IBS-D and Anxiety

[Jess-Storey]

Hiya all,

I'll try and keep it short and sweet. I was diagnosed with IBD (proctitis) 2 and a bit years ago after a year of suffering from horrid symptoms. I was in school at the time of my flare and would have to go to the toilet up to 26 times a day which as you can imagine caused a lot of anxiety and I got to the point where I did not leave the house. I was so scared of having to deal with the symptoms whilst out and about. I created my own way of coping as doctors were no good so I began emptying myself out with caffeine as I am highly sensitive to caffeine and then I would eat a really small meal before any event that made me anxious.

I have been in remission from the IBD for a while now yet some symptoms still remain. My consultant believes it is IBS and requested that I be put on to a low formal diet. However my issue is that the main symptoms only really seem to strike when I am anxious (which is a lot of the time). If I have eaten something I am in constant fear that I will have loud gas, soil myself or have to go to the loo numerous times. Its a vicious cycle. I feel like I have tried everything yoga, meditating, counselling etc. I miss out on so much stuff due to it and I am at the point where I am sick of it. I am 18 and I can not do normal things girls do at my age. Is it daft of me to ever think that I can live some what of a normal life?

[clover1122]

I can really relate to your post and have similar symptoms. I am on anti anxiety medication and I have tried the low-fodmap diet which really helped for about 8 blissful months but then my symptoms returned.

Have you tried taking imodium or anything similar the night before you know you have an event that will make you anxious?

[Jess-Storey in reply to clover1122]

I am currently taking propanol for my anxiety just as and when I feel I need it but it doesn't seem to help when it comes to the anxiety of needing the loo. To be honest I have never heard of Imodium but I will definitely look it up! Thank you.

[Chr5000]

I have never written on here before but growing up I had exactly the same experience. I almost lost jobs because of it. There are two things that have got me back on track. Firstly, Imodium has saved my life on multiple occasions (or at least allowed me to live a fairly normal life) - but don’t go crazy with it and buy the cheaper generic kind. I work in a job that requires me to do important presentations for Directors and attend important meetings- I am also a nervous person (or I was) - the thing that has helped me with this is reading books about stoicism. It’s a very misunderstood word- it doesn’t mean denying emotion and it is the basis for most CBT around these days, but it is cleaner more sensible and to the point. Considering a lot of it is 2000-2500 years old, it is extremely modern and puts everyday occurrences into perspective. Read Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus (he is slightly more pointed). I can say that these two things have got me to a point where I am happy - which is really the goal.

[Jess-Storey in reply to Chr5000]

I do my college work from home because as soon as I get in to college I spend the majority of the time on the loo

Definitely going to look into Imodium as other people have mentioned it too. Stoicism is a new one but I am definitely willing to give them a read even if helps put the smallest things into perspective!

[Chr5000 in reply to Jess-Storey]

I started with Marcus Aurelius, then just read everything I could find! I am calmer but it is an on going process. I take Imodium/ loperamide most days (it is a bit of a crutch, definitely works though) , more if I have a meeting or presentation-but as I say too much and it will give you headache so it is worth being a bit careful and doing what works for you. I honestly thought that I’d never leave my childhood bedroom at points in my teens - it has been a struggle, but I have a great job and it gets easier. I haven’t cured it but I wish I had read these books when I was younger- I would have been less scared and more ready to take on the world. I’d recommend the fodmap diet as well for what it’s worth. I find it’s a catch 22 & 50/50 of diet + anxiety causing problems- I just try and attack both issues! Good luck and I hope it gives some relief!

[Jess-Storey in reply to Chr5000]

Thank you!

[Jackiejordan]

Sorry to hear of your issues - please ask your doctor to test for bile acid malabortion - look this up its a very unrecognised test and so many people with ibs d have this. I am now on 2 doses of colesevelam for eternity and has helped very much . Before my diagnosis I used silico gel - this also helped . Hope you get the correct help very soon

[Jess-Storey]

I've been pushing to get this test done but the consultant won't do the test until I have tried the low fodmap diet :s

I definitely feel like there is more too it than just IBS but maybes I am just a hypochondriac. Thank you for your help!

[sweetsusie]

Have your doctor prescribe any of these 3 meds for you: Welchol, Colestipol, and/or Questran. These are wonder drugs to stop diarrhea in its tracks. I don't know about your other symptoms, but I had chronic diarrhea for years and years and I now take 6 tablets of Colestipol per day....I now have my life back!

[Jess-Storey in reply to sweetsusie]

I've just had a look and I have been given loperamide but I find it gives me bad cramps and gas which I suppose it better than the diarrhoea but even that still fills me with anxiety

Was your diarrhoea related to when you felt anxious?

[sweetsusie in reply to Jess-Storey]

No..no anxiety...I don't know what ever caused it...all I know is that since getting on Colestipol, I no longer have diarrhea...miracle med. in my humble opinion.