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Can Anyone Help Me Understand My Symptoms?

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Metropolan
Metropolan

Can Anyone Help Me Understand My Symptoms?

 

I'm 62 years old. My 92-year-old father died in April of 2016. Simutaneously, I had a verbal fight and a falling-out with an old friend.Wouldn't ya know it, starting right about then, I slowly began to experience constipation. On May 15th I finally went to the emergency room after I hadn't had a BM in about ten days straight. I could see everything backed-up on the CT scan of my GI tract.

 

With the onset of my constipation, I also experienced increasing episodes of brain fog, mental tension, and mental fatigue (all at the same time). It felt as though my head was in a cloud that was pressing down on me. Like a hangover without the drinking. No pain...just pressure. (there's that word 'press' again.) These brain episodes don't come and go quickly; they hang around for three to four hours, seemingly coinciding with food going through my small intestine. I envision the food pressing on neurons on its way through, incorrectly sending errant signals to my brain.

 

Finally, enough doctors and others put it together that I was depressed over my father's recent passing, and perhaps the fight with my friend as well.

 

Either way, my irregular BMs started then, and continue to the present day. (August 2016) I use polyethylene glycol or metamucil to try to keep things regular, with some success. I'm IBS-C (constipation dominant).

 

Knowing what I know now, it's easy for me to see that I also acquired some kind of free-floating anxiety disorder. Sometimes I get the tingles of an anxiety episode coming on, but it really never blooms into a full attack.

 

But the depression cloud around my head, usually lasting for hours, is the most prominent symptom.

 

During these episodes, I don't have any conscious worries, no depressive notions. No sad thoughts. Nothing. Just the unidentifiable cloud of pressure. If this is a form of depression, it's unlike any I've ever heard of.

 

Here's the part of the story that I could use some help with: I have no pain or discomfort in my abdomen at all. No cramping. No urgency or other GI symptoms. Not even a little. Not even when it takes me three to five days to have a BM...there's never any pain down there. Ever.

 

My question is...why do the neurons in my small intestine transfer signals to my head in the form of a depressive cloud?

Why do I feel the discomfort around my head instead of in my abdomen? I know it has to do with sensory abnormalities and central nervous system abnormalities. Does anyone know?

 

(My doctor prescribed a 25mg dose of Sertaline to address the problem. I've been on it for two weeks, but it's causing numbness in my left leg.)

 

Sincerely,

                 Metro

 

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 Metropolan

    Posted

    The stomach has a many nerves in it more so than your spinal cord.  They interact directly with your brain.  Negative emotions that the brain experiences will also be felt in your stomach.  If your anti depressant is giving you side effects ask your doctor to change it.
  • emily_92420
    emily_92420 Metropolan

    Posted

    Your intestine is like another brain. Over 5 million senses connect your brain to your bowels. Many people who have irritible bowel syndrome can link the start of their issues with a difficult time in their life, even if they didnt realise it at the time. So loosing a family member could almost definately be a trigger for your IBS. That is clear.

    Secondly it is a well known fact that IBS has around an 80% figure to being linked with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Because of how sensitive your bowel is any form of depression (yours i have heard of) can cause your flares in IBS.

    Constipation is a tricky one though. Because your body takes a few days of no stress or mental strain to fully relax in order to shift your bowels back into rythmn, but when you have it under control its easy to manage.

    Depression comes in many forms, as does anxiety. Depression can come with a huge spance of emotions, some people struggle to list how they feel and others cant because they loose the ability to feel. They almost go brain dead. Its your body's way of dealing with depression. So you need to look at these episodes as depression and accept this. Not try and think of other things it could be. Sertraline is a good medication. I was on it for many years, however i used it for anxiety. In the end i was put onto 2 other types. The side affects do fade in time but it takes around 6 weeks for the tablets to start to improve your mental state so unless your numbness gets worse then dont stop taking them. Give them a chance.

    Finally your constipation is above all managable. Dont feel like its not. Look up high fibre diets and try to include some foods into your daily diet (slowly dont do it all at once). People say linseeds help with constipation especially chronic cases. So do some research and get a understanding of IBS so that you feel more in control. This im sure will help your depression. Once the tablets start to do their job im sure you will feel yourself again soon.

    Also, if you can get your depression under control you may well find your IBS eases.

    Hope this helps.

    • Metropolan
      Metropolan emily_92420

      Posted

      Emily,

      Thank you very much for your thoughtful and wise counsel.

      Just reading your letter put me in a more relaxed state.

      Sincerely,

           Rich, in Ohio  (Metro)

       

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