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IBS and Headaches?

Posted , 4 users are following.

aledom
aledom

Hey guys, so I’ve been dealing with IBS symptoms for a few months now. It started in January where I would get sort of clear leakage. It happened for a month straight and so I decided to see my doctor. They did a rectal exam and everything looked normal and a few basic blood tests which came out normal. I got referred to a GI specialist and within the two week period between my initial doctor appointment and my GI appointment, I began to get nauseous and had a feeling of what I call excess acid in my stomach. It lasted about a week and then went away.  I was stressed during that period, which I think exacerbated the symptoms.

At my GI appointment, I explained the symptoms and the doctor he had no explanation, so he suggested a colonoscopy in order to get it done and out of the way as well as to ease my mind. He said the risk for my age would be minimal and suggested he would probably not find anything based on additional blood tests he ordered. Everything came back normal.

After the colonoscopy I noticed a change in stool color, would be dark, then light colored, then pale, then yellow, and back again. Sometimes normal looking and consistency sometimes not. Alternating between diarrhea and constipation as well. Then I asked the doctor for some more testing so we did Liver, Pancreas, and stool tests. All came back normal.

Within that period, additional symptoms came up, such as feeling tired (I slept 16 hours one day), muscle twitching and weakness, testicle (saw a specialist for that and an ultrasound revealed everything to be normal) and leg pain confined to my left side, bladder issues, weird abdominal sensations, weird heart palpitations, acid reflux, excess mucus from nose when having a bowel movement, and a load of others.  Everything took a toll on my life and I was exhausted of having to deal with doctors and pain.

I went on a trip to Mexico and my symptoms were unbearable, I was unable to eat as much as I would like because my stomach would feel full with just a few bites and I was constipated. I messaged my doctor and he suggested we do a barium swallow x-ray (moving x-ray). Everything came back normal.

Here I am today, where a lot of the symptoms have gone down and I’m able to eat more normally, have more normal bowel movements, and go to the gym like usual, but now for the past two weeks I have had a constant headache. I have been taking a lot of vitamins which I assume have helped the symptoms. But this headache has me concerned. I literally keep thinking I have every type of cancer and now this headache makes me think I have brain cancer. I also went to the ER a few days ago for a really bad cough which the doctors said was probably just a virus and my x-rays were normal.  Do you think the headaches are related to the IBS symptoms?

Male, 26, eat healthy, work out, vegetarian.

0 likes, 35 replies

35 Replies

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  • Janeeyre
    Janeeyre aledom

    Posted

    Going down to Mexico and not eating much might have saved your life, compadre! twisted What vegetarian dishes would they have except for rice and beans?  Just kidding--and am sorry you're feeling so miserable.  I assume you told the ER doc about the headaches.  What did he say?

    • aledom
      aledom Janeeyre

      Posted

      Haha. Nice one. I usually just substitute bean and cheese for anything. The doctor at the ER just said it might be related to the cough I'm having. Didn't seem to pay much attention to it.

    • Janeeyre
      Janeeyre aledom

      Posted

      Even if you said you've had the headache for two weeks?  I wouldn't jump to the conclusion of brain cancer at all but a constant headache shouldn't be ignored.  You didn't mention you weren't sleeping, so can you get rid of it for the night at least?  Do you have your own doctor?  Better follow up if that headache doesn't subside.  I have no idea if it can be connected to IBS.  I have attacks of IBS and they are never accompanied by head pain. Just to be on the safe side, don't exercise while the headache stays with you.  Let it go a bit. 

    • aledom
      aledom Janeeyre

      Posted

      It's fine when I got to sleep, no headache. It seems to be as soon as I get to work (I know lol) and then if it's bad enough, it will keep going even when I'm working out for a few hours. Sometimes it just goes away after work. I kinda feel like it's sinus related maybe really is related to my cough but it's a weird feeling headache. Sometimes I feel it around my eyes, the back of my head, or my forehead. I just would be surpised if all these symptoms are NOT interconnected you know. I've always been a healthy individual and then BAM everything thrown at me at once.

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 aledom

    Posted

    Headaches are part of IBS and can come about with stress.  The more you worry, the more you will get headaches.  Have you been diagnosed with IBS since all your tests have been negative?    If you haven't been diagnosed, see a different doctor.. Change of bowel habit is part of it too.

    Your cough could be silent acid reflux.  This is an IBS symptom too.  I have IBS and get reflux.  Perhaps try an antacid for this.  Health anxiety is common with IBS.  Stress can trigger it and makes it worse. I had this before diagnosis.  

    The clear liquid you passed could be mucus which is again common with Irritable Bowel. Try a food diary; some vegetables can be IBS triggers.

    • aledom
      aledom pippa58442

      Posted

      This makes me feel so much better. I figured most of what you were saying. My doctor gave me some PPI pills that I've been using for about a week. Says it might take a month to see any effect.

      I haven't been diagnosed with IBS, but we've ruled out a lot of things and I've had 20+ blood/stool/urine tests which all come back clear.

      I do notice an acid taste in my mouth in the morning, and I feel like its the acid creeping up and then getting to my lungs, which makes me cough...

      I also saw a naturopathic doctor (since I've literally been to like 5 different doctors) and she suggested I take a food sensitivity test (not an allergy test) to see if any foods are the cause.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 aledom

      Posted

      If all your tests are negative, they can diagnose IBS.  I went eight times to different doctors.  For me, food was not the problem, but stress was.
    • astrozombie
      astrozombie pippa58442

      Posted

      Stress for me too but I think eating better and more exercise has helped. I am lighter for one.
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 astrozombie

      Posted

      I do a lot of walking in town; it helps my stiff and sore joints too.
    • astrozombie
      astrozombie pippa58442

      Posted

      I have not been able to get out as much as I used to do as maybe putting in all these policies and procedures and having to do them manually as been wiping me out as the weekend comes around and I have not been feeling great but I still do 20 miles plus on roads weekly. I think not working for that year has really put the theoretical bit between my teeth and I am pushing a little too hard but still temping so I have to keep up the energy levels and that is tiring. 
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 astrozombie

      Posted

      I wouldn't push yourself too hard; just do moderate exercise,  Having a job and coping with IBS on top is a challenge.  Only do what you can physically cope with.

  • Alecia33
    Alecia33 aledom

    Posted

    I don't know if this will ease your mind, but I have had migraines for many years and recently have been diagnosed with ibs. I have noticed minor head pains with my ibs symptoms and I feel that if I was not on preventative medicines for my migraines I would be having head pains for lengths like you described. I used to have chronic migraines (ones that last more than half the month). Most of the time I had pain for 7-10 days straight with a day break and was back at it.

    I feel these two can go hand in hand. I don't know your age or sex, but it's possible you have simply developed a tendency towards headaches based on stress or what you eat (these can be triggers, similar to ibs)

    • astrozombie
      astrozombie Alecia33

      Posted

      Ditto to this exactly and spent time in hospital as a teenager as the migraines were so severe I would black out.  Now more manageable but I get a lot of migraines.  I can just wake up with one, no stress involved.
    • Alecia33
      Alecia33 astrozombie

      Posted

      Yes! Luckily for me, the medicine I was placed on this last round has worked wonders and my neurologist thinks that I am lucky and am going to grow out of at least the chronic aspect of my migraines. I still get them sometimes, but not near as often as I used to.

      I'm not sure if I handle life better than I did in high school, or what, but I handle the migraines better than I did then as well. I would miss weeks of school because of passing out and the pain.

      I always feel awful and happy at the same time to know their is someone else out their who understands. It's conflicting.

    • aledom
      aledom Alecia33

      Posted

      Wow. I guess I never thought of that, I have a strong feeling that headaches are because of the IBS but it's more reassuring hearing others who have both and could be related.

    • Alecia33
      Alecia33 aledom

      Posted

      I can't post the link here, but I have found research in the past that shows that people with migraines are so much more likely to have ibs and that people with ibs are so much more likely to have migraines or headaches.

      They are linked.

      But it still never hurts to get checked out if this continues, but take heart in the fact that there is most likely nothing going on in your head! (Except our mommas made us perfectly funky! Lol)

    • aledom
      aledom Alecia33

      Posted

      I think I read an article about that when doing a search on the subject. It's just so stressful, which I'm sure is not helping my cause haha.

    • astrozombie
      astrozombie Alecia33

      Posted

      What if you have always had migraines but IBS only started in the last 5 years?  Was it iinevitable? I would have thought with that sort of distance in time they were not linked.  What do you think?  I am not challenging you, I write like I do apparently but I have ASD, but asking what you think to understand more about me. 
    • astrozombie
      astrozombie Alecia33

      Posted

      I did grow out of them but I used to go to gigs and pass out and realised I had a thing for strobe lights. I have tried all sorts migraleve, lumber puncture the lot. The only thing that works for me is when I start to feel dizzy I need a lie down whether that is in the car in a council estate, been done before, or in my own bed just like IBS a nap is the only thing which helps. Yep I am an old man, not really but you know what I mean.  I used to scream in pain as a teen and there was always a fear I would get robbed as used to just crash out in the street.  I remember one day waking up in Manchester Royal Infirmary.  I did not even live in Manchester. It was like a scene from Quantum Leap.  I remember waking up in a stranger's car once but luckily he drove me to hospital.  That was when I was about 10. I would wake with no idea where I was but luckily I never did get robbed despite crashing out in some strange places but like I say that was then and this is now. When I feel it coming on I try and get somewhere safe. I don't blackout anymore but the pain is so intense that I need a lie down so if I am in a car I know my time is limited before the pain will make driving too difficult as I have to cover at least one eye.  I am typing with one hand over my eye at the mo but I know 4 strides and I am in bed so battling through it at the mo,     

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