Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

I understand that you must be going through a difficult time with your undiagnosed symptoms. Now, you have mentioned clearly that all medical tests have turned out negative. In such cases, where there are medically unexplainable symptoms, one of the possibilities to be considered is an anxiety-related disorder. It is important to understand that anxiety can present with not only psychological symptoms but also with physical or somatic symptoms. Rapid or pounding heart beat (palpitations) and nausea (even hyperacidity) are symptoms which are frequently seen in anxiety disorders.

Now, this does NOT mean that 'everything is in your head' and that you are simply imagining the symptoms. Not at all. It has been found that anxiety disorders are associated with certain neuro-chemical imbalance in the brain and this can cause the person's sensory threshold to get lowered and he / she can become 'hypersensitive' to bodily sensations. The underlying anxiety also causes a person to become more worried as to why his / her problems are undiagnosed after multiple tests, and then this worry / anxiety itself then starts worsening the symptoms more. Soon this becomes a viscious cycle, leaving the person with more symptoms and suffering.

Since these symptoms are very distressing and you also seem extremely stressed out, I would suggest that it would be worthwhile to consult a psychiatrist for an evaluation and further help. If your symptoms are predominantly anxiety-related, then there are effective treatment options - in the form of medication or counselling / psychotherapy which will help you overcome your problems.There are also several psychological techniques and relaxation therapies, for example, progressive muscle relaxation, applied relaxation, biofeedback, etc. which can yield effective and long-lasting results. Additionally, you can also try simple relaxation techniques like XXXXXXX breathing, yoga, etc. which can be quite helpful.
Regular physical exercise helps in relieving both the physical as well as psychological symptoms of anxiety and also helps you stay more functional.

I would suggest the following dietary modifications for your acid reflux problem:
1) Take milk and yoghurt frequently.
2) Take more of fresh fruits (avoid citrus fruits) and XXXXXXX vegetables.
3) Eat at regular intervals and avoid delaying meals.
4) Avoid foods that cause gastric irritation like spicy or oily foods, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, etc. Smoking and alcohol are also gastric irritants.
5) Avoid eating outside; especially avoid all kinds of junk food and fast foods.

Wish you all the best.

Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist

---