Burning / tingling in hands and forearms

Hi

I was going to put up a different post about all the trouble I've had (and have), but I'd like to ask about this specific problem for now, to see if anyone else is experiencing it.

I keep getting tingling and burning sensations in my hands, sometimes up my forearms. It coincides with my reflux pain quite a lot but there are times when I get it even though I don't have the usual pain and discomfort.

I've had this in the past, along with other much worse problems, including palpitations and stomach spasms, which at its worst made me feel like I was having a heart attack, and lead to a miserable cycle of pain and depression as it seemed like I would never get better - the same old story I'm sure most of you have experienced when trying to solve the problem with doctors: you've got reflux, take a PPI, you've got tingling and burning, that's not related, it's just ANXIETY.

Once that dreaded word passes your GPs lips, forget anyone ever trying to understand your condition. True or not, based on sound medical reasoning or not, once you're labelled this way, every symptom outside of the standard chest pain, burning etc associated with reflux disease is lumped in as part of your so-called anxiety and no real solution will be forthcoming.

Note - if you start tingling, aren't hyperventilating, are actually in a relaxed state when symptoms begin and don't freak out when they do, your GP will still likely say this is anxiety even though it doesn't fit the model for anxiety and panic attack. Apparently the tingling itself is the only symptom that matters, and other factors are ignored.

I digress...

When this was at its worst before and I wasn't getting answers, I eventually came round to the idea myself that I had an excess calcium intake due to taking a lot of antacids (Bisodol) as well as drinking a lot of milk. As it turns out excess calcium can cause muscle spasms. I began taking Gaviscon Advance to help with the pain of my oesophagitis (I cannot tolerate PPI drugs, H blockers etc, I always feel worse), and as it worked quite well I stopped taking the chalky antacids and lowered my milk intake. Fortunately the tingling went away, the spasms went away, and I no longer felt like I was dying. The palpitations stopped, although I've had the occasional episode here and there which I THINK have to do with abdominal pressure but that's another discussion.

Given the changes I experienced in my condition I have to assume calcium was the big problem for me. However I'm asking about this now because the tingling has started again. I haven't drastically changed my diet, I haven't gone back on antacids etc. But in the last two weeks I've experienced tingling and burning in hands and arms on and off, and in particular yesterday and today (it's happening now and has been for hours, sometimes it lasts all night).

I'm still in limbo as far as treating my condition goes, and I came to this forum through searching for help and solutions to the problem. As a part of that I've read a lot about low stomach acid and the vicious cycle of poor nutrition it creates, and I wonder if past episodes weren't just about the calcium but a cycle involving the acid suppression along with the excess calcium. I take Gaviscon Advance every day, as and when required to ease my oesophageal pain, and have considered that I might be replicating that cycle again to some extent but I've been taking Gaviscon for months with no problems.

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? Have you found any solutions or noticed any correlation between food or drug intake etc? I've been dealing with the overall condition (oesophagitis) for a few years now and it is driving me crazy, it is also putting my job in question. I have to find a way to get on top of this and I'm doing my best to research it as much as I can. I wondered if I was the only one with this specific symptom, or if others experience it and perhaps had found a way to combat it.

Apologies to anyone who made it through all that, I didn't mean for the post to be so long.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Al

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