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Anxiety related IBS

Posted , 5 users are following.

sharon73515
sharon73515

Hi folks,

First of all apologies for yet another post!

Really struggling to shake this anxiety episode, thought I had a grip but hey ho.

Basically my docs and I believe I have ibs. I had a flare up a couple of months ago with the usual symptoms of constipation/soft/ diarrhoea. Slight aches tummy, wind and burping. At the time I was highly anxious but it all seemed to settle down when anxiety eased. But now my health anxiety is high again and I think I'm having another flare up of ibs but this time no diarrhoea ( yet fingers crossed ) passing a bm on average every other day or every day however I often feel like I haven't emptied my bowels fully and so the wind continues plus tummy cramping achey feeling like I've over done sit ups or something..plus feeling a bit bloated too. This has been every day for a week now but last flare up lasted about 3 weeks too.

Had stools tested last time oh and I had a pelvic ultrasound just before Xmas for another issue but that all ok tho the sonographer said she heard a bit of bowel grumbling at the time but wasn't concerned at all.. anyone else have similar symptoms ? Many thanks in advance :-)

0 likes, 52 replies

52 Replies

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  • sam18386
    sam18386 sharon73515

    Posted

    Hi Sharon, most of my ibs is stress related! I don't take much medication now, ranitidine, kolanticon and laxifo (these are for acid, spasms and pain and constipation). I use a low fodmap diet but am going to use mindfulness, counselling and relaxation techniques. Try yoga, pilates, relaxation and telling people to leave you alone re food. Do what you can. If anyone doesn't like then tough, it's your body not theirs.

    • sharon73515
      sharon73515 sam18386

      Posted

      Hi Sam,

      Thanks for the above reply sorry to hear you're suffering too tho.

      I have laxido too and yep it helps a little with constipation.

      I already do the meditating relaxing etc just hoping this flare up goes soon. Take care

  • sam18386
    sam18386 sharon73515

    Posted

    Hi Sharon, don't take mebeverine it did me harm when I took them once and never again, my ibs worsened, not got better! Ask your doctor for something else, ranitidine does the same job, it's called Zantac too I think, good luck tell us how you get on.

  • sharon73515
    sharon73515

    Posted

    Hi peeps,

    Sorry to post again.

    Last night during the early hours I woke with pains in my bowels, really scary at one point I thought I was going to have call someone out. I made it to the bathroom despite feeling hot dizzy and faint. Had a bm diarrrah. ( sorry for the tmi) made it back to bedroom well I kinda fell on to the floor as still a bit dizzy and faint., it then wore off so got in to bed. Back to normal now but wow did that scare me.. the thing is it has happened before once or twice with a long time in between.. I'm waiting for an appointment with a bowel specialist but had anyone else experienced anything like this ?

    Ps I know your blood pressure drops when passing bowel moments.

    Thanks for reading x

    • sharon73515
      sharon73515

      Posted

      Ps not sure if it makes a difference but I had a couple of glasses of red wine last nt and I think I read somewhere ( or maybe a dream ) that red wine can irritate the tummy x
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 sharon73515

      Posted

      Sulfates that are added to wine to keep it fresh disagree with some people.  Also, if you have IBS, alcohol in general can irritate the stomach and bowel.
    • sharon73515
      sharon73515 pippa58442

      Posted

      Yeah I think so too.. but my tummy still feels uncomfortable tonight but I've avoided alcohol today but still dreading the night in case it happens again.

      Fingers crossed it doesn't.

      Hope you have had a good weekend x

    • sharon73515
      sharon73515

      Posted

      Hi all, hope everyone is coping in this heatwave ( in the uk anyway )

      Ok so my recent menopause test came back as tho I'm not going through it tho I still think I poss am and have been told by several people that it's not very accurate at my age ( 43)

      Anyway that aside- my recent stool sample came back ok.

      My question is that as I think I'm still having a flare up but having "normal ish " bm every day or every other day but still getting the cramping most days at some point through out the day along with a bit of wind and occasional feeling of still needing to go! But it's the cramping that is causing anxiety as can't decide if it's to do with "menstral cramping " or gas and wind tummy cramping. Anyone else experience this feeling ?

    • sharon73515
      sharon73515

      Posted

      Ps sometimes it feels like it's just in my upper tummy and some times it feels like it's lower back and lower tummy :-(

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 sharon73515

      Posted

      IBS can feel like menstrual cramps.  When you have your period IBS and period pain mix together and it is difficult to know which is which. I had this for a while during my three month flare up before diagnosis.  After diagnosis, when my anxiety went away, this settled down and I can now tell the difference between the two.  Try not to think about what is causing it because this will lead to more anxiety and pain.  Just accept it, take antispasmodics and painkillers and try distraction techniques.
    • sharon73515
      sharon73515 pippa58442

      Posted

      Thanks pippa, but I'm not really due a period at the mo and this has been going on for just over three weeks ( started at the end of my last lengthy period ) soo confusing because earlier for a few minutes I thought maybe it was like menstrual cramps but I also know I feel like I need a bm! Just wish I could be more regular with the bm but thank you I will try and think about other things as I notice when I'm occupied and relaxed I don't notice it so much so I'm sure it's a combo of ibs and anxiety but I'm just so fed up with always worrying. Hope all is ok with you, still in Italy ? X

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 sharon73515

      Posted

      If your period isn't due, then your symptoms are more likely to be stress related IBS.

      I'm still in Italy until September.  My dad cones back to Italy from England on Saturday after settling my mum's affairs. Then we will continue our holiday together.  

    • sharon73515
      sharon73515 pippa58442

      Posted

      Thank you :-)

      I hope you can enjoy some time together after this sad and difficult time. It will do you both good to be there together.

      X

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 sharon73515

      Posted

      Mum will be watching over us from the old town on the hill where she is buried.
    • sharon73515
      sharon73515 pippa58442

      Posted

      Take comfort in that pippa. And it sounds a peaceful beautiful location x
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 sharon73515

      Posted

      It is lovely walking up and down the beach every day and looking up at the hill town.
    • sharon73515
      sharon73515 pippa58442

      Posted

      Sounds a lovely setting :-) and can imagine the beach is very relaxing for you x
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