Empty / gnawing / acidic feeling in stomach « Back to Group Discussions

[flowercitymum]

I've been having this awful empty/gnawing feeling in my stomach, even if I just ate something. It's worse if my stomach actually is empty, but even after just eating, even if it's something with protein that's supposed to make me feel full, I have this feeling.

I don't think it's heartburn...it's not like a burning in my esophagus or throat, but I do think it's acid related. I thought it was too much stomach acid, but then I read that often the problem is not enough stomach acid. How do I know which it is?  Any advice?

I've been taking Zantac 150 twice a day because I thought it was too much acid...and that seemed to help a little, but today the feeling is back and worse than ever.

I feel like all I do is complain, but I swear it's always something! I just want to feel GOOD for a little while each day! Or at least not so miserable.

[MaerynPearl]

I know this probably sounds dumb... but have you tried just eating more?

[flowercitymum]

Yes! I have tried eating more. I do, but it is so hard as I have no appetite. Fair question though. :-)

[flowercitymum]

So in case anyone else has this same problem -- for me I think it was anxiety. Someone suggested that to me, and I completely disregarded it -- how could anxiety give me such a physically awful feeling? I thought for sure it was digestion related. But I've been taking steps to get my anxiety under control, and my stomach has been feeling better...so I guess that's good.

[MaerynPearl]

stress and anxiety can manifest as some really nasty physical symptoms. I have had issues with both before.

[sjdragonfly]

Definitely. If I let myself get too stressed or anxious I get all kinds of physical symptoms. It's frustrating, too because then I'm more stressed/anxious about the other things going on that are because of that in the first place.

[scowgirl]

My husband went through a bad bout of anxiety in college and ended up losing something like 10 pounds (which, at 6'3" and 150 to start with, was a lot on him). He couldn't eat, ended up having to take stomach medication for a while and was just miserable. I am glad you are getting a handle on your anxiety! It can be such a tough thing to manage.