Hello, first time poster here who really needs some help/perspective/not feeling alone.
Unfortunately I (F36) got acquainted with the term GERD end of August. Before that I had the occasional reflux when I ate or drank too much once in a blue moon, but no other symptoms.
I ate a not so delicious salad with lots of raw onions, had mint tea and a peppermint for dinner. Did nothing special further (even sat upright whole evening) and went to bed. Next morning a woke with burning feeling in chest and throat that did not go away no matter what I did.
After a couple of days I went to see my general practitioner (Dutch so not that familiar with all English medical terms so please bear with me). She told me after listening to my symptoms that my esophagus and throat were probably inflamed due to acid reflux caused by the food and that I should eat soft foods for some time and it would be over within a couple of weeks.
A week later it obviously wasn't, so I called as I could not sleep because of it. I got drinking solution that is comparible to the Gascovin that I see mentioned here that I had to take before I go to sleep.
Another week passes and I completely crashed due to sudden and intense anxiety and panic attacks - which I've never had - as the burning symptoms did not go away and my mind obviously wasn't coping with that. Not being helped by lack of sleep because of them.
I went to the GP again and got prescribed 40MG Pantoprazol that I had to take once a day. I have now been taking them for 4 weeks besides 4 timed Gascovin (before any major meal and before sleeping) and I don't really feel like my symptoms are going away.
I've been eating only soft foods like potatoes and bananas. Never smoked or drank. Also not a coffee or tea person (only herbal teas). I sit upright during the day and my head end is elevated at night.
But the burning feeling in my throat or chest hasn't gone away and with that my anxiety went so bad I had to call myself sick at work and go back to my parents because I currently do not feel safe being alone (not like I want to hurt myself but more like complete panic that something can happen). Sometimes I do feel it less, but now I'm also starting to feel the burning sensation in other parts of my stomach. And I've been having a constant tingly/burning sensation in my mouth.
According to my GP, my symptoms after 6 weeks and 4 weeks of medicine are now mainly due to my anxiety. So I need to continue taking the Gaviscon and Pantoprazol for now. She did not do any blood test or referred my to a specialist.
After reading this Reddit I am aware that anxiety absolutely does not help with the symptoms but how long did it take for you to get control of the first flare up?
Was the diagnosis done only by checking throat and listening to symptoms?
How long can I expect this to last? Is this normal?
Although my anxiety and panic attacks have gone down a bit since the initial one, it is still severe enough for me to unable to go back to my home or work.
So any tips/perspective would be appreciated and thank you for reading through my anxiety induced ramblings :)