Ibs anxiety and fatigue

Does anyone get really anxious before an ibs attack happens? Mines usually hits in the mornings and I’ll wake up feeling so nervous for no reason and then my stomach just goes, also horrible fatigue during it as well?

[Linley]

To me anxiety is part of me and my IBS especially if I am going out for the day. I try to prepare myself with tabs and I take my emergency kit with me.

[Meadow123]

Yes that’s me too been awake since 2am scared and then gurgling starts and I feel I need to open my bowels but don’t. I have just read an interesting report on anxiety based gastrointestinal pain and it’s me to a T they say a Psycologist is best to help but it’s really hard to find one. I am going to ask my GP on Monday. I was doing ok then got bad constipation which gave me pain which makes me stop eating. I am on anti depressants just started Citalopram as Matazapine was making me so drowsy but don’t think they have kicked in yet. I feel so down.

[edwangy in reply to Meadow123]

Your anti depressants could be causing the constipation

[eliz45 in reply to Meadow123]

Hi I just read a review of an app called Nerva and it is supposed to help with IBS. It is stress relief using breathing etc. A psychologist is one of the staff members. And you can try it out for free. I am in America and it lists a lot of endorsements from places like the New York Times etc. You need to dedicate 20 minute of your day to make it effective. It was tested and supposed to work as well as the FODMAP diet. Actually Monash Univ is one of the endorsers. I used to have IBS but it turned out to be celiac and now microscopic colitis, but I wondered if it would work for me just because stress is stress. I am assuming the ap is available everywhere. Good luck.

[Fergie53 in reply to Meadow123]

Hi, yes this is what I get when stressed, I wake up with gurgling tum and stomach pain an have to get to the toilet an then feel wiped out for most of the day, it’s definitely anxiety but I’m not sure which medication may help?

[Hidden in reply to Fergie53]

I was on citalopram because of 2 existence but stayed on them *reduced a bit" because it helps me being less anxious hence less ibs bouts. When I have them now it's due to some sort of food which I shdnt have had. X

[Reindeer1]

Hi I wake up and immediately start worrying about the day ahead especially if I am going out somewhere. The pain continues until I go to the loo hopefully. If I don’t go I am stressed for the rest of the day. You are not alone is the only consolation I can give you.

[Mkimber]

My take on this may be unconventional but I believe my nervous system gets the information from my colon etc BEFORE my stomach gets sick. I can be perfectly happy and calm then the anxiety hits very suddenly as a warning I am about to get sick. I have found it is reverse than what conventional wisdom says.

[JohnS63]

I too get IBS symptoms at night which then, like others, continues into the next day. I've tried things like peppermint capsules, wind settlers and buscopan but not sure if they help in anyway as there is no quick fix and things just seem to settle of their own accord. I do think wheat is also a big contributor and try to avoid. As others have probably said on here many times, I too find a hot water bottle will relieve the stomach pain but this is just treating the symptoms of course.

Hope this helps.

I think there is a correlation between the amount of moving and walking I've done and whether the anxiety will cause IBS or vice versa. If I've been active and done about 6,000+ steps, things are generally ok. Is this helping with the anxiety or the onset of IBS though... that I'm not sure?

I had a very stressful day yesterday, didn't move much and now things are getting bad... again.

If you do find any thing that does help, would be good if you could share here.