Nervous Stomach

[CeeBee123]

From as long as I can remember, whenever I’m nervous about something, or excited about something (like going on holiday), I get a sick feeling overcome me and butterflies in my stomach.

I always just thought it was one of my quirks but I’ve recently read that this is a symptom of anxiety. Does anybody else get anything similar?

I’m not sure if it’s linked to my IBS or if it’s anxiety, or just “one of those things”?

[Hidden]

Been living with that all my life. Yes anxiety. Mine didn't cause the IBS I have but is surely contributes to it in a big way now. Years of pills and potions have done nothing to help, just made my stomach react to every medication prescribed. Ultimately it is a case of self management and control, but even this doesn't stop it, it just helps me get through the bad times as best I can.

[Linley]

Can relate to this right up to leaving school, in my opinion this is anxiety and my body overreacting. Had a good fews years of being fine so thought I had grown out of it. Then one day I was in the stockroom up a ladder and suddenly felt as it there was a hamster running around my gut, that was the start of my long journey to IBS

[Tess359]

I have had the same thing since I was a child and I remember never being able to eat when we went away on holiday because of the anxiety. I've suffered from IBS since the age of 4 and it has blighted my life. Recently I started both the low fodmap and low histamine diets and I have found that I now only get the butterflies when I have eaten something I shouldn't. I am beginning to think that the root cause of the anxiety and the IBS, for me anyway, has been an oversensitivity to histamine because an excess of histamine in the body provokes the release of adrenaline which in turn causes the butterflies. I also take a Quercetin supplement and have Moringa tea twice a day. My IBS is greatly improved, I don't get anxiety any more (except for dietary slip ups) and my mind set is less negative. I have never experienced my body feeling totally relaxed before and it is sublime, but I wonder whether I will ever be able to eat a diverse diet again because the low fodmap combined with low histamine diet is very difficult to achieve without eliminating a large number of foods.

[Kitkat28]

Hi

Yes it sounds like you are anxious, which for me, is often the cause of an ibs flare up which can last months. Stress is another big factor which can cause a toxic reaction in my gut. I think as well as trying medication to help the ibs symptoms it may be worth tackling the root cause, considering how the feelings of anxiety can be reduced to try and help the physical symptoms of ibs. If you are constantly anxious and think it may be an anxiety disorder you should speak with your gp. If your anxiety comes and goes and is not a disorder as such (as everyone feels anxious at times), maybe try mindfulness to live in the moment and not dwell on the past or worry about the future. There are plenty of YouTube videos on this and I find it really helpful. Exercise to release good mood endorphins usually helps my mind and body in addition.

Good luck

[marshamclean]

My mother same problem. Diagnosed with anxiety. Given anti anxiety meds. Hasn’t helped. Maybe a different med needed