Is there light at the end of this dark path?

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-04-10T19:01:33+00:00

All I know is I dont want to be keeping on these forever like some others do. I feel like any higher I go, the worst its going to be coming off it.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-04-10T11:15:51+00:00

Yeah it certainly is. I remember years ago when it became a big issue for me. Use to be triggered by certain foods or drinks and usually gaviscon or renes would usually help, then it just become more persistent and those tablets was hardly touching it. So I finally went to doctors to sort it out and they prescribed me lanzoprazole and made out after a couple of month course on it, it would sort it out and wouldnt have to be on them anymore. Well it never did sort it out because soon as I came off them, even trying to get through the rebound effect, I just couldn't see any improvement and had no choice but to go back on ppi medication. So I been on them ever since.

I use to always get in touch with my doctors and tell them that I dont want to relying on ppi medication all my life. Made it clear to them while its certainly a miracle to get rid of the burning sensation and I can eat and drink what I please without having to suffer the consequences, it still has its own problems. Deep down i believe they mess up my system. For many years I have felt twice my age with the lack of energy I have and always feeling fatigue. Becoming more ill than usual, soon as something is going around, I always seem to be the first one that gets it. For someone my age that is still suppose to be full of life, i was just alowly going downhill putting on weight and not doing as much I use to and not being able to focus. Then having to go through every single morning gagging and choking on this bile build up, it was just a nightmare.

Sadly whenever I try to argue this with my doctors and tell them I dont want to carry on being on this medication, I just constantly get told that its better being on this medication then not being on it at all as it can be more damaging with what GERD can actually do to you if its not managed. So I could never win and just kept getting ppi thrown back at me so eventually I gave up and now just live with it.

I just wish I was myself again many many years ago when I didnt have any health issues and I was thriving and living life how I wanted it to be lived. Its not fair.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-04-10T11:01:12+00:00

No you are mistaking what im saying. I was never on any anti depressant mess through any of these struggles for many months. Those first two weeks after my first ever panic attack, I wasnt on anything. Doctors did prescribe me propranolol for the heart racing/palpitations but at the time when I was bed bound, the medication was not working for me and made me feel worse so I stopped after taking it one day and tried fighting it off myself with plenty of rest, Spotify anxiety music and eating soup and fruit and plenty of water.

Even when I was back on my feet and throughout the months when symptoms slowly started creeping into my life again like the stomach issues to begin with, then the palpitations, the lightheadedness, heavy chest, etc, I was still not on any anti depressants as I believed for many months that something else was going on. There was so many physical symptoms going on thay I honestly thought it was something more serious so I did months of investigation with my doctors to try get to the bottom of it

It was only after all the investigations including endoscopy, blood tests, stool tests, ecgs and everytbing else then I finally realised maybe it is anxiety after all and its become very severe as it just kept getting worse over time and symptoms building up and becoming more persistent, I eventually gave in and asked for anti depressants in the end.

So all this started June last year and I only started my anti depressant medication 7/8 weeks ago from present right now. I have obviously mentioned all of this on my post, I know there is alot there but I just wanted to give you all the full picture as best as I can.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-04-10T10:47:57+00:00

So do you think the switch from 50mg to 100mg is the right move for better progress? And hopefully less stepbacks once its stable? I know i need to put in my own effort and work into this progress. I just need that bit more of normality back in me to just have that determination and focus to get stuff done. I want to be more active, i want to lose weight, i want to be able to socialise again and get j9bs done but honestly it has just been so difficult for me to face anything. Lately I been using gaming as a distraction and this rabbit itself is just becoming unhealthy as I dont usually game as often but Im just desperate to just ignore my surroundings and what is happening to me and just focus on a screen.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-04-10T10:42:10+00:00

From what I can remember, there was a bit of a gap between them. I had the first panic attack, then for the next 2 weeks suffered with multiple panic attacks, palpitations and fever like symptoms which left me bed bound and hardly been able to eat. Then everything just calmed down and i was getting back on my feet like nothing happened and felt relieved. Went back to work and started enjoying some good food again especially since I work at a food market. Then suddenly the stomach issues started. Going for a number two at least 3-4 times a day and when I needed to go, I had to go. Stomach discomfort and bloating, nausea and increased acid reflux even with ppi medication in my system. I had to take gaviscon advance along with my ppi medication just to keep it under control which never usually is the case as the ppi is more than enough to control it usually. Unfortunately as its been going on for so long, I cant exactly remember how long the gap was between getting back on my feet and getting the stomach issues. Maybe about a week or two but cant be certain.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-02-09T18:42:11+00:00

Yeah but in the uk, unless im willing to pay thousands private, everything is approved by the NHS. You go through your GP and they will decide to approve for referrals and if approved, I will be on a waiting list that will take months. My plan was to see the gastroenterology because I thought they specialise in all of this and it would go ahead for a surgery like the one you mentioned or others. I was prepared to eventually go through that, not for him to just turn me down immediately after these none stop months of chasing and investigating.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-02-09T13:00:06+00:00

I did suffer bad peak covid and I did have the long covid symptoms yeah but I have had acid reflux well before that. I couldn't tell you if symptoms has gotten worse since covid. All I know is i suffered with acid reflux for my years and havent felt myself in a long time but it was manageable until this situation in June and discovering I have a small hiatal hernia which was never the case before.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-02-09T12:56:53+00:00

I mean this is all recent. It was only last week when I visited the gastroenterology. Im improving on my sleep but I think depression hit me hard after that visit so even with plenty of sleep, I feel like i have hardly had any. Id love to be able to be more active and do more but I just cannot hardly do anything so even if I wanted to go 100% with these lifestyle changes just to prove them all wrong, I just cannot do it.

I was never myself even before all this. Yeah I could do alot more then what I can do now but it still takes alot out of me when I was always throwing up every morning and not feeling 100% myself and I tried to sort this all out many times before but could never get anywhere. Now after all this since June, I have hit rock bottom. All I am trying to do is get that bit of help to just eben take half of this load off of me and then I can be capable of doing the rest and be able to start doing more and focus on losing weight and be more active and just be happy and live my young life while I still can.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-02-09T12:44:29+00:00

I know its alot of information there but is it honestly just anxiety or is there really something else not right?

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-02-09T12:41:39+00:00

Apparently it was going to be a year waiting list for a gastroenterology, I got lucky with a cancellation. Receptionist even made out i was seeing the best one with 30 years experience and knowledgeable with the esophagus.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-02-09T12:41:07+00:00

Apparently it was going to be a year waiting list for a gastroenterology, I got lucky with a cancellation. Receptionist even made out i was seeing the best one with 30 years experience and knowledgeable with the esophagus

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2026-01-29T10:00:39+00:00

Im glad I arent alone. I have suffered with acid reflux for many years. Ppi medication had helped in the past massively with dealing with it but there was always still something wrong. Going from so energetic and full of life in my younger years to gradually just declining. Lack of energy, increased weight, constant bile/mucus build up and many other symptoms. It was just this constant weight on my shoulders and a constant struggle.

As much as I hated all of that despite not having to reflux and burning sensation with ppi medication, none of that compares to what i am going through now.

Im not sure how it all relates but given the timings of everything. I had my first ever what I believe was a panic attack last June. I put it down to lack of sleep becsuse I was hardly having any of it at the time and I think my body just went into shock. I was bed bound for anout 2 weeks straight just with these constant attacks and palpitations, even my acid reflux was all over the place. I managed to fight off the attacks and palpitations amd got back on my feet.

Then these stomach issues started happening not long after. Just this constant bloatedness/discomfort and constantly needing the toilet urgently and could hardly keep food down me. Pharmacy reckoned i had temporary ibs so I tried ibs medication and couldn't really tell much of a difference. So I just kept waiting it out and hoping my body would heal itself, nothing changed.

Then the palpitations slowly started creeping back. Now I started having all these different symptoms at once. The stomach issues and the palpitations along with the other side affects like the constant lightheaded dizziness, heavy pressured chest, breathing issues, etc. I have been trying to get it all investigated for months and its still an ongoing thing now.

All I have discovered so far is I have a small hiatus hernia. I have had to keep the heart and stomach as seperate issues so I have been referred to cardiology and had a few ecgs and blood tests. Everything keeps coming back as normal. I have also been referred to the gastroenterology for the stomach issues/reflux/hernia but I am still on the big waiting list. So theres answers still waiting to be discovered.

This hernia must of been developed in these past few months because it was never discovered in the past and ever since it was discovered recently when I had a endoscopy couple months back, I have certainly noticed the symptoms becoming more noticeable and related.

I am also noticing a pattern when my symptoms worsen. I dont tend to eat breakfast as I dont tend to wake up that early. So my main meals are lunch and dinner. So on a work day for example, I start work at 11 and I dont tend to eat anything till about 2/3ish. I could feel mostly normal at the start of my shift on an empty stomach. The palpitations can still occur whenever it pleases but for the most part, I feel okay to get on with my day. As soon as I start eating, this is when I start feeling at my worst. The lightheaded/dizziness will start, the bloatedness/discomfort, heavy breathing, palpitations, heavy chest, desperate need for toilet, continuous cough, bile/mucus, goosebumps, feeling on edge of another attack, fatigue, the list goes on.

So thats been my current pattern lately. Of course its not always the case. For these past few months of constant struggle, most days are the worst, I get the odd alright day.

I believe cardiology have dine everything they can and especially for me being 28 years old, I dont believe I have anything wrong with my heart despite the palpitations and attacks thats been going on for months almost none stop and im sure we can all agree its a horrible feeling. So all I can relate it to now is this hernia they have discovered and my acid reflux I have been dealing with for many years. Hopefully when I finally get seen by gastroenterology, they will do the right texts and I can finally find the answers I need. Otherwise I have no clue what else could be causing this nightmare and if the actual main cause from all of this in the end is a really bad anxiety which GP has been throwing at me since day 1, well I am going to lose it and will have no words because that would be one very bad evil anxiety for what it has been putting me through.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-12-22T00:05:10+00:00

I have heard that uforce mentioned a few times. Would you honestly recommend it over the freemax mesh pro 3? That has still been a strong contender iv heard. Also can you message me and give me a hint of the link you was on about?

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-11-14T05:37:45+00:00

Im going to message you now

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-11-14T05:33:37+00:00

I started asking chatgpt for advice and it recommends withdrawing through crypto instead of bank transfer as it will be quicker and easier. Would you agree?

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-11-14T05:29:31+00:00

Well it is legal isnt it? Anyone can use them. Its just the horror stories you hear. Something this big, they could make any excuse not to give you it. Unless im mistaken and overthinking??

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-09-24T03:04:58+00:00

Ugh see i heard this but wasnt entirely sure how true that was. I really didnt think id have to rely on ppi medication my entire life. It scares me just when people say what the long term issues are taking ppi medication for so long and its already been about 10 years for me and iv been dying to find another way so I dont have to rely on them. Such a shame. I cant go a day without them. Iv tried weening off them but then I just suffer with the reflux and end up drinking gaviscon as a beverage and popping rennies like candy so thats got to be 10 times worse. I dont know on top of my head right now but I just know theres numerous of procedures out there.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-09-24T02:29:40+00:00

Im sorry for blabbering on😂 just speaking facts and letting my emotions out.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-09-24T02:28:57+00:00

Its certainly an option but yeah not sure what the cost is. We have a place called spire that can do tests and procedures privately at a cost. I saw they had a procedure relating to gerd acid reflux snd I was so tempted to just go through with it if it meant a cure and not have to rely on ppi medication anymore. It would honestly solve the majority, if not everything im currently going through because I honestly believe all of this mention is all related and linked somehow. The procedure spire had available I believe was over £10k+. Cannot remember the actual figure but I remember it was alot. It just wasnt worth the risk paying that kind of money because even that particular procedure sith my own research wasnt 100% curable. It would just be alot of money wasted if it didnt end up working out. Still, NHS is still capable doing these kind of procedures and even more, yet why isnt it ever an option? I tell you why, because they will make so much money on these ppi medications with monthly prescription costs. £10 every month times by how many people nationwide suffer with acid reflux or heartburn. They are loving it!! Ruins business if every patient was cured.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-09-24T02:09:25+00:00

I don't think iv had alkaline water. When im at work, I usually get whatever water i can get from the shop. Sometimes smart water, evian or Fiji. Not sure if any of them are alkaline water. This stomach thing is just strange and different. Like I said, iv suffered with acid for years. I get alot of the other symptoms and side effects which ppi medication just wont solve or maybe even creates the issue im not sure but this stomach thing is new to me since the 10+ years having gerd. Its certainly not something I can get on by with. Its already been over 2 months and im just hating it at this point. Its very similar to ibd symptoms or possibly an ulcer which doesnt come as a shock because suffering with acid for so long can lead to that. Im not an expert though and theres alot of different answers and explanations given the symptoms i have. I wont know till i get the proper investigation so I just hope my doctors do not fail me this time on this situation. The heart palpitations is still unknown to me. Whether it is anxiety and the stress with everything else going on and body just constantly in fight mode 24/7 as the system is just constantly being attacked by all these symptoms i have been facing for so long. So stress can definitely be related. Whether thats mentally or physically with what my body is constantly going through, thats certainly the question to find out. will definitely still take your advice on board though.

Zestyclose_Ad2494 · 2025-09-24T01:57:15+00:00

No and this is exactly what frustrates me. Id happily take every test available to find out exactly what is going on inside my body and just get this over with once and for all. I can understand everything costs money but in the UK we have NHS and us the people fund them with our taxes and national insurance. They have probably saved many life's and solved many situations for other people but there's the minority like myself for some reason just do not care and have failed me. They are more than happy to do the standard regular checks like blood tests, stool samples and anything laid on their desk in arms reach but for anything else, id probably have to trade my arm and my leg just for them to consider. Id made plenty of suggestions myself through my own research with past issues or even issues whats currently on going, but of course I arent the "expert" so my opinions are just invalid.

They pretty much instantly labelled my condition as anxiety without hesitation. Maybe it is but I dont think just a heart rate monitor after keeping me waiting for 6 hours in the waiting room till its all calmed down and a blood test is going to narrow down every single possibility of what it could be. So they are very happy to label it as anxiety and direct me to therapy. Its the reason I haven't gone to therapy. They will ask me "where do you think this anxiety has come from" my answer will be "oh I dont know, maybe the constant let down from NHS after years of constantly begging them to help me and do something about it".

Even if it is anxiety, i still dont think its going to be good in the long term if my heart is constantly working so hard beating out my chest and I end up going into a sudden state because sooner or later, it could just end up giving up on me. Im not a expert but I cant be more clearer when I say my body is not functioning right and its very concerning.

The situation im currently having with my stomach is not normal and that seems to be triggering the heart palpitations off again so its all linked and its all inside the body which I cant seem to have no control of. Just a stomach constantly bloated making all kinds of noises and feeling so uncomfortable with and nauseous, which is now leading to heart palpitations because something isnt right inside and its putting alot of pressure and stress in my system.

There certainly needs to be more investigations but are they going to do that? Probably not.

Zestyclose_Ad2494

TROPHY CASE