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Panic symptoms before bowel movement

Posted , 117 users are following.

sasical72
sasical72

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

302 Replies

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  • louis98375
    louis98375 sasical72

    Edited

    This has all made for very interesting reading. l'm male 46. I've been having the same problems for about 4 years now. It isn't just BM's but they are a large part of it.

    I had a bad case of food poisoning in 1999 and it lead on to a whole host of problems. My whole system went out of whack. I had terrible gut aches and even passed blood regularly. I ended up having all the tests done and nothing was found. The year before i had been drinking and eating a lot at Uni without any problems. Then it all changed. I didn't like going out as i could get caught short then i got really down as i wasn't going out. I became very stressed and after another year i quit Uni and went home. I ended up on antidepressants. Then i went to Tunisia on a holiday and got food poisoning again. This time i went to a clinic and the doctors found cysts. I was given powerful antibiotics and amazingly the problems started to go. I weaned off the antidepressants (horrible things) and i also started to accept that i would get bad days. Life changed, i built a business from scratch and never looked back. But i became a workaholic and 4 years ago something happened again.

    Now i regularly suffer exactly what you've all been describing. I've always been a thrill seeker. I actively like danger. Now i'm regularly freaking out about nothing. If i get a BM I'll avoid going out or seeing anyone. Total doom feeling. I hate it. The worst is if i feel trapped such as if i'm in a meeting or on a plane.

    I can't really add solutions but i am taking probiotics (which help) and i know this is stress related. It is a vicious circle and one thing triggers the other. Interestingly i was prescribed antibiotics for a leg infection a few months back and the bowel problems stopped for about 2 weeks. I felt amazing. Then it started creeping back. My doctor is looking into this but the antibiotics should have had the opposite effect.

    I'll update if or when i know more.

    I have found distraction often shifts the feelings more quickly. Exercise also helps. If I'm really physically tired then i have no attacks. Another thing that strangely gives me comfort is if my stomach is rumbling (hunger).

    BTW i tried lots of diets to no avail.

    • sasical72
      sasical72 louis98375

      Posted

      Thank you for your story and welcome to the club that nobody wants to belong to!

      My dietitian recently recommended that I find an osteopath with knowledge on the vagus nerve. I found one, I have had about 4 or 5 sessions and I have to say I am noticing improvement.

      I will continue to keep this thread alive and report any findings.

      Please do the same! Good luck to us all!

      P.S.- I can deffo relate to the not wanting to be trapped just in case. I've put off flying because of this (and Covid) for quite some time now.

    • louis98375
      louis98375 sasical72

      Edited

      Thank you for replying. I have been reading about the vagus nerve and it is very interesting. Are you able to tell me more about the sessions you are having? What does it involve. I have read about cold water submersion and tried breathing exercises. I have had limited success with breathing and meditation. My brain tends to kick in and overrule my attempts to relax. Many friends of mine swim in the sea in winter and swear by it for feeling good. I worry i will have a heart attack (stupid as i used to surf all year round).

      Anyway, i look forward to hearing how you get on with your sessions.

      Thanks.

    • Hiddenhidden224
      Hiddenhidden224 louis98375

      Edited

      THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AFTER FOOD POISONING!! food poisoning as given me anxiety and heart palpitations and this 😦 is there any cure for this problem

    • sasical72
      sasical72 louis98375

      Posted

      Hi!

      Haha I get what you say about thinking you will have a heart attack if you swim in the sea after you have surfed all your life. I've become really paranoid about my health too.

      The sessions with the osteopath are a bit hard to explain really, he kind of massages my tummy in my bowel area, then he does my back and just generally does a lot of "loosening" because I'm just really tight and tense everywhere, he says even my organs are kind of tight and stiff and that can put pressure on my vagus nerve. Well, I don't know if it's that or what, but I've had some improvement.

      Just my experience, but if you know of a good osteopath and you can afford it, I would deffo give it a try.

      Good luck x

    • sasical72
      sasical72 Hiddenhidden224

      Posted

      If you had food poisoning maybe your bowels are still inflamed, just go for a really gentle and anti-inflamatory diet. And maybe have a look and investigate Aloe Vera drink.

      Good luck x

  • chantel41601
    chantel41601 sasical72

    Edited

    ive been experiencing this as well. What ive found is something called vasovagal synoscope, it is related to the vagus nerve. i also have anxiety and panic disorder, ibs and im pregnant. it has been worse since getting pregnant could be hormones too. so pretty much im a mess. Dr wants to perscribe anxiety meds instead of trying to pinpoint cause. 😕

    • sasical72
      sasical72 chantel41601

      Edited

      Hi,

      Sorry to hear you are going through this and especially while being pregnant. I have had a little relief by going to an osteopath that has experience with vagus nerve. I am not recovered but it isn't as bad as before.

      If you have access to an osteopath it might help.

      Good luck x

    • sasical72
      sasical72 alex123456789

      Posted

      He basically massaged and manipulated my whole torso, neck and lower neck

  • Rintinitina
    Rintinitina sasical72

    Edited

    I have this problem too. Sometimes I don't even understand what to eat so I don't have to experience these feelings. I found myself a little reassured by this discussion that I am not the only one. I am trying to take anti-anxiety medications and for irritable bowel syndrome (would rather not take them ). Feelings are not pleasant and do not always help. While reading the discussion, I noticed that hormones are also mentioned. I have also thought about them and will go to a specialist to check hormones. Maybe he will be able to answer these symptoms.

    The vagus nerve is mentioned a lot. I have not found how it can be calmed or controlled.

    • sasical72
      sasical72 Rintinitina

      Edited

      Hello,

      Sorry you are going through this too.

      Please come back and let us know if the hormone specialist comes up with any answers.

      Best of luck x

  • emmafc0
    emmafc0 sasical72

    Edited

    Hi Everyone

    im a little late to reply to this message but have had these symptoms for many years & have found a way to help myself after seeing numerous puzzled doctors with an all clear outcome.

    it's spot on how you describe this panic symptom as it's not a panic attack as such. for me my body feels overcome with anxiety & this slightly odd surreal feeling, yet i'm completely calm. I would also suffer from huge palpitations where it felt like my heart would miss a beat & flutter up my chest into my neck (again a classic sign of panic attacks & anxiety)

    i've suffered with this for around 10 years with frequent trips to A&E with doctors telling me i suffer from anxiety. My symptoms were so bad as points i didn't know where to turn so i was determined to help myself.

    after years of research i came to a conclusion of it being the Vagus Nerve that gets irritated, as mentioned quite a bit on here. So to help that i cut out all preservatives, sulphites & refined sugars in all food & drink. after around 3 weeks these symptoms stopped. i also don't eat before going to bed as acid reflux can stimulate the vagus nerve & when laying down this can make it worse.

    since changing my diet i havent seen a doctor in 4 years & pretty much symptom free (apart from the odd slip up, usually eating out) but i can't stress enough how this has changed my life.

    I recommend anyone who suffers like this to try this option. if you do & find its helped please let me know.

    I hope this helps!

    Emma

    • sasical72
      sasical72 emmafc0

      Edited

      Hello Emma,

      Thank you very much for this info, it is so helpful.

      I'm now on holiday but as soon as I get back home I will look into this diet you suggest. So basically, it's all natural food with no preservatives at all, no sugar (only fruit? honey?). Will have to look into what sulphites are.

      If you can give us any more tips I would be so grateful.

      Thank you! x

    • Rintinitina
      Rintinitina emmafc0

      Edited

      Hi Emma!

      Thank you for sharing your experience.

      Is this diet a Low FODmap?

      Best,

      R

    • alex123456789
      alex123456789 emmafc0

      Edited

      Hi could you tell us what a typical day of eating is for you? I've noticed my symptoms are worse when I eat a lot of fiber or fat.

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