Ibs and anxiety, a vicious circle. Advice please!

[RockLover]

I am completely fed up with my stupid stomach and fecking anxiety, it really is soul destroying.

I gave birth to my DS 8 weeks ago after a horrid pregnancy with severe nausea for 9 months (I am emetophobic), plus ibs problems all the way through. Now, since the birth my ibs (I get the diarrhoea type) has been dreadful and I feel ill at least 3 days a week, sometimes more and as a knock on effect my anxiety ramps up because I feel sick. And when my anxiety ramps up, I feel even sicker and my tummy troubles get worse.

I was on Citalopram for about 6 months a few years ago as I had severe anxiety and could barely function, but the meds "cured" me and things went back to normal. Then I moved 200 miles away from my family with my newish DP and fell pregnant and cue ibs and nausea hell.

I am so fed up as I am becoming mildly agoraphobic due to feeling so unwell most of the time, I can barely tell what is the anxiety and what is the ibs. I am going to go back to the dr, but what the hell can they do for me? I don't really want to go back on ADs, but realise I will probably need to.

I feel such a failure that I am struggling so much. Has anyone else suffered with this? How did you deal with it? I would really appreciate any advice you ladies could offer. Thanks.

Stress and anxiety do funny things to your bowels Rocklover, ive suffered from IBS for about 6 years since i had gastric flu and can tell you for 100% sure that anxiety causes IBS to play up, i know this because ive had a bit of a crisis myself this morning which has resulted in feeling sick and diarrhea.
When im not stressed and anxious my IBS causes constipation but as soon as i get anxious ( which today was in abundance ) i get the runs.

Thanks Bitter, that's pretty much my situation. Ibs gone into overdrive after giving birth 2 months ago, which then increases my anxiety, which then makes my ibs worse.

I would like to wake up and feel great each day instead of with tummy pains and nausea. I have made a dr's appt for a few weeks time, but have to take DD and baby DS up to see my parents next week, I am absolutely terrified because the anxiety is really getting bad now. The thought of driving nearly 200 miles, most of which is on the M5 with 2 kids and feeling hideously sick does not fill me with joy!