Constant gastrointestional symptoms causing anxiety and depression
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi all,
Hoping to see if anyone has similar symptoms and are able provide some guidance. We're on our last resort and don't really know where else to look. I do apologise in advanced as this may be a long one.
Everyday my husband experiences gastrointestional symptoms such as, stomach spasms, gagging and bloating. As well as nausea, body tension, especially on the legs and a loss of appetite. It has recently gotten worst and now causing depression.
At the beginning, about 13 years ago, his family GP had diagnosed him with acid reflux, which after 8 years was not the case. He was also diagnosed with IgA nephropathy about 5 years ago as well - thank goodness we found it at an early stage and he is on meds to help maintain it.
We've then taken him to another GP and after multiple medicinations including anxiety, antihistamine, schizophrenia and antidepressants (made his symptoms worst). The 2 medications that seem to help reduce these symptoms were the anxiety and schizophrenia. However they now have less impact and do not work as well.
We had thought it was anxiety, and that his symptoms would increase when he requires to socialise or something has happened at work. However he now seems to experience these symptoms everyday, even when he is relaxed.
He is currently seeing a psychiatrist as well as psychologist which doesn't seem to help. In fact his psychiatrist told him today that he just needs to learn to live with it.
We tried to see another GP, a younger one hoping he might be interested in my husbands case. But he just simply turned around and said his GP has done everything and there is nothing he can do.
His had a endoscopy, colonoscopy, brain CT scan, stomach ultrasound, seen a dietician and been on a low fodmap diet but found nothing.
These symptoms he experiences everyday causes him to not go out to eat, reluctant to go to social events and now depression.
So here I am, reaching to the internet. Just hoping, someone has similar symptoms and know what the actual heck it is! I truly want to help my husband.
Thank you
0 likes, 4 replies
sasical72 lina69431
Posted
Hello,
Sorry to hear what you are going through, it's really horrible when you feel so bad and no one offers any help.
I have something similar, so I'm going to make some suggestions. Maybe these are things you have already looked into but here goes:
My issues are more bowel related but I found some relief from visiting the osteopath who is working on my vagus nerve.
I hope this might help. Wishing your husband (and you) all the best!
lina69431 sasical72
Posted
Hi there,
I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through a similar situation. But glad you are able to find some relief.
I will definitely pass on your message to my husband.
Best of luck with your progress and I truly hope for the best outcome.
Thank you
joanne58498 lina69431
Posted
hi. im sorry you are fewling this way. ky qnxiety and stomach issues are completely related. i need to go to the toilet and i becime anxious if it's not a normal bowel movement. if im anxious i have diarrhea. i yhen wont eat as the anxiety suppresses my appetite and if i dont eat i wont need the toilet. i woild say this started for my around age 10. i have beaten it before but im having a blip after catching covid and suffering with sickness and diarrhea. im still on anti depressants and have started taking diazepam again to calm the anxiety. i am also going for some counseling to try to help figure out why my anxiety is so affeceted by my bowel movements. the idea of having to live with something like this is unrealistic. living like this is awful and you have my sympathy. is there anything that helps relieve it at all. has he had a period when he didnt feel thus way??;
Mindaugas1970 lina69431
Posted
Hello, I am this husband, an exactly this type of person. I have same symptoms, and have been officially diagnosed with gerd, ibs and generalized anxiety syndrome. I am over 50, and most of my life I am visiting doctors, looking for solutions and feel sometimes totally helpless. Often I feel down and depressed, with no real reason except my health, constant mild nausea etc. At this stage I count those rare good days if there any at all in weeks and weeks. But when they are I enjoy my life. I know my problems and triggers: caffeine, obesity, and my calm but internally anxious type of character.
When I walk a lot, manage to loose some weight, and generally become more active and more healthy, symptoms tend to subside. I use PPI for GERD and have some magic pills at hand from my anxiety though I rarely use those. What can I say about your case? If you eliminate h. pylori, and other very specific causes, then yes, this is lifelong fight. There might be no cure, but very high chances to find a way through the maze, to lessen those symptoms. I have found that in some situations or in places where I like to be, or where I feel safe (like visiting the doctor) I rarely feel bad: at the barber, massage sessions, water amusement park, in the church. And... ehm... when we make love with my wife 😃 ... So it might be some brain chemistry after all.