Stomach fears / acid reflux

[Lemon117]

This is a new health anxiety for me - such fun! 😩

Woke up two days ago in the middle of the night with a gnawing pain in the middle of my chest and through to my back. Happened again last night but the pain seems to radiate outwards a bit more. Now all day I’ve been burping (lovely) and can taste stomach acid. I’ve taken some gaviscon etc. It’s not got worse but can’t say it’s totally gone and now I’m worried about tonight’s events…

I’ve never really suffered from acid reflux or heartburn so the sudden appearance of this is panicking me. I haven’t changed my diet, don’t smoke, drink, exercise regularly, 39 yrs old etc. The only think I’ve done different recently is take vitamin D and Zinc. Started about three days ago. But that seems unconnected.

Stomach *an*er is obviously my fear, now. I’ve had bouts of the same gnawing pain in my stomach before - usually right side - which then goes away. Read a story about someone who had similar, when back to doctors a few years after stomach issues with acid reflux and boom, the big C.

Anyone experienced anything similar that turned out to be something less horrendous?

[Button1]

See for me taking supplements, even if they’re not supposed to upset the gut, ALWAYS causes issues. So I wouldn’t rule that out. I don’t know if you’ve ever had gastritis but after I had that for the first time I started getting acid occasionally. Hiatal hernias also exacerbate acid. There are a ton of benign causes honestly xx

[Lemon117]

Thanks, Button1. Appreciate the response. I won’t be taken the supplements today to see if that makes a difference.
In the meantime, spending my Friday evening googling is probably not productive…

[Button1]

But please realise it takes a while for things to leave your system so just not taking it for a night might not be a miracle. Also hormones etc…things just do sometimes get skewed. The odd bout of acid is nothing I promise but I tell you what will set it off…anxiety. Every time. Check in with yourself when you’re distracted etc I had a very busy day recently and it was only when I got home and it was quiet that my ‘symptoms’ hit me like a wall. Because I had time to dwell and worry. I think it’s quite revealing how you feel when you haven’t got time to obsess x

[NoraB]

This is a new health anxiety for me - such fun! 

Woke up two days ago in the middle of the night with a gnawing pain in the middle of my chest and through to my back. Happened again last night but the pain seems to radiate outwards a bit more. Now all day I’ve been burping (lovely) and can taste stomach acid. I’ve taken some gaviscon etc. It’s not got worse but can’t say it’s totally gone and now I’m worried about tonight’s events…

I ended up in A&E because of this pain. I thought I was having a heart attack! I already had silent reflux, but all I used to get with this is waking up choking (nice, eh?) but this was 8/10 chest pain (slightly right of centre) through to my back which woke me up at 5am. The diagnosis was acid reflux and mine appears to be more functional (as in, the sphincter at the bottom of the oesophagus isn't working properly so when I bend down a lot after eating, I get acid shooting back up... (Logically speaking, this is the result of years of chronic illness and lying down too soon after eating)

If you haven't already, raise up your bed so that your head is higher up than your feet. Don't lie down for at least 4 hours after eating. For now, leave out any foods that are acidic or which affect the sphincter muscle i'e chocolate - as there is a chemical (Theobromine) in it which relaxes the lower oesophageal sphincter making reflux more likely.

Gaviscon is good. I use the Advance which is more expensive but it's more effective for me...

[Carnation]

I suffer with acid reflux and take apple cyder vinegar when it occurs.