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[laylalina]

Hello my name is Layla and I am for the most part a healthy 26 year old women with a great job, amazing fiancé, and very supportive family. However since I was 15 years old I have been having gastrointestinal issues on and off, and no doctor has been able to diagnose me any farther than telling me I have gastritis. I go through weeks where I wake up at 3 every morning and I feel so nauseous. I usually throw up nothing but bile but I feel so horrible that I sit in bed and rock myself back and forth until the feelings subside. Then there are weeks where I am absolutely fine and I sleep through the night with no issues. In February of this year I had to go to the hospital 2 times in one week because I was so sick and at first they sent me home saying I had ulcers in my stomach. Two days later I was back at the hospital in so much pain they thought my gallbladder had ruptured. They did tests, ultrasounds, scans, and endoscopy and of course they found NOTHING. The doctor looked at me and said your going home this is NOT and emergency and told me it was all in my head... so I did a little research and I found that anxiety and depression can really have an effect on your gut. Lately I have been feeling so anxious and stressed to the point I’ve lost 20 pounds in 3 months. I’ve noticed that I have started obsessing about small things as well and I’m constantly worried that I’m going to get sick again and no one is going to be able to help me. I feel like my next step is to see a psychologist to seek some treatment but I’m afraid that I am just going to be given medication and sent away. My family has a bad history with addiction and I’m afraid to be put on any medication... anyone have any advice on what I should do next??

[jkl5500]

If the doctors have cleared you medically, the next step is to seek counseling. You don't have to go to an MD for this. You can go to a psychologist or licensed counselor for talk therapy (with no meds). I'm not a doctor, but your pain may simply be a symptom of anxiety. If you successfully treat the anxiety, your symptoms will disappear too.

[laylalina in reply to jkl5500]

I think that is exactly what I should do. Maybe a psychologist can give me some insight into how to deal with the anxiety when it does appear. I feel like my symptoms are so broad that they just keep telling me the easiest diagnosis they can give and that is gastritis....

[hypercat54]

Hi you might have acid reflux. Are you taking Omezaprole or anything for it? x

[laylalina in reply to hypercat54]

Yes I am taking Omeprazole but after the endoscopy the doctor told me that I don’t have any signs of acid reflux. I also sleep on a wedge pillow to keep myself propped up during sleep and even that doesn’t seem to help when my symptoms appear. I can never seem to find anything that makes me feel better when the symptoms start. I usually have to talk myself through it or wait until I’m so exhausted I just fall asleep.

[Jeff1943]

Laylalina, a great psychiatrist once wrote that "the stomach is the organ of the body most sympathetic to anxiety". So we shouldn't be surprised to have symptoms of gastritis, IBS and upset stomach etc. Hopefully not all at the same time.

The fact that you have chosen an anxiety forum to discuss your tummy pain suggests you have come to the same conclusion.

The only thing you need to check is your thyroid as sometimes a slight imbalance can imitate anxiety disorder. A simple blood test will soon confirm or rule it out and if that is the cause of your anxiety disorder a med can simply overcome it.

O.K., so your recurring stomach problems are almost certain to be anxiety inspired. Somehow in the past too much stress, worry, overwork, loss, grief or a toxic relationship has caused your nervous system to become sensitised.

The important thing is to break the habit of constantly resensitising your nerves with fear. The stomach distress causes fear, the fear hormones cause more gastric distress which causes more fear and on and on it goes, sometimes for years.

Break the habit of responding to your symptoms with fear and it will give your exhausted nervous system a chance to recover. Not immediately but in due course. And when that happy day comes all your stomach pains will resolve.

No matter how long you have suffered you can recover, you are going to recover. And all you have to do is to accept your tummy pains without fear for the time being.

Whether you seek counselling or seek inspiration from YouTube or self-help books I wish you early success in your quest for respite and recovery.

[laylalina in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you! I will definitely have my thyroid checked out I never thought about that before...

[snow_queen]

first of all, welcome to the group! second, I 100% think it could all be physical symptoms of anxiety. I also get very nauseous and vomit when I'm anxious/panicking. I've also noticed that if I ignore and push down what's happening in my head (this happened a ton before I acknowledged I actually have a problem) the physical symptoms get worse, like your body is forcing you to pay attention when you try to ignore a mental issue. I second the vote to try talk therapy - not everyone needs meds to get better and you can tell the psychologist that you'd rather not go on meds if you don't absolutely have to. best of luck!!

[laylalina in reply to snow_queen]

Thank you, I believe your very right about ignoring it. I think I’ve put off the idea of my physical symptoms having anything to do with anxiety that I’ve only made it that much worse. I will definitely look into therapy because honestly it can’t make anything any worse right??

[snow_queen in reply to laylalina]

yeah I used to think there couldn't be any connection, but once I started to accept that certain things were very real and very connected to one another, everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) made a lot more sense to me and I was better able to reach out for help and also help myself

[lottiejemma]

HI, if you are throwing up BILE, could it be Reflux, and you might have an Hiatus Hernia, which means --as I have -- never eat at night, after your evening meal -- do not have anything else --- it might help, and if that works, see your G P for medication for Reflux . Also, just because some of your family suffer with Addiction, that does not necessary mean that you will be. Take care GOD Bless you, hope you feel better real soon