Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Lynda07 on September 17, 2020, 02:57:10 PM
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Hi
I posted a few months back about post nasal drip and shortness of breath or air hunger. My Dr sent me for a chest X Ray which revealed something on my lung, I had another, then a CT scan and am relieved to say it was nothing to worry about but the stress it caused me and even my normally calm husband was unbearable at the time.
I'm still left with the PND which the Dr was treating with Beconase. But more and more I am starting to think its coming from my stomach, not nose. For about a month now, I have a drink of water first thing and notice if I lean down to empty the dishwasher or stroke the dog the water feels as though it is sticking. In the past week I've had two bad episodes of what I assume is indigestion in the middle of the night which takes a few hours to ease. Then I worry about going to bed in case it happens again, worry about eating and worry about how much I am worrying!
Last night was even worse. Out of the blue when I went to bed I could feel "stuff" rising into my throat, I had to try and burp it away and in the end realised I wouldn't sleep unless I propped my head up. I've never had this before. It lasted all night. So this morning I was even more anxious (and I'm a very anxious person) - and I'm just dreading it happening again tonight. I've done a lot of throat clearing today and think my voice is a bit hoarse too.
Does this sound like anything any of you have experienced? I know reflux, digestive problems are discussed a lot here so am probably not alone but last night really scared me.
I've a GP (telephone) appointment on 29 Sept and will keep a food diary but if I am honest I just want some reassurance I'm not alone in this. I have some Peptac which I've not felt I've needed to take before but if I have the same again tonight I'll have to consider it.
Any advice would be gratefully received as I just can't seem to cope with yet another thing to worry about health wise :(
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Get some 'Rennies' or 'Milk of Magnesia' ............. try not to eat too close to bed time. That reflux can be painful I have to sleep sitting up sometimes.
Your GP may prescribe something stronger but until then ;-)
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As oestrogen levels drop off muscles may Become lax including the digestive system.
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Hi. I agree that it sounds like reflux. It happened to me and I was found to have s hiatus hernia after an endoscopy. I'm now on omeprazole and everything has calmed down and I can eat and drink normally. Acid reflux at night is especially upsetting, I found, where you wake up almost choking. This is what made me consult the doctor. Before being diagnosed I found Nexium to be good. Available without prescription. Rennie's don't work so well on a acid reflux long term due to how they act on the acid level.
Taz x
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I can feel it beginning this evening :-\
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Thankyou for replying - I'm feeling really low about it all.
Sparkle, yes I will do that with the Peptac. I'd not thought of Milk of Magnesia either CLKD. So that's you and Taz2 with a hiatus hernia then. I'm wondering if my GP will send me for an endoscopy or maybe see how I go over the next month or so.
Thanks for the reassurance about last night too - I coudn't sleep as I kept having to swallow/burp/sit up and it was just awful. My anxiety really doesn't help either.
I appreciate your replies so much as if I'm honest I feel really alone with this - I live in the Highlands - my dream (re)location but quite isolated and a forum is a huge help to me in the absence of having many people around me to talk to xx
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I don't have a hiatus hernia to my knowledge but control symptoms with omeprazolol [sp] at night. Milk of Magnesia if I run out of prescription meds..
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One more question, do any of you sometimes feel food takes a while to go down? Not all of the time but occasionally? I’m in panic mode again :(
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I think if the oesophagus is sore it might feel as though food sticks. I have a couple of times this week swallowed food too quickly :o ....... and 2night I have indigestion because I ate too fast :(.
Sometimes I have to take a drink through my meal. It reminds me, about 3 years ago I couldn't eat boiled rice without a drink: it simply stuck .... so now I have a coke to hand.
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If a person gets stressed it can make it hard to swallow naturally. I've had this from time to time. Dysphagia, I think it's called.
A PPI blocker and an endoscopy would be a good thing if it's reflux though. So many people need them. If food takes a while to go down oesophagus this can be due to scarring of the oesophagus from the acid. I had this, but it heals smooth again once the acid-blocking drugs stop this.
Good luck with it all, hope you get it sorted soon 🤞
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I don't have a hiatus hernia to my knowledge but control symptoms with omeprazolol [sp] at night. Milk of Magnesia if I run out of prescription meds..
Hiatus hernia is diagnosed by endoscopy. I didn't know I had one but knew the reflux symptoms had to be investigated to rule out oesophageal cancer. By the time it was diagnosed I had ulceration of the oesophagus but 6 months of 40mg of omeprazole healed it and now I'm on 20mg and have no need for any antacids and can eat/drink what I like. I have to take mine first thing in the morning though before any food is eaten.
Taz x
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Is yours a sliding one like mine Sparkle?
Taz x
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Thanks again ladies. I was eating chicken and pasta for tea and when I had finished, realised I could feel it slowly making it's way down, it really bothered me. Sounds like your rice experience CLKD.
I'm my own worst enemy as my health anxiety is just out of control and I'm sure the stress is doing me no favours at all.
Cherry SG, thanks for that and I'm pleased to hear it healed for you (and that it can heal).
Sparkle, I seem to be ok swallowing in general although every so often (and I've had this for years) I get a very distrurbing sensation as if my throat has frozen and forgetten how to swallow, I have no idea what that is but after 10 years it's still there but pretty rare (thankfully). I have Peptac which I know I have to try at some point if I could only get over my irrational fear of all medication. Honestly, I feel as if I am scared of everything these days :(
Thank you all again. xx
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Sparkle, I don't want you to have that feeling but feel so reassured by what you said, I've never been able to find out what it is or ever spoken to anyone who has it. Mine came on whilst on holiday years ago and appears just out of the blue so I can never prepare for it. That said, if I think about it it will occasionally happen so you're spot on with the anxiety link.
I think I'm going to have to have a lighter meal for my last meal - do as much as I can to help myself I guess x
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It is Sparkle - it can feel quite lonely otherwise can't it. It's also reassuring for me to hear that your ENT consultant said that - I've had anxiety (and OCD) from being a child. Even in my early 20's I had health anxiety. I don't know why, it is just how I have always been. I do listen to some of the Calm stories and also - for me - I discovered ASMR - sounds that soothe me. (Lots of YouTube). My breathing is the same as yours too. It's so difficult isn't it.
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Fortunately the reflux didn't erupt last night, as I was later to bed anyway.
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CLKD - I'm very pleased to hear that, you must have been relieved too :)
Sparkle, don't we just. MIne has got worse and worse. We moved to the Highlands from England, my absolute dream and it's passing me by because I don't have any room in my head for anything nice, just constant anxiety. I've done the same as you and wasted so much time worrying about things that haven't happened. I tell myself I won't have "what if" worries but it's impossible for me :(
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Actually Sparkle it is, I feel very alone with mine at times and just knowing someone understands helps. x
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I try now to take 10 mins every day to simply B. In the lovely weather our garden has been a benefit. In the same way as a view would help or being by the sea. But I have always been a fast eater :-\ = hiccups when younger, indigestion and in more recent years, reflux >:(. I can't burp either ......... if ever I do it makes me jump :o ;D
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Sound like me also Lynda,wonderful life, I mean really great but sometimes anxiety ruins everything, I had really bad reflux,well,still do sometimes,got the GERD lump in my throat,then dreadful nausea,which in turn brought on the anxiety,after having all the blood tests come back negative, I could feel the anxiety leave,slowly but surely,yet the nausea was still there but I now know this is all reflux related,I've cut coffee out now,it was definitely the culprit and I've upped my water intake,I really do feel better,I've drunk coffee all my adult life,so not quite sure why my stomach has decided to dislike it so much🤷♀️Lump in throat gone completely and gut overall really improved :)
Roughly where in the highlands? Stunning there
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I eat fast too CLKD although I'm trying not to now.
Jaypo, sorry to hear that you have suffered too - with the physical symptoms and anxiety. I felt a bit more positive yesterday but now, with a bit of indigstion (which millions of people probably have right now but it's all new to me) I can feel panic taking over again, I'm googling which is silly as it's just adding more fear. I'll be glad to speak to my GP next week.
If I'm not careful I'll be looking back on my life thinking I worried through it all :(
I'm about 30 miles north of Inverness, a dream come true move - I imagined I'd be out in the hills daily, exploring, loving life (I have two collies and love nature and photography). As it happens I'm even worried about driving now (I used to drive all over the UK in my job at BT when I was younger and now a trip to Home Bargains is like a major expedition) -my husband loves the same things as me and drives all over but I just wish I could get that overall confidence back and go oout on my own occasionally. I really don't know where the old me has gone :( Sorry, I'm going on a bit now lol.
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You can take control by not googling. Unless it's an NHS web-site.
I thought that I would never drive alone but I started by going on small trips. I could if I had to but we travel everywhere together ::)
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Oh you're so lucky,Inverness-shire is my all time favourite place,Aberdeen gal originally but many holidays in Drumnadrochit,Spean bridge and fort William.
Yep,keep away from dr Google,coz the first word you see will be the C word,like clkd says,stick with the nhs site. When health anxiety takes over,nobody can tell you,no matter what,you have some horrific illness,I know I always do,then when the anxiety goes,I think,geeze,what a time I've wasted panicking but it is what it is.Good luck at the dr,let us know how it goes xx
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We are the same CLKD so I don’t have to drive so I don’t, 99% of the time.
Jaypo, Aberdeenshire is lovely too. We are very lucky to be where we are as we are Nottingham born and bred.
I’m going to make a real effort to stay off Google, I will wait and see what my GP says. Thank you again for replying.
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Oh use google for fun stuff ;-). I read the BBC News sites and enjoy the photographs and snippets i.e. the alpaca that enjoys football ;)
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I think that’s a much better idea for Google CLKD.
Also bit the bullet and ordered some CBD oil. For anxiety not the digestion issues x
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Hope you got the high strength one Lynda,it does take a while to work,like most things,have you tried the rescue remedy?
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Hi. I’m starting on 500mg, the company recommended that. I guess I can’t name them but they are highly rated, organic etc. Never tried it before but a close friend is getting good results. Thanks for telling me that (takes while to work) as I didn’t realise. I will move up a strength most likely, eventually.
I do have rescue remedy but feel I need something a bit stronger. My next step, given my fear of medication (or should I say side effects of medication) is taking the CBD oil but I will, I so want to feel better or just a bit better would help.
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You can name the product but you can't post a link to it if the site includes an online shop/buy now facility.
Taz x
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Is it the drops on the tongue? Be prepared for disgusting ;D
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:rofl: think cod liver oil and rose hip syrup? or worse. :-\
My gut always rolls after my mid-afternoon cuppa .......... I think that's when my wind problems and reflux threaten to begin. I can't burp .....
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Ah ok, thanks Taz2. I've gone for Blessed.
Jaypo, oh no is it really that bad - oh well at least I'm forewarned now.
Oh CLKD you're making it sound lovely - not - lol. I hope you are ok this afternoon?
I took the first dose of Peptac today. That is a huge step for me as I have an absolute phobia about medication which can be very unhelpful. I live to tell the tale ;) I think I do feel a little better already, still got post nasal drip type symptoms but my stomach doesn't feel as raw. Had a few moments when I feel I keep needed to swallow but can't but - that does go away when I don't think about it.
I still wish I knew what was causing it though.
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Lack of oestrogen probably.
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Lynda,I have drunk coffee for years and have discovered just recently it is the culprit for my reflux,do you drink it?
MY CBD tasted like I was chewing cigarettes 🤮 ;D
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Hi Lynda07, another thing that might be worth you looking into/trying is probiotics. I have been taking them now for a few years after years of reflux & IBS was on Omeprazole then Ranitadine, umpteen boxes of Rennies, Gaviscon and buscopan later probiotics & improved diet has generally made things so much better. That said I did have a bad spell for 2 weeks there out of the blue but the rest of my peri symptoms also went a bit out of control & bleeding irratically etc it has now settled again. I also love Inverness & Invernessshire, many happy memories there. x
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Same here foxy,started taking that Yeo yogurt with the probiotic in,seemed to help my reflux too but also had a bit of a blip few weeks ago but think it's just a shift in hormones tbh the nausea was awful but apparently a lot of women have the same,which is reassuring,god bless this site and the wonderful women on it :)
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Thank you once again for all of this support, it has helped me so much this week.
CLKD, yes probably is that.
Jaypo, I'm not a coffee drinker at all, I do drink wine and I am guessing that's going to have to come off my list :( And could not agree more, god bless this site! Re the CBD - it sounds delicious lol - I guess you have taken it with medication such as the Peptac I am taking? I could't see anything to tell me I shouldn't. I
Thankyou Sparkle, I appreciate that.
Foxylady - strange you should say that as I ordered some probiotics which came this week. What changes did you make to your diet? Keeping my food diary tells me what I knew - I eat too much bread. A lot of eggs too. I'm sorry to hear you had a bad spell.
And yes, Inverness/shire - it's just lovely. We went out for the day today and Autumn is starting to show her colours.
Once again - thank you!! PS - had two lots of heart palpitations today, I am really hoping this is not yet another thing for me to worry about.
Have a lovley evening all of you xx
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Oh nooooo wine ;D me too and I'm determined I'm not giving up my one last pleasure in life.
Palpations are just another meno symptom :-\ but get it checked if you're worried
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Does that mean you still drink wine Jaypo? I know it’s not ideal but it’s my one treat, that one hour or so at night where I can relax and later sleep well.
Thank you for that, I’m hoping they were one offs but it’s reassuring to know they are meno symptoms too.
56, no period for 5 ish years - time for this to end soon hopefully!
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YESSSSSSSSSSSS I still drink wine ;D only two glasses on a Friday and two on a Saturday but you're right,it's lovely to sit down at the end of the week,put a film on and have a nice glass of wine . I've had palpations for years now,kind of just ignore them now but I have had a few ecg's over the years,always best to get it checked
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Lynda07, diet changes just doing what we should all be doing really - being better at eating a healthy varied diet. Worked shifts previously which made it really difficult re eating a balanced diet. Also started the 5:2 diet (800 calories for 2 days) a few years ago, lost over 2 stone & recently have taken to doing alot of cycling. The idea was really to reduce my weight & get fitter to try and reduce my peri symptoms. I had to give up the alcohol, tried various forms but the flushing starts instantly, not worth it for me! x
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Come on foxy,us Scottish lasses are tougher than that, me drinking my wine🥵🍷 😂
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:rofl: :drunklaf: :cancan:
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How you doing foxy?
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It doesn't seem to be what I eat but when :-\.
Also my first cuppa at breakfast tastes wonderful but by mid-afternoon it's foul :-X so I tend to drink Coke. Have tried various types of orange drinks without success. Fizzy water occasionally when really hot weather. This afternoon's cuppa has given me wind :-\
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Fizzy drinks are one of the things to be avoided if you have reflux.
Taz x
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Yep,me too,coke especially,also anything with a tomatoey (is that a word ;D ) sauce,half an hour later,I feel the acid coming up
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tomatoey will do ;D
I had orange juice with bits last night ::)
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Other than alcohol no pattern for me, what aggrevates my reflux one day doesn't the next and so it goes. Really seems to be hormonal pattern for me although some months (weeks) worse than others. x
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Anyone fancy a carrot >:( ;D
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Apart from being sharp it didn't trigger symptoms :o
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At least you would be able to see in the dark on a diet of carrots!! ;D ;D
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Yummm carrot stew 🤮 ;D
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carrot cake would be tastier!! ;D :P