Panic symptoms before bowel movement
Posted , 117 users are following.
Hi there
For a couple of years now I have been having a very strange happen to me, it used to happen occasionally but now it is every time I go for a bowel movement.
I will be happily going about my business or working or whatever when suddenly out of the blue I get this horrible feeling which is hard to describe, like a sinking feeling or impending doom. My fingers go tingly, I have difficulty breathing, shaky, fast heart rate...and then I need a bowel movement immediately. If I go I start to feel better after while, if for whatever reason I can't go right away it feels as if I will die.
anybody else with anything similar?
12 likes, 302 replies
JimMc sasical72
Edited
I've just had another ultrasound and now an MRI focusing on my abdominal wall.
The only thing they have found is divericated recti which typically isn't associated with pain. Is not considered to be a proper hernia. The condition is usually more common in women than men with pregnancy being the causal factor.
In my case i have a small separation approximately 1cm between the abdominals, and only a slight "tenting" when i strain in the area.
What I think is happening is either part of my stomach or bowel is slipping between the gap in my abdominals and then when I stand up or do anything causing me to tense my abdominal wall, the muscles are nipping together and causing a constriction on the stomach / bowel. I think this is happening because the separation is small.
I can get it fixed surgically, however because it's not usually associated with pain, only with aesthetics, it is considered to be cosmetic surgery. I'm on-the-fence as to whether it's the right thing to do. Reading reports, they mention that if you have pain beforehand, it can develop into chronic pain post surgery, and it cant be reversed. But i think ultimately I may end up asking for surgery.
The only thing which sets off my symptoms now is exercise, heavy lifting and showering (heat seems to set it off). I continue to get a high heart rate, bloating, belching and blurred vision.
I no longer get the panic on the toilet after changing my sleeping position to lying on my back and keeping pressure off my stomach during the night.
If I decide to go ahead, and the surgery does correct the issue, it would be interesting to see how many others could be afflicted in the same way, but would have been told that the divericated recti is not contributing to their functional symptoms.
sasical72 JimMc
Edited
Hey Jim!
Thanks for the update, that's interesting, I presume you mean diastasis, funnily enough the physio was telling me about this and even though it's more common in women because of pregnancy, men who exercise and lift also can get it.
It's spooky just how similar your symptoms are to mine. I still get symptoms related to bm's but I also get them with lifting and showering (that seemed to concern my neurologist).
I don't remember what other tests you have had? colonoscopy?
My cardiologist has requested I start being investigated for a neuroendocrine tumour, which has me terrified.
Please come back with updates!
JimMc sasical72
Edited
Hi, yes we do sound like our problems are very similarly matched!
The divericated recti is also known as diastasis recti so yes that's 100% the same issue.
I know that I have been tested previously for endocrine cancer and it came back negative. I am actually seeing an endocrinologist at the moment because the surgeon believes that it's unlikely the diastasis recti is contributing to the functional issues I am having (i.e. dizziness, bloating etc), however, after adjusting my sleeping position and taking that pressure off my stomach I've gone from generally feeling terrible, to being able to identify that an area 2" x 2" just north of my belly-button is where the source of the pain is, so I'm somewhat of the opinion that the diastasis recti is the root cause, but it's a bit of a risk to take the surgery option incase it does make it worse. If you read about the surgery, certain practices state that if they discover a hidden hernia during the operation they will correct those as well, and my GP Doctor tells me that hidden hernias are actually quite common. However, I've had so many tests now I'd have thought they would have discovered a hernia, if I had one. I think although the diastasis recti isn't technically a hernia, because the bowel/stomach hasn't perforated through the abdominal muscle, it's essentially the same thing, because the collagen connecting the muscles together is soft, and allows your bowel to push past the muscle, and then get trapped (that's my theory anyway).
Summary of my investigations:
Everything came back perfectly clear.
Will let you know if the endocrinologist discovers anything, I've just had another batch of blood taken yesterday along with some urine.
Advice I have at the moment is that it's possible specific exercise targetting the diastasis recti can help close the gap, so trying that for 6 months, before considering surgery. Be pleased if I get this all resolved and can just put the whole thing behind me!
By the way, I've mentioned the issue of showering and exercise bringing on the symptoms to my Doctors (numerous now), and they don't seem too concerned, they seem to think it's all just a physical stress response to whatever is causing the problem.
Good luck with your forthcoming tests, hope you get to the bottom of it soon.
sasical72 JimMc
Posted
This is really impacting my life, so I wish I knew what it is or what can be done about it.
I keep adding updates if I have them.
Wishing you the best!
andrew77279 JimMc
Edited
I find this whole thing fascinating but terrifying at the same time.
I to have a diastasis recti, never thought of this having anything to do with this issue.
I definitely get the feeling just before going to the loo. then it calms it self down. I haven't had the full on dizziness, sweating, blurred vision for a while now. But I do still get a weird feeling before needing the loo.
I am also T1 diabetic and I have thought that this could have damaged the nerves between my heart, digestive system and brain. and somehow my digestive system sometimes controls my heart rate which then causes fast heart rate and then affects my brain?.
it's very strange.
sasical72 andrew77279
Posted
Hello,
I'm pre-diabetic and have also wondered if it could be a blood sugar issue. But when this all started for me I think I didn't have the elevated blood sugar, so can't be sure about this.
Will keep investigating!
jenny5366 sasical72
Edited
I just found this thread. I get this too. I find it telling that a lot of the women that posted are perimenopausal. I never had panic attacks at all till I hit this point in life. Mine are the same I get a sudden crazy feeling like I'm gonna have a heart attack or like my body is gonna shut down and within minutes its related to needing to poop. Its not fear of going, its literally like the act of needing to poop causes a panic attack prior to it. I also have constipation so not sure if that adds to the problem. That is due to a medication I have to take. I am on anxiety med's, I take homeopathic stuff for my anxiety as well. I definitely think its hormone related though. And it does ease off after I go to the bathroom. I thought maybe it had to do with toxins or something in my poop, but now that I see this I'm thinking it's hormones.
I hate it because the fear it creates its so overwhelming its ridiculous.
sasical72 jenny5366
Edited
I know right? the fear is just horrible.
I was thinking maybe hormonal but I have had a few men say it happens to them too.
what44837 sasical72
Edited
hey sasical, I also have some fears and stuck in the past /anxious personality so I realized i am also getting exact symptoms as you not everyday but mostly, i get this same sinking feeling and some sort of doom, is coming...also all my life when i get so upset my bowels started to work extra 😕
sasical72 what44837
Posted
Sorry you are also going through this. I'm getting quite extensive testing within the next few weeks.
Will post here if there are any findings.
what44837 sasical72
Edited
hello Sasical is this symptoms also happening while eating, it sometimes happens to me during or after eating and I feel so bad instantly losing apetite and trying to find a way to stop the panic feeling and it feels horrible...right after my BM happens and I feel like going to toilet, I also asked same question on Anxiety forum to see if other people are having it as well...my bowels always work more when I have panic/fear/scared It sucks to happennwuth food as now i dont even wanna eat 😦
sasical72 what44837
Posted
Hello,
It does occasionally happen while eating and sometimes also when I shower, but in my case 95% of the time it's related to when my body prepares for a bowel movement.
I'm getting a CT scan and an MRI this week. Will report back.
what44837 sasical72
Posted
yea! I think it happened to me 2 times heavily when I was eating and right after had the urge to visit toilet, so I kinda believe my BM was gonna start when I was eating, so i felt this "doom" feeling also during that feeling my mind brings my anxiety reasons like my fears etc so it feels like a proper panic attack 😐 yeah hope your tests goes well and i will be looking for your updates!
Laney99 sasical72
Edited
I too have been dealing with this. At first I did not correlate the symptoms of feeling lightheaded , anxious, like something awful was happening or going to happen (that impending doom), and feeling cold, preceded a bowel movement. Especially if i would have multiple bowel movements or diarrhea. And only after the BMs would the awful feelings subside. A cardiologist told me that maybe it was related to a "sensitive Vagus nerve". I don't know but i hate it every time it happens.
sasical72 Laney99
Posted
It really is the most horrible feeling. Did the cardiologist give you any thoughts on what can be done about it?
Thanks x