IBS??? OR SOMETHING MORE. FEELING SO DEPRESSED

[AlwaysFlappable]

So, I'm 42 and a single mum to 2 boys. I take 50mg of Sertraline for (health) anxiety which I was initially prescribed last February. I took it until April then weaned off. However, I found that I still needed it and restarted it 18 days ago.

Usual side effects (headaches, some nausea, jaw clenching) but other than that everything's been OK. My anxiety has gotten worse as expected in the first weeks. Anyway, I had my period on the 12th of July. It was normal, lasted 5 days, some period pain. I'd been advised to take cocodamol for the period pain which I did a few times (but, not too much as it made me quite drowsy). I finished my period on the 16th but was left with upper abdominal discomfort and bloating. It could've been there through my period but unnoticed for that reason.

The bloating is upper abdominal and the pain feels like a dull burning ache. It's not severe or sharp - it's just there. Also lower abdominal cramping which has felt like mild period pain. I also have some lower back/hip aching. My bowel habits remained regular and normal (although a little softer) and occurring twice a day - Sertraline affects the bowels so I want too worried. But, I started with a pressure like feeling of needing poop but all that was happening was wind or maybe a little mucus through straining. I carried on being nauseous on and off but no changes to appetite.

In the early hours of the 21st I was woken up by the pain. I went to the loo for a wee and on returning to bed I ended up in a massive panic attack. I was pouring sweat and felt I was being squeezed by a freezing feeling. I was scared and all I could think about was cancer. What if this is stomach or bowel cancer....

I managed to get a GP appointment yesterday. She's requested full bloods for everything! 2 stool samples, plus a FIT test for blood. She also prescribed Mebeverine (antispasmodic). The tablet has helped to reduce some bloating and the pressure type feeling has reduced. Last night I vomited a couple of times and my appetite has seemingly gone.

Can anyone relate or advise? I feel wound up which I know won't help. I just can't bear the thought of being ill and not being here for my children. The GP was lovely and said that it could be IBS/IBD but would rule everything out aswell. I'm so, so scared. I've already cried this morning and just feel desperate. I have a headache and feel mildly nauseous.

Thanks in advance for any insight x

the paining abdomen is worse when sitting

Just adding on that I've been sick twice. What is the likelihood that this is just a nasty virus??

Anyone??

Gastritis

@SuffolkUnicorn thanks. I have been wondering about this. Have you had experience of gastritis?

Yes I have and that’s why it sounds the same you can get tablets from the gp you might be experiencing trapped wind too which is where the pain is coming from and the burning gnawing is the gastritis you can also feel nauseous

Wow! Thank you @SuffolkUnicorn. I've been taking the mebeverine and my stomach is much less bloated now. Pain is also alot better but still there. I've just managed some toast so I'll see how that goes.

i would suggest lepicol plus digestive enzymes I bought them years ago and taken them ever since takes all the bloating away and helps food digest quicker. They will give you omeprazole or you can buy it online drink plenty of water and I hope you feel better soon x

Thank you so much for the advice @SuffolkUnicorn

I have a tendency towards IBS (and recognise many of the symptoms you have). I know I sound like one of 'those' people but it's been a million times better since I really started focusing on gut health. I've added things like kefir, kombucha and kimchi to my diet and tend to add a prebiotic supplement to my breakfast (I like the biomel chocolate supplement). I was quite cynical but have been surprised at how much it has helped.

@mynameiscalypso thank you. That's really helpful. Is there a difference between prebiotic and probiotics? Can you take both?

I feel so utterly desperate and scared. I have terrible anxiety and my first thought is always the worst case scenario. Yesterday I was incredibly low and I definitely did alot of spiralling!

My rough understanding is that probiotics are the live bacteria and prebiotics (which also include things like onions and garlic) are the food that bacteria like to eat. So you can absolutely take both. I'm such a cynic normally but I've been quite surprised at the impact (including while changing anti depressants which normally has an effect on my stomach). We have a history of bowel cancer in our family so I know it's hard not to spiral and it's always worth getting checked out of course but, more often than not, there's a simple explanation for it.

@mynameiscalypso Thank you so much. I'll have a look for some. It definitely can't hurt while I'm waiting for blood tests and stool results.

The lepicol plus is digestive enzymes and contains prebiotic and probiotics you need these for a healthy gut I also eat a lot of fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi

TMI but I’ve had blood pouring and I mean outing out of my back exit for years and I’ve still not had cancer although I do have diverticulitis. I lost 6 pints of it when I was 14/15 during a bowel movement so please stop I have all the symptoms of bowel cancer but I don’t have it im always checked with stool samples

@SuffolkUnicorn how does the lepicol taste? My gut health has been off since I had food poisoning/ tummy bug a few weeks ago and I need to try something. I couldn’t force diaoralyte down so I need something that tastes ok or a capsule I think.

@SuffolkUnicorn I thought I was doing a little better today until I felt the need to have my bowels moved.

Apologies for the TMI but I passed a small amount of formed poop and some steatorrhea (floaty/flaky pieces). This panics me alot because I keep thinking of pancreatic cancer. Logically I can see I'm not jaundiced, I've had no weight loss and my symptoms have only been present a short amount of time. But, logical doesn't always help when you're anxious 🙄

Will definitely look into prebiotic and probiotics and in the meantime try to calm down.

OP have you had your gallbladder removed?

Believe me you’d know if you had that also I would suggest eating something like all bran and drinking 2ltr or more of plain water a day are you overweight? I’ve been all weights and I’ve always had this but sometimes oily looking stools can be from eating too much fat

Well my sister compares to it hay but it honestly doesn’t really taste of much perhaps a slight Weetabix taste you have to stir and drink quickly as it solidifies into jelly you get used to it boots sell it I think it’s about 15.00 a tub lasts quite a while

If capsules then biokult or plain old yakult if it’s not a major health issue my son has been drinking those since he was a toddler and I’ve got most of my family onto probiotics they really do help

@SuffolkUnicorn not had my gallbladder removed and yes I'm overweight. I do tend to eat a high fat diet. Maybe this is the wake up call I need. Thank you so much for your help.

I'll get my bloods done tomorrow and hopefully that will start to shed some light on things

i had mine removed 7 years ago I’d suggest going on a low fat diet not as boring as it sounds please update when you hear back from the GP

you are welcome