topic Stomach/digestion health anxiety in Anxiety

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 08:36:38 GMT

Hi,

So I know this isn't the place to get a proper medical diagnosis or anything like that, but I just wanted to share what has been happening with me lately in-case if maybe someone else has experienced similar issues in the past and can give me some insight because this issue has been bothering me quite a lot lately.
(and just a fair warning this post talks about poop so if you don't like that kind of stuff click away now)

So for a month or so now, I've been pretty anxious that something is wrong with my digestive system. I'm not sure what, but it doesn't seem right. My reasoning for thinking this is because my stool (#2) hasn't been the usual brown colour for 2 or so months now, but a yellowish or sometimes even greenish colour...

I've gone to the doctors and mentioned this to them 3 times in the past, but every time they brush it off as being nothing but an 'excess of fat' in my diet and don't investigate it any further and act like it's nothing to worry about. I did, however, get an abdominal ultrasound not too long ago for unrelated issues which came up clean, and I've also gotten quite a few blood tests looking for stomach ulcers and other things like that.

This really bothers me because I want them to investigate it further, but they don't seem to think it's necessary even though I've brought the same issue up with them on 3 different occasions.

So pretty much what I want to know is, is it normal to have yellowish #2s for such a long time? I do admit that my diet probably is on the high side when it comes to fat due to getting takeout quite a lot, but I'm not sure if that's the issue or if it could possibly be something else...

I do get dull pains every once and a while just under my ribs where I imagine my kidneys would be, but the pain is never severe and I suspect it's just digestion pains but it's worrisome none-the-less.

I would google all my symptoms myself, but I've made it a rule that I don't google symptoms anymore because I always without a doubt focus on the worst-case-scenario that google shows me which just adds to my anxiety instead of helping it. If someone else could take the symptoms I mentioned and google them for me and come back here with some info, that would be appreciated.

If there are any nurses/doctors on these forums, I would love to hear what your opinion is. Do you think I should go back to the doctors and be adamant about getting further tests, or could it just be excess fat causing the issues?

Thank you.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 15:31:02 GMT

Some things I forgot to add:

I also find that I get nauseous quite often. I eat something that doesn't sit well with me, or I go to brush my teeth, or whatever it may be and my stomach will start to hurt and I have to focus on not throwing up.

I also get heartburn quite a lot, I have for years now, and heartburn runs in the family (my granddad had a faulty esophagus, and my Mum does, now I do)

Also, a problem I've had for a while now is brown phlegm, but I've gone to the doctors about this at least a half dozen times and at first, they said it was bronchitis and then after it didn't go away they said it was allergies.

I want to go to the doctors to get this stuff checked out, but with Corona Virus floating around I don't really want to go to the doctors and risk getting exposed to it.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 16:55:47 GMT

I know it's a long shot that someone on here would have experienced the same or similar symptoms to me, but I thought I should post this first before going to the doctors in-case if what I am going through is nothing out of the usual. I know there's a nurse or two that frequents the forums so if they had any opinion I'd love to hear it.

Regardless, I think I'll head into the GP this weekend and voice my concerns. I'll just be repeating stuff I've already told them several times before but this time I'll be a bit pushier and actually try to get some tests or something done unless if they think they're really not necessary.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

Step_Twelve — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 01:28:17 GMT

Hi Max,
Thanks for sharing your poop query 😃 I'm sure you're not the only one who worries about these types of symptoms.

When I read your post I just wanted to make a quick reply to say how cool it is that you avoid googling symptoms in these situations. That shows an exceptional level of self-awareness and control! Don't underestimate the value of being able to understand how your mind works and to strategise ways around it. It's a great skill.

Sorry I can't be much help with your specific symptoms. I hope you get a response from someone qualified, but if not, do you have the option of getting a second opinion from a different GP? What I do know from reading about other people's anxiety symptoms on these forums is that digestive issues are quite common. I'm always confronted by how many physical symptoms anxiety can cause - it can affect how your body works in ways you wouldn't have thought possible. Of course, I'm not trying to diagnose you, just saying that if all of the professional advice, tests, and other evidence say that you're physically fine, perhaps try to focus on improving the anxiety rather than thinking about the specific symptoms. Your GP can help here too. Perhaps mention that the stress and worry about your digestion is affecting your mental health - no doctor under any circumstances should be dismissive or slack when a patient asks for help with anxiety, regardless of whether they think the digestion issues are of concern.

Hope you feel better soon. All the best.
12

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 06:03:10 GMT

Hi, and thanks for the reply.

I agree that it's entirely possible that it's just my anxiety and stress causing these problems as I've had similar problems in the past due to anxiety, but this time around it's stuck around for so long and been so consistent that I'm thinking it might be something else.

Either way, I'll head into the GP this weekend and get a second opinion for sure. I'll try to explain my situation a whole lot better so they can give me a proper diagnosis. I find that writing down my symptoms and just handing the note to my doctor seems to work the best because otherwise I usually don't get everything I want to say across to them.

Thank you again for the reply!

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

Heyyou — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 06:11:38 GMT

Hi, I have this as well, anxiety stirs up the acid In our gut which turns our stool yellow, sometimes you might feel burning butt lol, I get pain dull like on the left side I have IBS which is also common with anxiety, I'm crook at the moment again. I have reflux to. Hope this helps.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 09:05:22 GMT

That sounds exactly like what I experience!
It's crazy how many health issues anxiety can cause...
I've also suspected for a long time that I might have IBS so that could also be it...

Thank you for the reply! It helped a lot

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

blondguy — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 11:20:12 GMT

Hi Max

No worries talking about poop on the forums at all and good on you for posting about it..seriously!

I used to have bad anxiety on and off for a long time and I understand your digestive symptoms as I have them as well and our poop does vary in color and solidity depending on our stress levels

Note....The digestive system is the most sympathetic to our stress and anxiety levels

* Nausea...Diarrhea...pain....stool shape and formation

There is an excellent Beyond Blue thread discussion on physical symptoms of anxiety that also mentions what we experience...The copy & paste link is below and I hope you find it helpful

www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/what-physical-feelings-of-anxiety-do-you-get

Paul

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:24:16 GMT

Thank you! I'll have a look through that forum post.

I'm not all that worried about the digestion issues after finding out it's not unusual for people who suffer from anxiety/stress, now I've had a symptom I've experienced in the past come back to haunt me, that symptom being a sligh lightheadedness/dizziness. It's nothing major and not debilitating but it is unnerving. Last time I experienced this symptom it stuck around for quite a while. I never did find out if it was my anxiety or something else causing it, the doctor reckons an inner-ear infection so maybe I'm just getting sick.

Thanks again for the reply!

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

blondguy — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 13:10:41 GMT

No worries at all Max

That lightheaded and dizzi feeling is unnerving to have with even low level stress or anxiety

As a general rule.....If our symptoms have a continual negative impact on our ability to function on a day to day basis....we need to see a GP....Im not saying that your symptoms are...its only info

Whenever its convenient for you have a sticky at that thread topic....

www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/what-physical-feelings-of-anxiety-do-you-get

Great to have you as part of the forum family Max! You have a great attitude

Good1

Paul

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 16:37:06 GMT

I wouldn't say it hinders my ability to do anything, but I do find that I'm focusing on this particular symptom pretty much always which makes it hard for me to concentrate on anything else.

I think last time I was experiencing this symptom someone said it could be due to all the adrenaline which would make sense since this symptom only started after my digestion issues which had me really anxious and stressed. Maybe I've just been overloaded with adrenaline lately and need to relax.

It's a really weird symptom, though. I don't even really know how to explain it, the closest thing I can compare it to is a slight sense of imbalance, kind of like I'm on a boat that slightly rocks every once and a while. I get the sense that I'm falling but just for a split second and then it stops.

One thing that makes me think it's just an anxiety symptom is that I only get this symptom when I'm thinking about it, and when I'm not thinking about it I don't get it or at least don't notice it.

I'll go back and read through my old posts and the one you linked to see if other's have gotten this same symptom.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 10:11:57 GMT

So I went to the shops today to get some stuff to help relieve my issues.

I bought some high fibre drink, some probiotics specifically for IBS, and some magnesium body wash which I didn't even know was a thing but I'm excited to try. Hopefully these things combined help me out. The second I saw probiotics specifically for IBS I had to get them, I'm really hoping they help me out.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

Step_Twelve — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 22:22:57 GMT

Hi Max,

That's great! Hope those things work for you.

Keep maintaining all the usual stuff too. You know, getting enough sleep, eating healthy, getting some exercise, doing a daily mediation/relaxation routine. You probably don't need me to tell you this, but sometimes I need a reminder to check up on these things now and then.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

blondguy — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 13:23:31 GMT

Hi Max

I was only speaking generally when I mentioned if our symptoms have a negative affect on our well being

Good on you for being so proactive with your health!....Yesterday I also bought some probiotics for my own IBS as well....They do work really well...Coles have a generic product that is half the price just fyi

Great to have you as part of the Beyond Blue forum family too Max 🙂

Happy Friday

Paul

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

that guy — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 01:30:56 GMT

Hey Mate

Like you, I also tend to have digestive issues with my Anxiety, in fact what started triggering my anxiety 2 years ago, was when I found a lump which ended up being just a pile, but it was scary cause it was big and it was painful.
Do you know why people with Anxiety tend to have digestion issues? Because the Brain and Gut are very closely related. Its called the Gut Brain Axis. Its a bit weird for me, as issues with my digestion don't happen all the time I have an anxiety issue, but it happens, infact I've had a few symptoms pop up again last week, especially the Nausea!

Great idea with the Probiotics, they're my go-to for these issues, exercise, fiber and eating healthier will also help. While I've had some minor pain, I've never had any food intolerance which defiantly helps me out...... except cauliflower, my body just hates it!

Good luck Max

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 07:14:34 GMT

That's almost exactly like what started my health anxiety last year. I was feeling around and felt a bump that I immediately assumed was cancer because "that shouldn't be there!" and I just spiraled from there.

The probiotics definitely have helped me just in the two days I've been taking them, and I've also made sure to introduce a lot more fiber into my diet, and I'm feeling a lot better.

I do still have to deal with nausea, dry heaving, and just general loss of appetite but that stuff I've dealt with for so many years now that it's become 'normal' for me.

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 08:02:25 GMT

So last night I had that dull pain on my right side under my ribs turn into quite a bad pain. It went from maybe a 1/10 to easily a 6 or 7 out of 10, but I didn't really think anything of it because "it must just be a symptom of my anxiety, no need to worry"

It was only after I woke up and was unable to get back to sleep because of the pain even after taking a couple of panadol that did nothing whatsoever that I got concerned. I'm now on stronger pain relief, which I took maybe 30 minutes ago and am hoping helps me because if not I have no idea how I'm going to sleep, eat, or do pretty much anything. This is easily the most pain I've been in for quite a while and it's constant.

I had a blood test done and am getting an ultrasound on Friday, here's hoping it's nothing serious.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 08:07:40 GMT

I've also now come to learn that TOO much fiber can also lead to constipation among other things... so not only does too little cause that, but too much does too... weird...

I could have easily just gone overboard on all the fiber and am now suffering the consequences... I have been making an effort to eat a lot of fiber the last few days... I hope that's it...

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 21:01:56 GMT

Well, that was a horrible experience. I had no idea constipation could hurt that badly... all day was spent either in bed in pain or next to the toilet on the verge of vomiting or actually vomiting.
The pain relief seemed to do nothing for me except make me feel a bit lightheaded and numb but didn't take the pain away much if at all.
I didn't manage to eat a single thing all day either because it would just come straight back up...

I've just woken up now at 5am and the pain seems to be gone, almost like a switch was flicked... laxatives seems to have done the trick and now my body isn't having such a hard time digesting whatever it was giving me pain.

I just thought I'd give this update in-case if anyone else experiences this... I thought for sure it had to be something serious because of how much it hurt, but apparently not.

Fingers crossed the pain stays away.

Stomach/digestion health anxiety

Be_Positive — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 00:59:50 GMT

Hello 44Max44,

I'm sorry to hear about the situation you're going through. I have this issue from the last 7-8 months now with 4-5 times serious panic attacks which led me to hospital as well. Now you might be thinking it's a very dangerous or serious issue. The answer is yes and no, I used to be 70 kgs back in March 2019 and increased my weight to 82 kgs by the start of Feb 2020. The relationship between stress/anxiety/ panic is linked with the stomach. For instance, I have reflux which leads to sudden high blood pressure and then a panic attack. So, we must always try to eradicate the trigger-point of our stress or stomach. In my case, I used to take a lot of green tea( although it's good) but taking a full mug after every meal for the last three years wasn't a good idea. So, I quit the green tea. In addition, I used to poop 3-4 times a day in some cases with a similar issue as you have mentioned. This is because of stress/anxiety. We have trained our mind to be overprotective which gives false alarms, It may be in the form of poop, again and again, chest pain, body shivering, etc. Now you might be asking you're self that what's the cure?

The answer is acceptance of anxiety. Yes, it sounds very weird but we have to tell ourselves that eventually, nothing happens, we have anxiety which shouldn't take over but live with peace. So, to have peace with the anxiety which may take time as well, you should know you're triggered. Remove those things which cause your stomach to be upset or produce reflux.

Good Luck.

Hope you'll be better soon. Remember, you're not alone.