trying to figure out if it's too much sodium, or sugar, or eating too much. I have yet to figure it out. It's hit or miss. You're not alone but unfortunately I don't have any advice. sad
  • rachel33782
    rachel33782 sue92125

    Posted

    Hi Sue I get the same thing I also get it if I drink alot in one go. I get other weird things too. Dint bother going to dics anymore I think they feel im hypochindriac. I am convinced it my heart or something else.
  • rebecca42800
    rebecca42800 sue92125

    Posted

    Hi sue92125 ever since I was 14 I remember suffering from this. Every time i eat specially first thing in the morning it's like my body is going in overdrive. My heart pounds and beats hard, my hands shake, I feel tired yet hyper, I feel nervous, out of breath. I have had my sugar checked many times when it's happening. My sugar is normal. I used to think I was having panic attacks in my teen years and was going to the hospital constantly. They thought it was my heart. Did an EKG many times as well as an ultra sound and yet there's nothing. I've had blood work so many times and all comes back in normal range. It's getting so bad that I don't want to eat some days. Food is a nightmare for me. Then after the symptoms down about 2 hours later I'm so exhausted all I want to do is lay around. Have you figured out anything regarding this? Let me know please.

    • geoff40260
      geoff40260 rebecca42800

      Posted

      Hi Rebecca, this sounds a lot like what I've just started experiencing. The strange thing is it just started out of know where. Seems to be worst in the morning, after I eat. No real pain but very uncomfortable. I feel like I need to stand up and walk around whilst taking a few deep breaths.

      I also can't really exert myself because it knocks me down. As well as constantly walking around with a decreased mental alertness and very slight bit of dizziness but not enough to make the room spin.

      Any advice would be great.

    • JaneTx
      JaneTx geoff40260

      Posted

      Please check into Dysautonomia (disorders of the autonomic nervous system).  Also start keeping a food diary - you may have developed a food allergy - is it something in particular or is everything causing this?  Does it happen only when you eat and how soon the symptoms start?
    • geoff40260
      geoff40260 JaneTx

      Posted

      Strangely it's only when I eat first thing in the morning. If it's fruit, bread or nuts. The rest of the day I'm left with a feeling like I've had a alcoholic drink or two.

      I will have a look, thanks.

    • JaneTx
      JaneTx geoff40260

      Posted

      I've never been able to eat first thing in the morning, otherwise I get intestinal cramps and diarrhea soon afterward.  10 am always seemed to be a magic time, eating after that I'm totally fine for the rest of the day.  Chinese medicine has something called "cocks crow diarrhea", I'm not familiar with that except they seem to understand that the digestive system can be very sensitive to the body's circadium rhythm, a concept that western medicine seems to be completely ignorant of.  I've never figured this one out, other than I never eat breakfast and appreciate an early lunch when I can.

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