Stomach/digestion health anxiety

[44Max44]

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.

[44Max44]

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.

[44Max44]

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.

[Step_Twelve]

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

[44Max44]

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!

[Heyyou]

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.

[44Max44]

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

[blondguy]

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

[44Max44]

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!

[blondguy]

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