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IBS and horrible shaking

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rlc62
rlc62

I'm 54 years old. For the past 25 years, I've had acid reflux issues and was on Prevacid or some other type of prescription medicine to help. The acid was starting to cause my throat to get really pink so my E.N.T. highly recommended that I see a specialist to get a Nissen Fundoplication. Which I did. And honestly, it didn't hell all that much. Within the last 3-4 years, I started getting really really bad lower abdominal and intestinal pain from time to time. I don't "go" as often as most. I discussed this with my doctor and she said I most likely had IBS. Once or twice the pain was so bad, she prescribed Xifaxan. And that worked like a charm. Around 3 years ago, I had an attack that came on where I got very dizzy and felt even disoriented. My heart started racing. And even started to shake uncontrollably. Arms and legs. That episode lasted about 30-45 minutes. I was at work at the time so a co-worker had to drive me home. I wrote it off as food poisoning at the time. It happened again about 9 months after that. Then again 6 months after that. And it is increasing. Every few months. This week, it happened TWICE! Two days in a row.  Every time this occurs, I also have a lot of gas swirling around in my intestines. Making all sort of sounds. I've discussed this with not only my primary doctor but my Gastro doctor too. I get upper endoscopes every few years because of my history with acid reflux and had my last one last Spring. No real issues or polyps. My stomach was also slightly pinkish in certain areas.  Here's my question, what if anything can I take to stop this from happening? I have to get a handle on this. What in the world would cause your body to shake like that? When it happens, it is quite scary. I'm talking with my doctor again about it this week. This has to stop.  Thanks in advance for listening and for any advice. 

0 likes, 19 replies

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  • astrozombie
    astrozombie rlc62

    Posted

    I get pain just under my ribs on my right hand side and tends to be intermittent for a few hours and within that time I get very hot and perspire a lot. If my body then urges me to the loo, being polite here, normally after about 30 - 45 mins I can hardly walk due to shaking, feel dizzy, have a headache and usually just collapse on the bed and if at night sleep for 9-12 hours and if morning I usually go to sleep and wake midday but I have been known to not wake until 4pm. I am then wiped out in terms of food for the whole of the following day and will probably only manage 2 slices of plain whole meal toast all day. Luckily I have never had one of these attacks when I was working here, at parents and ex gf's oh and on the motorway which was fun but luckily never at work.

    I have discussed this with specialists and all part of IBS. My problem is no regularity so trying to fix this but with great difficulty. I have just introduced porridge into my diet. So far not having the desired effect but just trying anything at the mo apricot slices, raisins but despite eating all this my body can still go on strike for a few weeks at a time which then leads to an attack.

    I am also drinking a lot of water and exercising 30 mins per day so I would say this is the starting point.

    I have improved. I used to be ill every 2 to 3 days whereas I can go a month but I am not fixed.

     

    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 astrozombie

      Posted

      I think I must be very fortunate indeed.  My symptoms are nowhere near as bad as that.  I have constant pain but it is usually very mild.  I only have very occasional bad flare ups with agonising pain and nausea. Buscopan and painkillers will eventually dull the cramps.
    • astrozombie
      astrozombie philippa61759

      Posted

      Seriously, I have read some of the things you have written and I have thought glad I am not that bad. It is all about perception.

      I would say when I am ill I can be very ill and have a strong urge to sleep afterwards. Other than that I am generally pain free so I go from one extreme to the other. 

      At at the moment I usually ride the cramps out but the other day I had them off and on for 2 hours and that can not do much for ones body long term.

    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 astrozombie

      Posted

      Before my IBS, it would take a week before constipation showed any symptoms.  Now, with IBS, constipation symptoms appear within two days.  Sometimes, I can go to the loo normally for a few weeks but this doesn't last.  

      I hope you continue to get as many good days as possible.

    • astrozombie
      astrozombie philippa61759

      Posted

      Interesting you should say that as not well this morning. Admittedly not as bad as last time and relaxing now but started 10.50am and have been fine for last 30 mins but I had a meeting at midday so had to cancel. First illness since 4th so looking like twice in the month. Others' have it far worse. I don't really have symptoms. I still fine up until the day it happens then I rushing to and from the loo so my symptoms tend to occur on the day.  Same for me but I am in the not so normal phase. 

      I will ill start that from now re: good days as need a lie down now.

  • Tamarind
    Tamarind rlc62

    Posted

    Sorry to see your post a year later and hope you've now had some more help. I just wanted to say my hubby is 66 and had reflux and IBS (usually diarrhoea), over several decades. With IBS he gets cold from the inside and feels very weak and really strong abdominal pain. He cannot eat anything or, sometimes, just a tinned soup. He has Landsoprazole for the reflux as necessary. We haven't had any success for the IBS but have seen on this blog that DF118 (dihydrocodeine), or Codeine Phosphate, or dicyclomine have all been useful for some people. We will be talking to our GP about these as any help would be so much appreciated as the condition is debilitating. Best wishes for you.

  • sean38088
    sean38088 rlc62

    Posted

    Hi,

    Just reading this, obviously a year after you have posted it.  Not sure if you are still around? I experienced the exact same symptions you describe above last night.  This is the 3rd time this has happened to me, and scares the living daylights out of me. Have you managhed to get yours under control? I would be intested to hear if anybody knows how these attacks can be managed.

    • astrozombie
      astrozombie sean38088

      Posted

      Eat better, drink water and exercise more and when it happens ride it out. 

      I have found this improves my symptoms but does not negate them completely.

      This was my tactic and has reduced my loo duration from 3 hours to reasonably normal times although I still have severe attacks intermittently but that is probably due to stress of thinking hope I am not ill tomorrow I have this on and that on and the other on and then that brings it on.  I can not cut out the fear but other than that I am managing fairly well.  I walk 20 miles and week and find this definitely helps me. I hate gyms hence the walking. 

    • sean38088
      sean38088 astrozombie

      Posted

      Thanks astrozombie. I have been a regular gym goer for the last 25 year, 4 times a week most weeks. Also walk a couple of miles twice a day. As for my diet, that has always been really dialled in. Healthy fats complex carbs, high protein and low sugar. Also I'll typically drink 2 litres of water at work. So unfortunately for me I already have all bases covered.  You are right about the stress relation.  Today all I can think about it “I hope it doesn't happen again tonight" to the point that I don't really want to go to bed. I think the most comforting thing about this is that I am not alone in experiencing these symptoms, as nasty as they are; other people are clearly sharing these symptoms without any adverse effects

    • astrozombie
      astrozombie sean38088

      Posted

      You are doing more than me smile Sounds like you are doing all the right things as I try to do now but does not stop me being ill either but for me I'm a worrier even when there isn't anything to worry about. I get like that and end up falling asleep on the sofa and waking 2am and then I am ill in the morning anyway. I really shouldn't give advice as I am far from fixed but rewind 5 years and did very little of the above and regularly spent 3 to 4 hours in the loo and could not work so the changes I have made have worked very well and lost 3 stone in the process but not sure there is ever really a full fix. I hate to say it but maybe managing it in this way is as good as it gets. I can still function now as long as I have lenient managers and I do not have to be out at a certain time for specific one off events. If so I have had it. A few days a month I am ill and come in midday as I did today but luckily no one minds here whereas back in March I started working for a very rigid company and only lasted a few weeks so I have noticed being in the right environment helps me too. You are not alone and wish I had found this place earlier as my IBS destroyed everything around me 10 year job, 5 year relationship etc so wish I had found this earlier but take solace in the fact I am here now, so should you smile

  • lynn5336
    lynn5336 rlc62

    Posted

    Ric62, I know this post is 2 yrs old, and I hope you see my reply.  I was wondering if you ever found out what's wrong and how are you dealing with it.

  • lynn5336
    lynn5336 rlc62

    Posted

    Just one more thing I wanted to mention.  I found out I was depleted of hydrochloric acid in my stomach.  Since I've been taking HCl my symptoms have gotten a lot better.

  • rlc62
    rlc62

    Posted

    Thanks for asking. I had so many tests done that year including multiple blood work, an MRI, an EKG, a CT scan. Nothing showed up. My Neurologist said it could possibly be anxiety. Or maybe my brain is not getting enough electrolytes when that happens. So he gave me Xanax to take when this occurs and a beta blocker. I've never taken Xanax before but know people who have. I just wanted thrilled about the idea of taking it if I absolutely didn't need it. But keep one of each with me all the time just in case. Well, since posting this, I've only had two very minor shaking attacks. They didn't last very long and felt more like a shiver. Before, I would lay down and would practically bounce off the bed. It was weird and scare. In short, no idea what was going on at the time. I did drink a lot of diet soda back then. Maybe 5 a day. Wondering if there is a link there (?)   

    I read your follow-up post.  How did you know you had depletion of hydrochloric acid? What were your symptoms? Or did they determine that with blood work only?

    Thanks

    • kane01882
      kane01882 rlc62

      Posted

      hi i have been experiencing these attacks frequently im 24 years old and the doctors have just said its ibs, did you ever find out what was the cause and how to stop them?

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