Episodes/spells

[Nogodsnomasters]

Hi,

In general I have mild IBS managed with mebeverine when needed, mild reflux that I manage with over the counter stuff like gaviscon, general anxiety/health anxiety which I don't take medication for just manage with meditation and CBT techniques learned from therapy years ago and finally chronic tension headaches which I manage with over the counter painkillers and sporadic physio massages with a professional private physiotherapist. So that's the background.

Once or twice a month I will have what I call an episode or spell that can last anything from 2-8 days and it starts off with extreme exhaustion despite plenty of sleep - I go to bed early and wake around 6am on a regular schedule so I get at least 8-9.5hrs sleep a night - nothing lifts the tiredness, I am exhausted from I wake up til I go to bed yet struggle to nap if I even get the time to try during these spells. So anyway the exhaustion starts and I just know what's coming, the tension headache starts and lasts the entire period, then my IBS flares up and reflux at the same time and then I become extremely anxious and have to deal with those symptoms as well such as high heart rate, shakiness, sweaty etc. During these spells I try all my usual stuff but the painkillers don't touch these ones, the gaviscon doesn't seem to work or last long, the mebeverine stops the cramps but I'm still going to loo up 3-6 times each day during these spells etc.

Does anyone have a clue what this could be? I just about manage these ailments individually but when these episodes happen I am near on useless and really struggle to cope with kids/work/house etc.

GP knows about each individual issue but I've never described these episodes of everything coming on strongly at once as I feel what's the point I'm already taking the medication for each thing.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or empathy.

Anyone?

Hi Nogodsnomasters I occasionally get something like you but not so often. When it happens I put it down to ‘viral’ because I guess that’s what the GP would say. The anxiety doesn’t help and it becomes a vicious circle. As your GP already knows about your symptoms I would mention that occasionally they all present at the same time.

Hi Bohemia18 thank you very much for replying.

I don't think these are caused by anything viral/infection type stuff to be honest. I feel like it's some sort of "crash" in something that's triggering all my ailments at once, possibly hormonal or a deficiency because of the sheer exhaustion that comes with it, I just don't know what.

I've had thyroid tested, liver function tested, iron tested all within the last 12 months and GP gave me nothing.

Hi Nogodsnomastersgood that you tests have come back normal. I would ask the GP what could cause your symptoms all at once, if it bothers you. You are probably guessing right with the hormonal/deficiency trigger.

Sounds very much like abdominal migraines to me, OP.

Often accompanied by fatigue etc. More common in kids than adults but still.

Wow I never even thought of abdominal migraines, I must have a look online and see what the symptoms are like. My headaches have been diagnosed as chronic tension ones rather than migraines but still worth looking into.

Thank you for the replies, I'm really struggling to understand my own body. I don't drink alcohol, I exercise mildly but regularly (yoga, walking) however I do smoke but not heavily around 6 a day but I can't see this being a trigger for the spells.