Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

My anxious tummy is making life so difficult

34 replies

Justrelax · 20/05/2024 00:30

I have basically lifelong anxiety. It's been much worse in the past and I've had a few courses of CBT and have been on betablockers for quite a while. What I've learned in CBT, combined with the betablockers, keep things pretty under control in many ways. I hold down quite a high level professional job, manage a team and manage my household and children. It's not perfect but I do fine and do enjoy my life. But the one thing I'm really struggling to get a handle on is my stomach. Whenever I'm stressed I get stomach cramps and end up on the loo quite a lot (been diagnosed with IBS, undoubtedly anxiety related). I get stressed even doing things I'm excited about like seeing friends etc and the tummy problems ruin it. I often end up not eating before events to try to control it. I'm petrified of going to someone's house and then ending up running to the loo (when I have to go I have to go!) I'm going on holiday in three weeks and though I'm excited, the idea of how the stress of travelling will impact my tummy is ruining it for me - thinking about whether I can get to the loo on the plane, what if there's a queue, what if I can't find a loo when we're walking around the city, dreading that we're going to a friend's for dinner there and I'll have to eat and then probably need to run to the loo and so on.

Does anyone have any really great tips for dealing with this please? I always carry immodium but I also have an unrelated condition that means I need to avoid constipation. I drink peppermint tea when I can but I'm not convinced it makes any difference.

Please no detailed talk of bowel movements on this thread. I'm not the poo troll and don't want to attract any weirdos to this thread. I'm just looking for tips related to anxiety and stomach problems and how other people manage to live life if their tummy can go crazy at any moment as it's getting me down.

OP posts:
Applecrumble24 · 20/05/2024 22:50

I’m exactly the same and I’ve recently started on low dose amitriptyline (10mg) at night. It’s recently been recognised as effective for IBS d .
I can honestly say, it’s been game changing.
Situations that would normally set me off, don’t anymore, I can’t remember the last time I took Imodium .
Now obviously, I still have IBS and I haven’t been on a plane since starting the amitriptyline but I’m feeling really confident that the whole process will be much less stressful and triggering.

Original poster
Justrelax · 20/05/2024 22:52

DontBiteTheCat · 20/05/2024 22:30

I think, if you’re sure it’s anxiety related, that you really need to treat that first.

Are you still having therapy? Beta blockers are great in that they stop the physical symptoms of anxiety but they don’t do anything to tackle the root cause. Sorry if I’m off the mark, but if it really is the anxiety causing the problem then that’s what you need to treat. Are you open to anti-anxiety medication? It might be worth talking to your GP again.

Yes I'm actually in another course of therapy right now though a lot of it is very familiar as I've done quite a bit. I think if it doesn't improve things significantly I should consider going on anti depressants.

I'm really scared of anti depressants but I'm starting to wonder if life could just be easier if I tried them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Justrelax · 20/05/2024 23:00

NoNameisGoodEnough · 20/05/2024 22:24

My IBS was hideous and mostly anxiety related (although I do have a few trigger foods). Often I would know I was anxious about something because my stomach would be off before my brain had actually realised I was anxious. Anyway, I lived with anxiety for 30 odd years and now take citalopram. It has been transformational and one of those things is that my IBS is now all but gone. I know anti depressants aren't for everyone but in my case they were life changing. I used to be knocking back the immodium but I honestly can't remember the last time I needed to take one. (Like a PP said, I would only take one at a time which seemed to slow things down enough but didn't completely bung me up)

Thank you for this. I'm so tempted to go and ask for an anti depressant. Do you mind me asking what dose you take?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
Justrelax · 20/05/2024 23:01

mindutopia · 20/05/2024 11:49

Have your digestive issues actually been investigated? Besides a GP just saying, must be IBS. I have an issue with my pancreas that causes exactly this. Now that it's diagnosed and being treated, it does make it easier to manage.

That being said, it sounds wanky, but one thing that has made a huge difference is cold water therapy. If I have a flare, or I anticipate that I will, I make sure I go for a dip in cold water at least once a day (easier because I have access to a river nearby, but people do get those cold water baths for home), and it makes a tremendous difference in my symptoms.

Thank you! I do go through phases of cold showers which I think might help a bit? I have had investigations. I had my gallbladder out eight years ago which I think may contribute to my rubbish digestion (but better out than in in my case - it was horrific pain and filled with stones).

OP posts:
Original poster
Justrelax · 20/05/2024 23:03

EmpressSoleil · 20/05/2024 13:07

One thing I would advise, although not designed for this purpose, is some decent period pants. The ones where the "padding" goes all the way up the back (they don't all have that). I wear those when doing things like travelling as the security of knowing that they'd mostly "hide" any accident until I could deal with it, helps to lessen my anxiety which then makes me less likely to have an issue.

I did try various incontinence products but they all felt too much like nappies! But the period pants are comfortable and no one can tell you're wearing them.

That's a good idea, thank you. I have worn period pants in situations where I'm worried about needing a wee before (lengthy dental treatments etc) and it definitely helps the anxiety. Truth be told I've never had any kind of accident but I have such a terrible fear of having one.

OP posts:
Original poster
Justrelax · 20/05/2024 23:05

ouch44 · 20/05/2024 20:31

DD was having bowel issues and diagnosed by GP as anxiety induced IBS. Was having bloating and pain most days and usually late for school as she was on the toilet. 15 so too young for meds and doing exams.

We did several things so hard to know which has actually worked. It's definitely stress though because once her Art GCSE was done she was so much better.
Peppermint tablets
Psyllium husks in pancakes in the evening to firm up stool.
NSDR (non-sleep deep rest) YouTube
Cut out onion and garlic and reduced very high-FODMap foods.
She also had some YouTube videos for gut-directed hypnotherapy (shout if you want me to find links)
Kefir daily. She's stopped that now because she's not keen.
Exercise! She plays for a team so gets regular exercise bit if it's not on she'll run on the treadmill for 10 mins.

This advice came from The Gut Doctor and the Huberman Lab podcast.

Thank you so so much for all this great advice. I'm really grateful. I'm so glad your DD has found things that help and is feeling better. Exams are just awful for those with anxiety. It doesn't seem fair!

OP posts:
Spaghettihoops1 · 20/05/2024 23:06

Fellow anxious IBS sufferer here! It's horrible, and mine gets so much worse if my anxiety is sky high.

A therapist once explained that when you go into fight or flight mode the first thing your body does is shut down unnecessary things to save energy and one of those is digestion. Hence why it clears itself out quickly. I remind myself of this as much as I can to try and stop it happening. You have my sympathies, it's literally shit.

ouch44 · 20/05/2024 23:52

No problem @Justrelax I should have added its psyllium husk powder we got.

If you are in the North West Professor Whorwell is the IBS specialist who developed gut-directed hypnotherapy. He has private and NHS practice. We were getting desparate as we were worried DD wasn’t going to be able to cope with her exams but luckily didn’t need to get in contact.

I really hope you find something which helps.

NoNameisGoodEnough · 21/05/2024 05:57

Justrelax · 20/05/2024 23:00

Thank you for this. I'm so tempted to go and ask for an anti depressant. Do you mind me asking what dose you take?

Show quote history

I take 20mg of citalopram. I have now been on it 5 years and I have no plans to stop.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page