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Original poster

Ibs sufferers. Have you ever had a flare up because of severe emotional stress?

29 replies

3bundlesofjoy · 06/08/2023 13:02

Just went through a really horrific bout of stress and was very emotional. Had 2 panic attacks (hyperventilating) and went to a&e for checkups as heart rate was through the roof. The stressful period lasted for 2 days. I have previously been diagnosed with anxiety, so really struggle when in a stressful situation.
All those symptoms have settled now, but on the day the stress started, my bowels started growling and I felt like I was bloating up with water in my intestines, that night I had horrendous cramps and diarrhoea. Cut a long story short, I am now on day 4 of diarrhoea. I have Ibs, but my symptoms are not this bad. Usually I am constipated for a few days followed by a bout of diarrhoea and then the cycle repeats. Currently I’ve just got non stop diarrhoea. The minute I eat something the rumbling and cramps start.
if you suffer with Ibs can you confirm that the extreme stress and emotional distress can be a trigger sometimes? Also any advice how to reduce the loo trips?

OP posts:
calmcoco · 06/08/2023 16:22

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/ NHS links it to stress.

Original poster
3bundlesofjoy · 06/08/2023 17:41

StrawberriesAreMyFavourite · 06/08/2023 16:21

I'm the same OP, my stress and ibs are directly linked and I've also been diagnosed with anxiety a 5 years ago. I went through a very traumatic experience in 2012 (I was diagnosed with ptsd ) and that is when my ibs began, though I had it under control using buscopan until I had my dc, after that it was uncontrollable (I wouldn't take any buscopan while breastfeeding and when I stopped bf and started buscopan again it didn't work anymore).
Over the years I saw various Dr's, had tests such as coeliac etc which came back normal but it got to the point I was panicking the minute I put my shoes on to leave the house. The first Dr I saw said it was normal to be incontinent for a year after birth and agreed that I shouldn't take any medication while bf and suggested just not eating or drinking anything while out, which was exhausting and unsustainable long term. There was one time where I almost had an accident on the busiest street in the city, I just made it to a supermarket toilet with seconds to spare, that kicked my panic in to overdrive.
When I went back to work I was constantly on edge, always panicking that I needed the toilet and rushing to the toilet just in case and it was my manager that recognised I had anxiety (his wife was the same) and when I went to a new GP she was so understanding and couldn't believe I'd been living with so much stress for so long, it had become my normal. She prescribed propranolol (beta blocker) and that was incredible, I still take now if I feel I'm starting to panic. Another GP when reading my notes described my condition as "trauma related ibs".
I also took antidepressants for a year and had cbt therapy about 5 years ago now. The therapist was lovely and she said that when I was panicking my body was going in to fight or flight mode, and in flight mode my body was trying to make itself lighter to flee faster hence the urgent need for the toilet. She also said I should do something nice for myself so I bought a bike (I cycled a lot before dc) and cycled to work, it was amazing for me as I used to have panic attacks on the train every day. I would cycle no matter the weather and got really fit and I'd cut out that first triggers, the busy train, the queue to get out the station, having to pay to use the station loo every morning (even when I didn't actually need it). I told myself if I needed to abandon the bike and run for the toilet that would be fine but as soon as i was on the bike the need for the toilet stopped, so I do think for me, it was the mental stress leading to the physical symptoms. She helped me recognise it was anxiety that was ruling my life and my ibs was a symptom of that. I now wfh but try to go to the gym a few times a week and I really notice when I don't go.
I know now that this is how I react to stress so beta blockers are in my bag just incase. I also always carry imodium instants, I was given a leaflet years ago from one of the GP's, which recommend taking imodium short term for ibs flare ups if needed though this was 5 years ago so I'm not sure if that is current advice.
Are you getting help with your anxiety?
Also could you speak to your GP practice and ask for a GP with knowledge of ibs and anxiety and I'd also recommended the cbt, I felt it made a difference at the time (I'm not a medical professional obviously).
Do you have support from friends and family just now?
I hope you get the help you need soon OP, I know how debilitating it can be.

After reading your post I’ve come to fully realise that I need to work on getting the anxiety controlled. It’s the root of all my problems at the moment. I can’t take propanolol. I’ve read so many great reviews about it in other forums. Really helps with the panic attacks. Unfortunately it triggers my asthma. I have searched online for antidepressants, but there’s so many I have no idea where to begin. In the past (10+ years ago) I have gone to my gp and tried to get help for the anxiety. My gp at the time gave me an antidepressant, but it gave me symptoms which made it difficult to function with 2 DC under 3 and full time work, so I just gave up.

OP posts:
StrawberriesAreMyFavourite · 06/08/2023 22:19

@3bundlesofjoy I'm sorry it was such a long post! I feel like I was lucky to find a GP who eventually understood and listened but I think not addressing it sooner meant things got worse than they should, it was no way to live but it did get better with the right help. Hopefully your practice will have a GP who specialises in anxiety and you get the right treatment soon, especially some therapy if they can offer it. There is other medication for ibs, including buscopan and peppermint capsules to help with symptoms if you don't use any now it is definitely worth speaking to your GP and see what they recommend.

I was given this website as a print out from the GP www.bda.uk.com/resource/irritable-bowel-syndrome-diet.html
and she wrote this down on the back www.theibsnetwork.org/ and it is listed in the further resources on the first website.

I was also given these websites by another therapist (not the cbt therapist) a few years ago and I found them helpful too www.getselfhelp.co.uk/relax.htm and thepleasantmind.com/54321-technique/

I still do the 54321 actually!
Hope you feel better soon OP.

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Fluffyhoglets · 06/08/2023 22:24

Immodium is a life saver for me.
It stops your guts moving for a while and stops the painful cramps.

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