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From: GW
Remote Name: 12.230.239.191
Date: 10/10/02
Time: 08:29:42 PM
It seems I've read many posts here about us "gerdies" with all kinds of anxiety problems, whether it be in treating the anxiety vs. treating the GERD or what-have-you. For those interested in a snippet from one of Dr. Stuart Shipko's statements about these things.....here's a cut 'n paste for you:
GERD= gastro--esophageal-- reflux--disorder is the primary GI aspect of panic disorder -- after numerous workups for the medical aspects of panic disorder, it seems that GERD is a central part of panic disorder. In the research section of this website you can find 24 hour tracings of gastric pH. What they show is that bile is flowing backwards from the duodenum to the stomach, particularly during sleep and not necessarily during an attack. Bile is alkaline, and the stomach demands an acidic pH, and so it secretes large amounts of acid to neutralize the bile. This produces a large volume of gastric contents which "reflux" from the stomach up the esophagus. GERD can cause simple heartburn or regurgitation, but dysmotility of the gut can cause gastric contents to be "shot" up the esophagus to land on the posterior aspect of the sinuses causing chronic, recurrent sinusitis. Gastric contents can also be aspirated to cause recurrent asthma and bronchitis. Often a patient will wake up in the morning with laryngitis after nocturnal aspiration of gastric contents. Treating the GERD is as important as treating the panic attacks.