Can health anxiety cause bowel problems? Worried.

[Hins]

I want to start this post by saying that I have seen my GP and she has referred me for an abdominal and transvaginal scan, she said the letter should come through in a couple of weeks. Till then I just need a space to release my worries. I have family but can’t talk to them because they think I’m always over catastrophising.

I’m 31 and have 2 young DC. I have been a worrier since I was a child and it’s always been about different things but since the birth of DC2 last year, I’ve started to experience periodic episodes of immense worry about health issues.

The problem is I can feel fine and all of a sudden start experiencing some symptoms and niggles which definitely are very real and then it just makes me think that’s it’s not health anxiety at all but an actual health problem.

Recently in the last 6 months or so I’ve experienced symptoms and been checked out for heart and chest issues, headaches and tingling in joints, floaters in eyes, skin cancers, etc. I had a blood test a few months ago which showed ESR level at 24 and low ferritin at 12. Been prescribed ferrous fumarate and have taken this previously during pregnancies without any side effects.

Now it’s the turn of my bowels and stomach. As with all the other occasions I have been feeling fine and getting on with life and from nowhere start feeling unwell. TMI warning:

• Last month it started off with feeling flutters and movements like when you’re 4/5 months pregnant. Been having regular periods and using condoms but took a hpt anyway and it was negative.
• 2 days before last period was due, I had spotting which lasted the full 2 days and I never have spotting.
• After period finished I have had constant bloating. Upper abdomen is swollen and tight. Lower abdomen feels heavy with occasional sharp stabbing pains.
• Bowel movements were normal (1x a day) until the last few days where I have been alternating between diarrhoea and constipation and this is what’s really scaring me tbh.
• So for the last 2 days I have had diarrhoea first thing in the morning and I don’t know if it’s because I’m nervous because as soon as I get up I start thinking about it all and start Googling stories about bowel cancer and ovarian cancer and that’s it, I feel sick to the pit of my stomach, get all clammy and sweaty and have to rush to the bathroom
• The days when I was constipated I was still able to pass stools but had to strain.
• Gurgling noises coming from stomach
• Excessive burping (but silent burps iykwim)
• Constant feeling of pressure in my lower abdomen and towards my bum, and I have to keep double checking whether I need to go the bathroom or not

I can’t stop googling, reading stories about people with no symptoms or no bleeding when passing stools who still ended up with cancer. This time it’s really affecting me because I constantly feel discomfort and occasional pain when I get the stabbing sensations.

My mum has had cysts on her ovaries which sort of then went away on their own, my dad has a stomach ulcer and my grandmother passed away from bowel related issues which terrifies me when I think about it all.

Every day I wake up nervous thinking what’s going to happen today? I don’t have any food allergies that I know of and it doesn’t matter what I seem to have eaten in the last 2 weeks, the bloating and pressure is still there.

I just don’t know what to do myself.

@Hins i can definitely relate to the feeling alone sometimes statement. Has your gp referred you to anyone regarding your stomach? I’m more than happy to ad you on Facebook and you can contact me anytime you need to speak to someone. Ill PM you my details if you want too but no pressure if not x

Very much so. It's we're the phrase "to shit oneself" (as in being fearful) literally comes from. There are lots of nerve cells in the gut.

@Myzone Thank you so much for your kindness and support that really means a lot. Yes please PM me that would be great!

I have had some blood tests last month and thank God everything was okay there and I thought it might have just been a bug but at the start of the new year it came back again so I’ve got the GP calling me on Thursday.

I have had health anxiety before about other things and at the time those things were definitely stressful but I have never had one that was extreme as this before.

I also struggle with HA I also have bowel problems exactly the same like you, to a T. Did the doctors suggest anything to you? Lots of love, noone deserves this torture ❤

My HA started in 2015 when my son was diagnosed with a terminal life limiting illness. His diagnosis destroyed me and ive been in a hole ever since. My health anxiety really took a turn for the worst in 2021....its a horribe way to live and I feel so guilty. I feel like the worst mum in the whole world.

@TuckItInYourHeart I am so sorry about your son’s diagnosis. I can’t even begin to imagine what you and your son are going through. Sorry if this sounds trite but I can assure you you are not the worst mother in the world. I am certain you are doing amazing things in what is one of the worst situations anyone can experience. 💐

My GP has recommended I start the Fodmap diet for some time and see how I go. He did not refer me onwards to a nutritionist/dietitian so I have ordered some books on the diet and just reading through them. I need to feel like I’ve got a good grasp of what it entails before commencing it.

The bowels are definitely affected by anxiety and stress. I have a couple of diagnosed bowel conditions but stress is almost always a trigger to flares.
From your symptoms though you could have some sort of pelvic floor issue, from poor muscle tone to prolapse or rectocele. I have this (along with crohn’s) and the anxiety about going to the toilet makes everything worse.

Hello everyone how are you all doing?

I’ve caught another cold off the kids which has led to blocked ears, ringing in ears and muffled hearing. Tried all the at home remedies and wasn’t getting any better. GP appointment today and apparently I have a pus filled boil in my left ear so another course of antibiotics for me. This is the 6th time in 5 years that I’m on antibiotics and I just feel like I’m literally ruining my insides… I’m not criticising the medication at all I am grateful to live in a part of the world where I have access to good healthcare but I just feel so down right now.

I feel like my body and my gut especially are in terrible condition and I have no one to blame but myself. I’m overweight, could literally eat my body weight in chocolate and don’t do much exercise at all.

Full of self loathing today feel like a fat, ugly, unhealthy, unattractive monster. Every night I have these grand ideas of how tomorrow I’m going to reset my life and all it falls to pot. I’m failing myself and my kids.

Oh lovely @Hins

That's no way to live. The modern processed diet makes a mockery of many of us who are sensitive to processed foods.

Have a read of the threads in the low carb boot camp area of MN. It's a very friendly and supportive environment with a lot of very knowledgable people. It's a great place to start positively to feel better about your food choices.

Hope you find what you need

@FinallyHere Your kind message made me tear up. Thank you. I’ve been a long time lurker of the weight loss board but as you can see haven’t put anything into practice. Think I need to make myself known and ask for some specific advice.

You are welcome anytime, lovely @Hins

hi @Hins I feel like my gut symptoms are getting worst and are now causing other health problems and also deficiencies in my vitamin level too.
I am still not on any antidepressants and this is definitely not helping my anxiety.

Have you seen the poo programme on Channel 4 metro.co.uk/2023/01/17/know-your-st-channel-4-documentary-explores-perfect-poos-18114399/. ?

Some of the people they follow have very similar issues and all of them have been helped by following the advice given. Your situation sounds awful and may be worth a watch to get some pointers?

@Myzone So sorry to hear that. I really am. It’s a horrible situation to be in. What are the docs saying about the antidepressants? You are right about how stomach/gut problems seem to cause other issues. I never knew before how powerful the gut-brain connection is, I just took it for granted now that I’m in this mess I just wish I appreciated my health and body more beforehand.

My worry this week is out of control and with that new symptoms… again they feel very real and I think my family are totally fed up of me now. Which I can understand but it definitely makes my anxiety and therefore my gut worse.

Do you have children? I feel like I’m a terrible mum. I’m on auto pilot doing the things that need to be done but my mind is stuck worrying about my bowels.

@Defiantlynot41 I completely missed that programme thanks so much for the link. Going to check it out now.

Also forgot to add that I have self referred myself for talking therapies… just waiting to get a call back and hopefully that will help me get into a better place.

I know exactly how you feel , I hope you are doing well?
I suffer really bad with health anxiety where most days I will convince myself I’m actually dyeing :( I end up with rapid heart beat, sweating and shaky. Weird feelings on my body. Aches and pains etc it’s horrible
recently I had a fit test done ( stool) no blood found but my calprotectin was elevated at 275 ( basically indicates that there is some inflammation to bowels)
could mean chromes or UC but could also be many other things. I have to do another test this week and if still elevated I will have to have a colonoscopy. So now I’m just terrified and can’t remove it from my mind :(
my bloods were normal etc and don’t have typical symptoms of those two conditions but have had up and down bowels which seem to change after certain food.
iron tablets suck, I would get really constipated on them which led to piles. I had mild anemia while pregnant last year but iron is stable now.
honestly it feels like a never ending nightmare :(

@Jadejack I am so sorry I’ve just come across your message now. I hope you are well and doing better and hope everything was good with the test results.

Since last posting, I was doing a lot better, I finished a course of CBT which was useful and taught me some good techniques and I also started taking Symprove- it cleared up a lot of my issues within a month or 2 of taking it.

However- end of last month caught a stomach bug from the kids and since then all the horrible thoughts, feelings and symptoms are back. Waking up feeling panicky and clammy- rushing to the bathroom and generally feeling like an anxious mess.

You need to go back to the CBT techniques. I hope they work.

Hi @Jadejack its been a few months. How are you doing now?
Ive just found this thread and OMG I am you.
I have suffered from HA for about 4 years now its always one thing then another.
I had some CBT last year after waiting 9months on the NHS by which point I was already in a better state myself. Last week though I am back to it and worried about my bowels like you. Going to the loo numerous times a day and its very mushy (sorry) I have lower back pain too and am in a state about it. Ive got a phone app with the GP on wednesday evening so ive started the ball rolling but am absolutely terrified. I have moments of feeling fine then back to being to consumed by my anxious thoughts and literally writing myself off as having bowel cancer. I keep telling myself its my HA but then im like it might not be. Ahhhh HA is the absolute worst.
How are you doing now did you get anywhere with the GP?