IBS and Headaches?
Posted , 4 users are following.
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
Janeeyre aledom
Posted
BTW, I don't think you should allow it to be implanted in your mind that you are an IBS sufferer at this point. Everyone has periods when their stools are a bit off. You indicate yours are getting back to normal. For it really to be IBS, these episodes with your colon would need to repeat themselves over a period of time. Mostly, sufferers complain of bloating and alternating constipation and diarrhea, which can be accompanied by painful cramps and mucus in the movement. Sometimes weeks and even months can go by with IBS where everything seems quite normal. IBS can start with a bacterial infection from food poisoning, even a mild case, or even a viral "stomach flu". So, in your case, I would wait and see how everything goes with bowel movements in the future. As to the headaches, if they get worse or just won't go away, see your doctor again.
aledom Janeeyre
Posted
astrozombie aledom
Posted
aledom astrozombie
Posted
I went out a couple weeks ago and i was wearing white pants. I noticed blood on them...I quickly checked my nose freaking out. I was like, this is it, my nose is bleeding and I'm dying a slow death. I then realized that it was just a cut on my finger LOL.
astrozombie aledom
Posted
I çan not afford to cut myself anymore a short my body has stopped healing itself. I nicked myself shaving at the end of last year and resulted in surgery. Also nicked myself on a tin. It started bleeding so dropped it into a pint glass and noticed it felt heavy. The damn thing was nearly full. I walked to the hospital and they bandaged it and luckily stopped bleeding but when I walked back there was a trail of blood the 2 miles all the way back. I can't wet shave anymore. My body has gone crazy over the last few years.
aledom astrozombie
Posted
I'm sorry
. I feel like I'll be heading in that direction if I can't get a diagnosis or this doesn't improve.
astrozombie aledom
Posted
aledom
Posted
So I messaged my GI doctor. He suggested I talk to my primary care doctor for a full evaluation. I was able to make an appointment for the same day today. Wish me the best, I hope it's nothing serious.
aledom
Posted
So, update in case anyone is following this. I went to my regular doctor who said I might have symtoms of anxiety/depression and that could be causing an imbalance in my system. Gave me some buspar (anxiety) medication to try for a couple of weeks. My headaches are still present, some days worse than others. Now, I've began to get nausea (probably from the pills) and my left leg feels a little numb and weak. I'm trying to remain as calm as I can but my head is just out of it and it's hard to concentrate. I'll update you guys next week and let you know if the pills helped.
Janeeyre aledom
Posted
I am not sure now that those pills are going to help you. You should tell your doctor about the numbness in the leg. It's been nearly two weeks since your first post--quite a while to have recurring headaches. Maybe you need a CT scan of the brain.
aledom Janeeyre
Posted
I went and scheduled a telephone appointment with my doctor today. Calling me back in a few hours, I'm going to request a scan. It just doesn't feel right.
aledom
Posted
Hey guys. So I wanted to give an update on what's been happening, in case anyone with similar symptoms is reading. So my doctor prescribed some Escitalopram for anxiety and depression after the first pills (Buspar) were not working. After about a month of taking them, I felt great! No more headaches, and most of my symtoms are actually gone. My bowel issues are minor now and seem to be re-stabalizing.
I generally feel happier now and am not thinking about my symptoms at all, which seems to have been a major issue.
frazzled aledom
Posted
Stay healthy and enjoythe summer.