Panic Attack

[Allot]

After experiencing two horrifying accidents whilst on holiday I’m worried about leaving the house! My Gp has prescribed anti depressants which I have taken for a week.Yesterday went on a coach trip which was booked ages ago - took Imodium before leaving - half hour into journey experienced a full on panic attack and had to ask driver to stop - extremely embarrassing!! Has anyone had this and any tips to avoid another - I’m supposed to be travelling to meet friends in a week and I’m already stressing about IBS D and now a panic attack.

[ThisIsMe87]

What has he prescribed you? I’ve tried a few things. I find Enterosgel really helps my flare ups and gives me the confidence to leave the house.

Sertraline has also helped me with the mental side. I also read up on panicking about panic. So I realised I was panicking about having a panic attack because I hated the feeling. So I basically had to unpick that a bit. It’s a nightmare though, I feel for you!

[Allot in reply to ThisIsMe87]

I’m taking Citalopram on my 2nd week so hopefully they have t kicked yet!

I have Enterosgel but haven’t used it yet do you take it every day?

I just feel totally out of control with the IBs and now feel like I’m losing my mind!

Thanks for your reply

[Catty1234 in reply to Allot]

I’m sure citilopram is usually prescribed for those with ibs c . Ask your gp to change it to another one , take care x

[Allot in reply to Catty1234]

oh ok I’ll query it with the gp thanks

[ThisIsMe87 in reply to Allot]

Ah okay. Citalopram didn’t really help with my anxiety but Sertraline did. We’re all different though! With Enterosgel you can take it regularly or as and when you need it. I tend to take a double dose in the morning if my stomach is bad and that usually gets me through the day. Then I’ll see how I am the next day and take it from there. I like to take it before I leave the house if I’m nervous too or if I have a long car journey too for peace of mind!

[Allot in reply to ThisIsMe87]

I’ll give it a go thanks very much

[ThisIsMe87]

Good luck!

[mistyboo]

Citalopram is an anti depressant, so it shouldn't matter if you have IBS C or D should it?

The NHS website states " taking citalopram for panic attacks can sometimes make anxiety worse during the first few weeks of treatment. But this usually wears off after a few weeks."

I would suggest going back to the GP, perhaps it doesn't suit you

GL

[Catty1234 in reply to mistyboo]

hi mistyboo I thought that too but the trycyclic antidepressants TCAs more beneficial for the D and the SSRI s such as setraline , citilopram etc better for the C . So that’s why amitriptyline which is a TCA can cause constipation in some users . Always a good idea to do research on these , it’s a minefield 😩x

[mistyboo in reply to Catty1234]

I'm not an expert or a GP. Best to get advise from your doctor

[Claire44]

I take Entersolgel too, its amazing and isn't a medication. Ive also had a 3 month course of hypnotherapy which was excellent and has helped retrain my thought pattern. Good luck xx

[Sheltering in reply to Claire44]

How did you find a hypnotist specialising in gut related hypnotherapy? I’d really like to try it as it sounds like it could be better than CBT. I’ve also considered trying the NERVA app.

[Claire44 in reply to Sheltering]

I was lucky enough to get ot through the IBS Network. Helen, the Hypnotherapist was amazing, she changed my life.

[Allot in reply to Claire44]

Hi I’m also interested in finding a hypnotist any guidance would be appreciated Thanks

[Edgar77]

I was prescribed sertraline. After 4 days i felt awful. It made my pupils dilate and I read it is a sign of brain damage and I should stop immediately. Now a different Dr wantse to try again. In order to perscribe it she removed the red flag left on my notes by the previous Dr. I don't know what to think? and will have to see yet a other Dr on top of that my heart has become very irregular.

[Luisa22 in reply to Edgar77]

That doesn't sound right at all! Unethical. I feel your doctor shouldn't have done that when you reported worrying side effect.

[Allot]

how awful - I wouldn’t take it again - why can’t he give you an alternative?

[Gemmd]

Hi, sorry to hear what you’ve been dealing with. My doctor prescribed me propranolol for my panic attacks (which I have for similar reasons to you). They are a beater blocker so completely stop any physical effects like the racing heart, I find they help well. Hope you can find something to help you.

[Allot in reply to Gemmd]

thanks for the reply - I’ll see what my GP says - I have a follow up telephone call from her at the end of the month to see how the antidepressants are working. I’m already panicking about an up and coming trip !! I don’t seem to be able to turn off the anxiety

[Luisa22]

I can't help thinking your anxiety is a natural reaction to those two accidents. There's an element of PTSD in that. I don't generally suffer from anxiety, but even the bad flare ups give me anxiety, and I'm at home in a safe place and don't have any pressures on me to go places.

I felt anxiety getting to me in the days after the flare up, even when I was just doing the same thing at the same time of day that I was doing when I had an IBS meltdown. I honestly think there is some level of PTSD involved for all of us, and even worse when someone has accidents.

I know that when my gut acts normal, and has done for at least a few days, I notice I am not anxious at all. So if there was something you could do or take to slow down your gut, make bms a bit more normal that would give you confidence. I don't know much about drugs used as I have never used any so can't advise. But I am sure others will know things that help.

I just use herbs and homeopathy. They have helped but not cured me.

[Allot in reply to Luisa22]

hi I think the same regarding the ‘accidents’ but don’t know how to overcome it - I have taken Imodium but I still get the stomach pain which makes me anxious- I’m hoping the antidepressants start to work soon. I have brought Valarian root but the leaflet says not to take with antidepressants! I don’t feel I’m control of anything my brain/body is doing. Thank you for your concern it’s lovely that so many people have responded

[Luisa22]

I wonder if something like co codamol might help? I am not saying 'take it' because that's up to your judgement, but it might help the pain plus slow things gut-wise. But best check that with your doctor especially as you are on medication. But...it contains codeine which might be addictive if taken for too long.

have you tried something like Enterosgel? I found Tormentil tincture ( a herbal astringent) can help my gut and help to 'bind' it ever so slightly when I get a D flare up, but I have to take the max. dose. Not sure if that's ok with pharmaceuticals like the antidepressants though. I don't know much about antidepressants.

I tried silicol gel once when I had a bad flare in March and not sure if I gave it a fair trial because it was like taking a spoonful of snot with gritty bits in it! I had to have a spoonful of honey straight away or it was going to make me gag.

[Allot in reply to Luisa22]

hi I have a tube of Entersogel but not tried it yet - will give it a go - silicogel sounds disgusting 😂 I am at my wits end with this D - out of the blue last night it just started again - no warning and no change in what I eat. Am supposed to be travelling to London next weekend have train tickets etc but my anxiety is so bad I don’t think I can go - my poor husband - it ruins everything. If I take Imodium it makes me want to urinate all the time - it’s a no win situation. It’s not a life I want to live. Thanks for all your help and suggestions it’s very kind of you x

[ThisIsMe87 in reply to Allot]

I wouldn't use Silicogel. I read a while ago that the person who carried out their trials was really dodgy and signed off on loads of stuff without any proper research or evidence 🤪 So annoying when you don't know who to trust. Enterosgel did a study on people with IBS-D recently though so I think they're way more trustworthy🤞

[Luisa22]

I can certainly understand the anxiety attached to your situation. It is so hard when you don't know what's going to happen to your gut. You have to look after yourself fist and foremost when it's this bad. It can't be helped. I hope things calm down a bit for you. Hugs x