Stomach/digestion health anxiety

44Max44 · ‎03-02-2020

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 · ‎11-02-2020

I too have gotten reflux for quite a while now but I don't think it's a trigger for me. I think I just get general anxiety, it doesn't really have to be of anything in particular, I just feel anxious.

I definitely think I need to bite the bullet and finally go and see a psychiatrist/psychologist because some of these anxiety symptoms are getting out of hand. I definitely do not want the experience I had yesterday to be a regular thing.

The only problem is that all the free ones usually have super long waiting lists, but I guess there's no getting around that so the sooner the better. I'm going into the doctors tomorrow to get my blood test results back, I might book it as a mental healthcare plan and hit 2 birds with 1 stone.

44Max44 · ‎11-02-2020

However, I do find that I'm pretty dang anxious to eat much of anything now... I'm not sure what caused the blockage and subsequent pain yesterday so I'm on 'high alert' not wanting to eat whatever caused it. Now that I know too much fiber can lead to constipation as well as too little, I'm not sure how much to eat...

I guess I'll just go back to my usual diet and just try to add a little bit extra fiber than I usually do being careful not to go overboard.

44Max44 · ‎11-02-2020

I'm about to eat my first proper meal since yesterday, and I've noticed that am pretty dang anxious. I guess I'm anxious that by eating I'll possibly have a repeat of yesterday and that's the last thing I want.
Tight chest, feeling of having a hard time breathing, and my stomachs going crazy. As long as I get through this meal without incident I think I'll be a whole lot less anxious about eating.

It's a strange thing being anxious about eating, a thing I've done literally 10s of thousands of times before probably...

44Max44 · ‎12-02-2020

You can ignore my above posts, I'm not really looking to get any responses or anything I just find that it helps to speak my mind on here when I'm getting anxious.

However, I wouldn't mind getting some tips on how to deal with IBS if anyone has any advice to share? What foods work for you, what ones don't, anything you might drink/take to help with it, anything helps.

Thanks

blondguy · ‎13-02-2020

Hey Max...I hope its okay if we only provide short posts of support 🙂

You mentioned 'I definitely think I need to bite the bullet and finally go and see a psychiatrist/psychologist because some of these anxiety symptoms are getting out of hand' That took a ton of courage to say..Good on you...

You dont even have to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist Max....at this time..

Can I ask if you think that making a double appointment with your GP is a good idea? You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing so 🙂

Without being boring Max....'That_Guy' and 'Be_Positive' mentioned about our digestive system being the most sympathetic to even low level anxiety...They are spot on..

Thanks for being a part of the Beyond Blue forum family too!

Paul

44Max44 · ‎13-02-2020

I don't mind the short replies at all, everyone that replies has been super helpful and I'm very grateful that I can talk to people about my problems on here without feeling like I'm being judged in any way. I'm not very open about this stuff IRL even with my closest family and friends so it's a nice change to be able to open up on here.

I'll have a look through the forums and try and get some advice on IBS there, I'm sure there's an abundance of tips and advice about it on here already and this post is getting a bit off topic.

Thanks for all the replies!

Number 86 · ‎25-02-2020

Hi 44Max44's,

yep I gets those symptoms as well. I’ve done a few bloods test, stool test and breath test. I also done an ultrasound and have a colonoscopy appointment booked.
mall tests so far have been fine. I pushed hard to get the colonoscopy as I am also an anxious guy that panics about health symptoms.

one strange thing I noticed though was when I cut out gluten I haven’t had pale stools. I don’t have celiac disease as I was tested for that but thinking I am intolerant and with anxiety it must just aggravate it

summer_girl · ‎25-02-2020

Hi max

it seems you have probably sorted this out but a few years ago when I was going through a particular bad time with my anxiety my poo was yellow also! I put it down to stress and I’ve never had it since.

i do have pain under my rib atm, my latest issue 🥴 I’m assuming it’s underlying anxiety , but I can assure you all was fine with me after my yellow poo episodes👍