Need A Little Help

[Jim MAC]

I have been treated by the USAf and now the VA for over 7 years for Acid reflux and Hienal hinera (sorry about the spelling) Now my VA doctors says he thinks I was midiagonsed and I have panic attacks. Does that mean they will take away my gerd rateing of 30 percent with hital hernia

Jim

PS he put me on this pills that knock my di*k in the dirt ( guys know what i am talking about but ladys I am sorry but I know no now other way to say it)

[john999]

What....? I have GERD and panic disorder and I know the difference. A psychiatrist should diangose panic disorder, not some primary care doctor. A shrink is really not competent to diagnose GERD and the hernia. You should get sc'ed for both conditions. Sometimes people who think they are having a heart attack are actually have a panic attack, but I never heard of gerd being confused with panic. If you are having chest pains that could be panic if their is no physical condition. I would get it checked out by a cadiologist and a psychiatrist. Don't rely on the VA for this kind of diangosis.

[Jim MAC]

John

Thanks for the quick respone been seen by a cadiologist plus had the thred mill test only thing they found was a heart mumor.

Jim

[rentalguy1]

I thought I was having a heart attack about two years ago. It turned out to be my GERD, but they thought it was a panic attack at first. I agree with John. You should speak to a psych about this. It can be hard to determine which a person has...but if you have a hiatal hernia diagnosed, then someone has seen it with a scope. That means your rating should be fine, and that the panic attacks would be on top of the GERD, and that they could possible be a ratable secondary condition.

[Pete53]

How many panic attacks have you had? What is the medicine that you are taking? Believe me you would notice the difference from acid reflux and a panic attack although I know that it could be a trigger that starts out as acid reflux and morphs into a panic attack.

I have all three and mostly I see an opportunity to raise your rating not lower it.

Until I understood this better if I were you I would try to see a Doc who is not connected to VA.

[Jim MAC]

How many panic attacks have you had? What is the medicine that you are taking? Believe me you would notice the difference from acid reflux and a panic attack although I know that it could be a trigger that starts out as acid reflux and morphs into a panic attack.

I have all three and mostly I see an opportunity to raise your rating not lower it.

Until I understood this better if I were you I would try to see a Doc who is not connected to VA.

Pete

First time treated for chest pains was in 2002 while still on active duty. Pills I am on now are Alprazolam 3 times per day any info? Have pains 2 to 3 times per week

Jim

[Pete53]

Looks to me like you should be able to link it to service with Medical Records and a god Medical Opinion.

[john999]

Jim

Are you sure you don't have a heart problem? Have you been checked from stem to stern by a cardiologist? It is not always in our heads. Do you have pain in your arm or jaw? I ended up at emergencey rooms before when I did not sleep for many days and started to feel faint and dizzy. I thought I was having a stroke. It was anxiety, but my blood pressure was up as well. You can have a heart problem and panic disorder. One makes you feel like you are dying and losing your mind, and the other just kills you.