Six years ago I was diagnosed with IBS after enduring a colonoscopy and experiencing a bout of haemorrhoids for the first time.
A few months after diagnosis I experienced my first pain in the chest and like most people think, I thought I was having a 'heart attack'. Having lived with my brain for 56 years, I know that it likes to 'catastrophize' most new things that I experience and experiencing the pain for the first time was no different.
Also at the time I was alone and even after a few days I didn't tell anyone and that was then I also started to feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety*. (please note:
My brain
As I have already mentioned my brain likes catastrophizing but if I have a problem like experiencing chest pain – it will also wants to know the answer to the problem. Or should I say, it wants to have the answer that I happy with, which, as we all know, might not be the right answer! Until I find the answer I know I will experience anxiety.
How I manage (breathing and mindfulness)
I continue to experience chest pain or as I prefer to call it 'muscle tension in the chest' from time to time. By reframing the 'chest pain' into 'muscle tension' to me it sounds less alarming. Whenever I experience the muscle tension in my chest, firstly I start by listening to my body and acknowledging that it is only tension and that I would trust my instinct if it was something else. I also accept** that I cannot control the uncomfortable sensation I am experiencing.
Obviously having experienced the tension before I am no longer as anxious or worried. Simply by 'leaning in' or focussing on the tension and using a breathing exercise and mindfulness I soon become calm with the knowledge that the tension will pass.
Always here if you ever want to chat about how to manage your IBS symptoms from someone who has IBS. Take care x
* I will discuss the topic of Anxiety another time, as it is something I experience a lot and would like to share with you how I manage.
** I will discuss the topic of Acceptance another time as I know it will help you manage your IBS.
Written by
MountainHare1
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Oh my gosh! Sometimes I am wakened up in the night with THE most excruciating chest pain imaginable. It feels like I am being run through with a hot sword. I am not kidding.
It's not even reflux which would be bad enough. It's different.
I lie there, not even properly awake and compute in my brain that this has happened so many times before and I survived, with a general decent resting heart rate, for years now. What did I do yesterday? Did I carry heavy logs? Probably. I do stuff most days. Am I generally a bit tense about something? Likely.
Then I just fall asleep again resting in that, and knowing that if I happen to be wrong, then it's not such a bad way to go, and maybe I'll meet my husband and my dog again. I just say a few words to Jesus and go back to sleep.
Guess what? I always wake up in the morning, and get on with another day. And of course the old toilet troubles frequently in the morning.
But if you are worried do go and get your heart checked with your GP at least, initially. I did.
I do have the other symptoms you mentioned. Anxiety is a big one for me . The constant battle of will I go to the toilet, I have IBS ( D) and its been a very bad last few months . I take all the necessary meds , yet I feel its taking over my life. When I go out , no matter what I eat its just this constant pain . I had a awful time when I went away for a couple of days , it kinda ruined my mini break .
I am so sorry to hear about your situation and although I do have IBS, I am not familiar with IBS (D). I will be discussing Anxiety in a post soon which I hope will help to manage your symptoms. Perhaps follow my page, as I will be sharing my experiences over the coming months and I am 100% confident that there will be some useful information that will help you. You are not alone. Take care x
I could have written that post word for word! Like I said my ibs journey has been condensed into last 2 years more so last 12 months, yes had the chest pains ended up in A&E got the all clear ( when I eventually worked out my own brain was doing this to my body I was totally embarrassed and confused) I went for hypnotherapy which really worked for me , and now use the DARE techniques, books podcast and app they have been a game changer, very hard work but worth it in long run
So interesting to hear other people’s experiences thanks!
I completely understand where you are coming from regarding how the brain affects our body and the sensations and symptoms we experience with IBS. I also positive that the DARE techniques will help with the anxiety that I think a lot of people experience with the IBS.
Hi. I have similar symptoms. As well as a colonoscopy I had a gastroscopy as well and was found to have a hiatus hernia. This explained the chest pains I was getting. As well as being anxiety it is also partly down to silent acid reflux. I do manage this better now I know what it is. (Diet, exercise and other small life style changes).
Hi. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. Knowing that you have IBS certainly helps to manage the conditions along with the right healthy diet and exercise goes along way to making IBS more manageable. Take care.
Hi, thank you for sharing that. One of the hardest things to deal with is the catastrophizing that goes on in one's brain, when anything that involves pain happens! The 'you're ok, we've been through this before' mantra does help enormously. I'll be interested to hear your further posts
Hi. Thank you so much for your feedback on my post. I really appreciate it. Perhaps you would care to 'follow me', as over the coming weeks I plan on writing a lot more posts on how I manage my IBS. Take care.
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