Could I be the cause of my stomach problems?

[Notonaschoolnight]

Suffered with mental health forever PMT depression and probably anxiety and it’s definitely got worse from 40-45 I hate doctors but I’m struggling to cope with it so I have an appointment booked for next week but I also wanted to discuss with GP that since I turned 40 5 years ago I started to get constipation which only eased during my period, then over the last few years I’ve found I can’t eat some food (usually more unhealthy type foods that I’d just want to have as a weekend treat) without my stomach inflating with trapped wind that made me feel awful and would take a few days to settle. Since last month I’m even worse and recently had heartburn after eating Chinese takeaway (haven’t had heartburn since being pregnant years ago) and the heartburn lasted 10 days

I get a lot of headaches too and last year I kept a diary for three months to work out what was causing them and I realised it was me, in the sense that my low mood caused me to worry and stress about things to such a degree that I’d get a headache and still do

Now that I know that my mental state can cause physical problems do you think it could be causing the stomach issues?

Have you considered that you may be peri-menopausal? It can cause all of the problems you're experiencing.

Personally I think they are related. I get stomach problems and depression. Low mood and stomach problems are both connected to inflammation. I'd try cutting back on sugar, yeast, alcohol and processed foods. You could try taking Loratidine when the heartburn comes on. And eat/drink anti inflammatory foods such a peppermint tea, turmeric, garlic and ginger.

In my experience there’s a strong correlation between stomach issues and those who “swallow their feelings”. So it could be that. But don’t rule out that it could be physical - and also that even if it’s linked to your mental health, it’s still physical pain/discomfort.

I took nexium control in the end for the heartburn obvs never had it before god it was magic

I am an emotional eater and I love my food but try so hard to eat healthily most of the time to just about be a healthy weight and so I can have the occasional indulgence
I hate that a rare pleasure in my life has been removed, as it’s not clear what ingredients are causing the problem so I feel like I’m playing Russian roulette

Yes I’ve deffo wondered about peri menopause but never got further than wondering if I pluck up the courage to go to the GP it’ll be the first time in over 5 years

Woodcutbirds

Just reading what inflammatory foods are and yes I’d agree that it’s those types of foods that cause the problems

Depression can be linked to gut inflammation too. Not sure how but there have been studies about it.