Stress induced tummy upset?

[Tarantellah]

I had a very stressful event in my life in early January. I was the most upset and scared I’ve ever been. Since then I’ve had an upset tummy which has got worse and worse. Ultrasound has revealed nothing, stool tests are clear, and the GP is now saying it’s excess acid causing wind and pain, and it’s stress induced. But the stress ended over three months ago and I’m still sick.

I’m on proton pump meds which are making it bearable but not curing it. I don’t know what to do. I feel so sick and I can’t function normally, I’ve lost a stone because I’m not eating. Help!

Do you exercise? Cortisol from stress can wreck havoc on digestive health and exercise can help.

No I don’t exercise. I’ve done very little since I’ve been unwell with this nausea and pain.

Just solidarity as I have this too. I now feel sick a lot and its making me more anxious. I find fresh air very helpful. Drinking cold water too. Pepermint tea has become a go to. I'm wondering whether to do something like acupuncture to see if that helps. Best of luck and its bloomin miserable isn't it.

Yes it’s making me anxious too. Thinking it must be cancer or something, because people don’t get sick for nothing. The GP keeps telling me they found nothing on the abdominal ultrasound, the blood tests and stool tests were clear, so it must be stress induced.

Did they test for H pylori in your stool? That plays havoc with your digestive health big time.

Yes, stool test was clear for h.pylori. I was gutted - I was praying that’s what it was because it’s easily curable. Now they have no real idea what’s wrong with me, they’re just saying it’s stress and referring me to the mental health team. I’m shitting and burping and retching, and they’re telling me to see a counsellor.

I’ve had gut issues since July last year after a very stressful time & post-covid (covid came at the end of all the stress!!).
I’m also on a PPI and although it helps it’s not taken it away totally. I’ve also had loads of tests!
Unfortunately it’s a vicious circle as stress from feeling ill makes you more stressed and more ill.

Sorry to hear others are suffering too, but it does make me feel slightly better to know that other people are equally sick and not suffering from cancer or something. It proves that it can just be a tummy upset and nothing more.