Question:
I need to vent, Ok here goes...
First off i developed this/these condition/s about a year ago and it/they have brought a new meaning to hell on earth. It all started about a year ago when i was living in my apartment and going to school when i came down with this post nasal condition. I have very thick secretion build up in the post nasal area(if thats even an area), which causes me to hawk and gag basically non stop thruout the day. I am a light smoker. i smoke around 5 cigarets a day(i know quit smoking)i drink dariy(actually tryed stoping but dosnt realy effect my condition - or +) This hawking and gaging might lead to my acid reflux problems or mabey the acid reflux problems are just a totaly seperate case unconjoined with the mucus problem. Some times i don't even think i have a problem because some of the tell tell signs disapear. FOr example the mucus might disapear but im not sure if my nasal passages are open all the way, or mabey the mucus is just dried, because i still feel the urge to hawk and gag, but soemtimes i dont have any mucus to gag????????? I cant run or play sports because if i run or breath heavy it makes me want to gag. Even yawning sometimes makes me want to gag. I dont understand!!!!!!!!! Also my stomach(right around where the ribcage ends)always feels tense. Tense meaning uncontrolable urge to tighten my ab muscles, this confuses me because i think i might just have some sort of anxiety condition, but then i think its due to the constant gagging. But anyhow when i started having this problem i developed a problem with the gaging to clear the mucus which leads to vomiting. I always have this sensation to vomit(because of the feeling of mucus in my throat/lower nasal cavity), more so when in a stressfull situation or when i dont feel like i can gag ro hawk up mucus i become very panicy, which brought on panic attacks. Now the panic attacks started when i was in situations where i felt like i was going to vomit, and i would start to just freak out beacuse i didnt want to but the gaging was so strong that i would end up puking. These panic attacks happened for 2 weeks straight, i lost my job droped out of school and moved home, due to the panic attacks and nervous break down/loosing unhealthy amount of weight etc..
Here is where i get irritated beyond belief. All i want to know is if there is anything that i can do to eliminate this condition. Also when i have heart burn, i think the sensation to vomit is primarily becasue the mucus sitting on my gag reflex. My doctor has me on zoloft and aciphex. My doctor gave me nasacort, which tends to make the condition a lot worse by unconjesting my sinus's but makes the post nasal ever more prevalent.

Answer:
   

It doesn't sound like the Aciphex is controlling your problems with heartburn and reflux. Have you tried any other type of medication? There are even some good over the counter ones such as Prilosec, Zantac, etc. They are all very similar yet some people can tolerate one type better than another.

The Zoloft is most useful as an antidepressant rather than to treat anxiety. Wellbutrin, Ativan and others are good ones used to treat anxiety.

Nasal sprays aren't something that I am a big fan of since they tend to become addictive in that they can irritate your nasal passages to the point where you find you can't breathe well without using them daily. A nasal spray of any kind should really be used very short term.

You have one of two things: A medical condition or a psychological one. If your doctor cannot find anything wrong with you physically, then don't be ashamed to ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist. First, you need to rule out anything that may be medicall wrong with you. You might want to ask your doctor if he thinks you should have a Gastroscopy procedure. Heartburn, reflux, upper abdominal discomfort and weight loss are all covered under all insurance plans. A Gastroscopy is a procedure where (after being sedated) a general surgeon inserts a lighted scope into your mouth and views your entire throat and then down into your stomach in search of any abnormalities. Some people who have trouble with gagging and swallowing require their throats to be stretched (dilated). Afterwards, they feel great relief. An esophagram is another study that could be done. It can tell the doctor whether or not you are swallowing well and how well your esophagus is functioning.

Do you have large tonsils? If so, then this is another possible lead to your problem. An ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist would be someone who can help you.

If nothing is found, then maybe it's psychological. Possibly an obsessive compulsive disorder (the constant habit of "hawking and gagging"). You can overcome that with help, you really can.

We certainly all wish you the best!