Hey i was wondering if anyone here has ibs or bowel issues. I have been really dizzy and lightheaded especially after or sometimes before i go to the bathroom. It almost feels like my food isnt going down fast enough or having trouble getting my bowels out. I have back aches as well. No diarrhea though. Also get feeling of fullness and warm sensation in my bowel area and sometimes left abdomen, some upper left abdomen cramps too. Im almost scared to eat everyday because i dont want to pass out. Ive taken pepto, pepcid at one point and omeprezole but i quit the last two because they didnt seem to help. I am on zoloft 50mg for anxiety also so im not sure if this is a side effect.
Ibs or something else? HELP please - Anxiety and Depre...
Ibs or something else? HELP please
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Mike7777
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Any over the counter meds recommended? I eat pretty healthy as well.
Yes, I have bowel and digestion issues.
Have no experience of Zoloft but have you read the patient information leaflet? I just Googled side effects and top of the list -
nausea, indigestion etc .
Could you be constipated?
Have you tried drinking extra water? One or two glasses first things before breakfast, a glass before and after every meal and whenever you get the opportunity throughout the day.
Who prescribed the Omezprazole? That's for the treatment of rising stomach acid which usually results from a hiatus hernia. It's a Proton Pump Inhibitor which reduces stomach acid. If you do not have acid Reflux then you should not take Omezprazole. Stomach acid is needed for absorption of nutrients. A well functioning digestive system is also needed. So try and get your bowels moving, then keep them regular.
You are eating a health diet including 3 pieces of fresh fruit and plenty of root vegetables ? Try avoiding cheese, eggs, white bread and caffeine for a while. Never eat marshmallows.
The main thing is drinking plenty of water and regular exercise. Gentle exercise such as walking and/or swimming. Avoid stress if at all possible as this can wreak havoc with bowels.
You could try Fybogel orange sachets and add a little Tropicana orange juice. You could try Lactulose medicine but with either or both of these you must drink extra water.
Plenty of water and weak decaf tea. Tropicana orange juice with extra bits might help. A glass each morning.
It's aldo important, not only to think about what we're eating but the way we eat it. The longer the food is in the mouth thd better. Chewing until it is fully broken down is important. Sometimes we eat food too fast, sometimes we swallow a mouthful too soon. This can happen without thinking when we are anxious. This is why digestive issues almost certainly come with Anxiety.
Make any changes to your diet gradually.
Yes there is constipation. I have omeprezole because i was having heartburn and it feels like my food is still in the bottom of my throat also feel a buzzing sound sometimes in my bottom throat. I drink lots of water as well. Also eat probiotic yogurt and take probiotics. Should i get medicine for irritable bowels? I hear weird sounds in my left side under or around rib cage i think thats were the stomach is located. Ive gotten an x ray of my abdomen and found nothing. Does this show my colon as well?
If you have Reflux then shouldn't you stay on Omezprazole or change to Lansoprazole? I'm on Lansoprazole.
Try and relax and get your bowels moving. You could try both the Fybogels and Lactulose.
Eat small meals and small amounts in the mouth at a time.
You could ask for referals to Specialists: ENT for throat issues; Gastroenterologist for upper Gastro issues and Colorectal Specialist.
If you've had constipation long term then you could have Diverticular.
I don't know about your xray. The Specialists should be able to help you.
I saw all three.
Can you buy those otc? But i have an appt the 13th of sep with the GI. I dont think its diverticular because that would have shown up on x ray.
Yes. Both otc.
You will have to persevere with the Fybogels and Lactulose. Take every day (twice if you can morning and evening ) they may take a few days to have good effect. But stay on them till regular and eating a high fibre diet. Then gradually reduce to once a day. Then just stay on one or the other to help keep you regular.
What xray was that you had?
I thought you meant a straight forward xray of your andomen ?
So have you actually had a Barium Enema with series of xrays whilst tilted in the chair?
I had a ct scan and the doctor said that can show diverticulitis.
You didn't mention that - you said xray. Was he actually looking for diverticulitis because that is inflammation of the diverticulum. It's diverticulitis that is painful - like a burning , extremely sore pain.
Do you take any other meds? Anything for pain? Codeine and morphine cause constipation, cause dried out, hard stool. Can cause severe problems. With co-codamol or any codeine / morphine it is essential to drink lots of water. But take Lactulose medicine only and not Fybogels.
When you see the Gastroenterologist ask him to do blood tests to check some nutrients levels esp : Vitamin D, Calcium, B12, Folate and Ferritin as you may have some deficiencies and need prescribed supplements.
Low stomach acid causes absorption issues.
IBS and IBD cause absorption issues.
Two reasons you may not be getting enough nutrition from your food. You are probably Vitamin D deficient or insufficienct.
If the Gastroenterologist does a blood test for Celiac disease then you will need to have been eating wheat products beforehand. So don't give up bread yet.
What is the generic name for lactulose? I dont know what it is. I can go its just a strain sometimes and i get lightheaded.
Lactulose (in 300ml and 500ml bottles).
Straining can cause hernia in rectum. Can also cause weakness in pelvic floor.
Try some pelvic floor exercises. If there is a Continence Adviser or Nurse in your area, phone for advice.
I also have back aches mainly upper left like below my shoulder blade i feel pressure. Is this heart related or GI?
Could be anything. Trapped gas/bowel content causes all kinds of aches, pains and problems. Heaviness, mobility problems, tiredness. Can cause slow motility . Full bowels can put pressure on circulation, spinal column, pelvic floor and pelvic organs.
You need to address your questions to a doctor. Or make a written list of all your symptoms and show to Consultant next month.
I am not medically qualified.
I will. Thanks for your advice i hope this gets better. Its affecting my anxiety and has my head feeling constantly full and vision changes 
Call in to an Optician for an eye test. Or ask doctor to refer you to hospital eye clinic. Optician might be quickest option.
Anxiety and stress can cause the bowel to go into spasm which causes IBS. Can cause all sorts of digestive issues. Try going out for an early morning walk. Concentrate on breathing - deep breathing exercises and get into a good routine with diet etc.
But always go straight to an Optician with any vision problem. You can have your eyes investigated there and be refered to a hospital if necessary.
Mary's advice is very good! Don't underestimate the power of a simple walk around the park. I say to start with that, avoid acidic foods and drinks just in case (like citrus juice, tomatoes, spices).
I would find it wise if your gastro doc schedules you for both an upper and lower endoscopy, just to rule out severe afflictions. If nothing shows up on the upper endo, you really should not be taking omeprazole.
If the colononoscopy is also clear, you can pretty much relax. A fecal culture, parasitologic, giardia and occult test would be wise, too. If all are clear, calprotectin, too.
If all are fine, I would say it is stress-induced IBS.
Eat veggie cream soups for the constipation.
I do all those things but nothing helps. Could i be losing blood interally?
Why do you think you are bleeding internally?
Because being faint e eryday
What blood tests have you had? What is your sodium level ?
Do you take lots of pain relief meds?
If you faint you should call doctor or have someone take you to ER.
Ive just had a regular blood test and it was basically normal except for cholesterol and a bit high hemoglobin. Ive been to the ER and they found nothing after a scan of my abdomen. I currently take no pain relief meds. Just ativan and zoloft. And pepcid. But i do have hemmoroids just havent been to gi
Do you have enough salt in your diet.
If you keep fainting - I would call your doctor or return to ER.
I havent actually fainted. Just felt like i am going to everyday.
So do you eat something or have a sweet drink?
I only drink water really. My diet is pretty mild. Except it started when i was eating chinese food. And hasnt gone away since.
Try Fox's Glacier Mints. You will have the peppermint oil which will help with IBS symptoms and glucose to help with feeling faint.
Don't you think you need to start eating a full, healthy balanced diet including whole fresh foods (including fruit & vegetables).
I hope not, but a stool test to look for gastrointestinal bleeding could check that.
Maybe the pain meds could give you the weakness sensation?
Be sure to take calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, in case you are low in them. As Mary said, eat enough salt, also. When I feel a bit weak or weird (probably a common thing in IBS, sadly), I mix a bit of salt and sugar in a cup of water, just in case.
There are also rehydration premixes available, that contain sodium, potassium and the other minerals.
It could also be exhaustiom from straining, like Sara below described.
Seeing a gastroenterologist would be a great idea, and definitely do the lifestyle changes Mary proposed.
Very good advise !
I have IBS and I was taking pantoprazole for some time and it made me nauseous, It was really bad I couldn’t eat anything even drinking water made me wanna throw up so I stop taking it.
I am also always constipated and when it gets bad feel light headed like I am gonna pass out I actually fainted once because I was straining and bled a little.
And cramps and bloating has become a normal thing.
Try eating lot of fruits and vegetables and by a lot I mean A LOT. Drink lots of water . Try eating a tablespoon of olive oil in the morning with lukewarm water ( tried it for some time and it helped ). Make sure to be active for at least an hour a day.
I’ve been dealing with Ibs for 8 years now and have tried different medications but honestly being active and having a clean diet is the best way to deal with it.
I get headaches and lower or upper back aches would that be related to my lower colon?
Everything might possibly be. You need to act upon advice and get your bowels moving. You need to re-train your bowels. It takes time and effort, then keep regular by continuing with healthy routine of high fibre healthy diet, water, exercise and do pelvic floor exercises. After a week you should start to see improvement after several weeks you should feel much better . But must keep up routine.
If you still have symptoms after a month with routine then see your doctor again and ask for a referal to Colorectal Specialist. This specialist might look in lower Colin with endoscope, there are investigations such as - Proctogram, Barium Enema, Blood tests he/she can order if necessary.
Hopefully you will feel much better within weeks of keeping to advice & routine.
IBS is hard to diagnose, my daughter has been to countless doctors since she was 5, she 31 now. Still going to doctors for her stomach. They've called it IBS and many other things. She goes to the ER a few times a year because of the pain which she also gets in her back. I feel Bad for her, she keeps on pushing through.
IBS is an umbrella term not really a diagnosis.
If things don't improve with a high fibre diet, exercise, drinking water & healthy life style then I would have thought a diagnosis should be sought - investigations via a Colorectal Specialist and Gastroenterologist.
Coeliac Disease should be eliminated. Gluten should be eaten before the test. Barium Swallow is another investigation. Barium Enema, Defecating Proctogram.
linwoodshealthfoods.com/uk/...
I've heard flax seed is good too.
When I have a big ibs I explain it like coming down with the flu in an instant. The aches, hot sweats, cold shivers then I'm totally zapped of energy. Try the fod map diet, it's hard work but made a big difference. I did 6 weeks of sticking to it then every few days added some on the no go list and see what effects I had.
Hope you feel better soon
Hi Mike,
Just to say during my anxiety I have suffered this weird dizzy, unbalanced, hot sweaty, feel like passing out feeling, when you get the feeling you need to empty your bowels. What used to be an every day ordinary bodily function, suddenly becomes a frightening experience. I've had all the tests etc, all clear which is great, but it didn't alter my symptoms. I also get the back ache and sometimes shooting wind pains up my back which sounds strange I know.
I think now because it has gone on so long it doesn't happen so much anymore. However I do worry a bit about going out and feeling like that.
With all the other symptoms I get, ringing ears, jaw, neck, shoulder, neck and back muscle tension, unbalanced feeling, nausea, jelly legs, weak arms.. You name it I seem to have had it and still do... I can only put the bowel issue and strange feelings that go with it can only be anxiety and I am doing this to myself...
As long as you have had some tests done, I would try not to worry and thus feeling will get less. The trouble is we experience it once and it scares us, so we expect it again, that round Robin "fear of the fear!"
I wish you well.
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