anxiety over stomach issues

[rhan86]

Having lots of anxiety over stomach issues. I always think something bad..Not researching (googling) anything today, going to the doctors tomorrow. Yesterday the worries completely consumed me. It was horrible. I have gnawing /empty feeling in my stomach, pain under left ribs, bloating...more symptoms but Might be tmi! lol...It could be an ulcer or gastritis, or ibs but I just keep thinking worse.. anyone else have symptoms like these?

[raggamuffin]

Yarp I have had problems like that. I spent 3 months solid worrying about issues, ibs and all sorts of other nasties. Guess what? The pains lasted over 3 months. Then after many over the counter and prescription IBS meds and Dr visits and hospital visits I said to myself "Ed, it's just anxiety causing all this stomach pain, you've spent months worrying about it and there's a reason the drugs aren't working".

48 hours later the pains disappeared. It's mind over matter. The more you spend worrying about it, the worse you make the pains.

Ed

[rhan86]

Yarp I have had problems like that. I spent 3 months solid worrying about issues, ibs and all sorts of other nasties. Guess what? The pains lasted over 3 months. Then after many over the counter and prescription IBS meds and Dr visits and hospital visits I said to myself "Ed, it's just anxiety causing all this stomach pain, you've spent months worrying about it and there's a reason the drugs aren't working".

48 hours later the pains disappeared. It's mind over matter. The more you spend worrying about it, the worse you make the pains.

Ed

Ya when I get my mind off it, it does slow down or get better. Its the darn google that gets me. I know I need to stop researching online..I just try to get some sort of reassurance that I'm really ok but I never find that online!

[Moralfe]

Rhan86, I had the same issue especially at night. I had the pain right at the top of my stomach and over to the ribs also. I worried so much it was something else. The bloating was horrible and feeling hungry even though I was not. I know them very well. My primary doc told me to take over the counter meds which worked but then it stopped working. I went to a GI and had an upper GI scope because acid reflux runs in my family and the anxiety made it worse. Everything came out fine. I was put on prilosec but caused me pain. I was switched to proton ix and I feel great. The only thing I deal with concerning my stomach is when I am hungry I get gassy and the gas escaping my stomach makes me feel weird. Like a flutter but I know it is not. But anxiety can really mess up your stomach. Hope you feel better.

[rhan86]

Rhan86, I had the same issue especially at night. I had the pain right at the top of my stomach and over to the ribs also. I worried so much it was something else. The bloating was horrible and feeling hungry even though I was not. I know them very well. My primary doc told me to take over the counter meds which worked but then it stopped working. I went to a GI and had an upper GI scope because acid reflux runs in my family and the anxiety made it worse. Everything came out fine. I was put on prilosec but caused me pain. I was switched to proton ix and I feel great. The only thing I deal with concerning my stomach is when I am hungry I get gassy and the gas escaping my stomach makes me feel weird. Like a flutter but I know it is not. But anxiety can really mess up your stomach. Hope you feel better.

I have acid reflux and when these symptoms came along, I immediatly started taking my already prescribed prilosec That I didnt take because I was pregnant.....but anyway its not working at all. I was on nexium once before and that helped me out. The only symptoms I usually get from reflux is excessive saliva and nausea. But this is a different problem now..& My stomach feels more bloated on the side my stomach is on. Thats what was really worrying me. It feels more like trapped gas though? I dont know...its driving me crazy!!

[rhan86]

Went to see my doctor today. I have a really good doctor, he always makes me feel better! Prescribed a new reflux medicine and is running some tests..

[Dahila]

I have acid reflux and when these symptoms came along, I immediatly started taking my already prescribed prilosec That I didnt take because I was pregnant.....but anyway its not working at all. I was on nexium once before and that helped me out. The only symptoms I usually get from reflux is excessive saliva and nausea. But this is a different problem now..& My stomach feels more bloated on the side my stomach is on. Thats what was really worrying me. It feels more like trapped gas though? I dont know...its driving me crazy!!

rhan my hubby had a really bad reflux, he was on meds, then I started making my own Kefir, and making smoothies with it. He did not touch meds for a long time, he says the kefir helps him. Maybe you should try it, it has 50 strains of alive bacteria, excellent for you, when yogurt has only 15:)

[rhan86]

rhan my hubby had a really bad reflux, he was on meds, then I started making my own Kefir, and making smoothies with it. He did not touch meds for a long time, he says the kefir helps him. Maybe you should try it, it has 50 strains of alive bacteria, excellent for you, when yogurt has only 15:)

I had to google kefir to see what it was! lol. Never heard of it! I make smoothies all the time. Would like to try it..I will have to look further into making it..Thank you for the advice :)

[RachelLangley]

Having lots of anxiety over stomach issues. I always think something bad..Not researching (googling) anything today, going to the doctors tomorrow. Yesterday the worries completely consumed me. It was horrible. I have gnawing /empty feeling in my stomach, pain under left ribs, bloating...more symptoms but Might be tmi! lol...It could be an ulcer or gastritis, or ibs but I just keep thinking worse.. anyone else have symptoms like these?

Anxiety can really mess with the digestive system which is normal. You might be overreacting which is completely understandable. I do this same thing but learned that after 4 years I'm still alive and what I once worried about didn't kill me. You have to think positive thoughts instead of negative. When you feel something abnormal take your mind somewhere else and try to ignore it. If it continues to happen and gets to be unbearable you should go to the ER or schedule a doctors appt.

[rhan86]

Anxiety can really mess with the digestive system which is normal. You might be overreacting which is completely understandable. I do this same thing but learned that after 4 years I'm still alive and what I once worried about didn't kill me. You have to think positive thoughts instead of negative. When you feel something abnormal take your mind somewhere else and try to ignore it. If it continues to happen and gets to be unbearable you should go to the ER or schedule a doctors appt.

Im feeling alot better now after seeing my doctor, wishing I would've went to see him sooner. I will always have anxiety but getting things checked out helps ease the worrying some.

[NixonRulz]

Im feeling alot better now after seeing my doctor, wishing I would've went to see him sooner. I will always have anxiety but getting things checked out helps ease the worrying some.

No you won't Rhan!

Once you get your mind in the right place, you will say adios to anxiety

[rhan86]

No you won't Rhan!

Once you get your mind in the right place, you will say adios to anxiety

Thank you for the encouragement! I have had anxiety all of my life but the episodes of health anxiety only come and go luckily... I cant imagine not having it...lol. just dont think its possible. Would love to be worry free though !

[NixonRulz]

Thank you for the encouragement! I have had anxiety all of my life but the episodes of health anxiety only come and go luckily... I cant imagine not having it...lol. just dont think its possible. Would love to be worry free though !

I think that is the reason many people plateau with their recovery

They feel they have had it so long, there is no way they could completely move past it

Your repetitive anxious, worrying thoughts got you here

The exact opposite done repetitively will get you where you only dreamed you could go

[rhan86]

Went to the ER today for my stomach pain today....The doc said I have diverticulosis. It doesnt make any sense really, most people that get this dont even feel pain until it turns inflamed (diverticulitis)....I still have anxiety even after having blood tests ran, xray, and CT scan...craziest part about it is I am such a healthy eater...but somehow Im not getting enough fiber I guess. (That is what causes this disease)..

[JeffreyGret]

Hi rhan86. I am new to this forum. I joined because I am having similar symptoms as you describe. It's been about 3 weeks now. How were you told to deal with diverticulitis, just to eat more fiber? This could possible be the case for me, although I feel like I get plenty of fiber in my diet and eat healthy.

[darryl7575]

Hi Rhan.. I dealt with stomach issues for years. I did in fact have pretty severe reflux and medication didn't help much. I ended up having a surgery called Nissen Fundoplication to stop the reflux. Honestly, it is great to no longer have reflux and be able to eat anything I want, but I now see that the majority of my stomach issues are in fact from the anxiety. The anxiety causes me a great deal of breathing issues. The doctors all convinced me that the breathing issues were because of reflux, it didn't really believe that, but I wanted to be better, so I went with it. I had the surgery last March and my breathing has never gotten any better. My stomach aches and pains really haven't gone away. I could have lived with reflux. I did for years, but whats done is done. I also have diverticulitis. It was discovered with one of my scans before the reflux surgery. Like you, I had no idea. I am telling you all this just so you know to be cautious. My gastrointestinal doctor and throat doctor were great and had all the best intentions, but I am not sure that they were taking my anxiety into consideration.

As for the diverticulitis, I don't know much about it either. I do have a friend who is very health conscious and particular about what he eats as well. He went to the ER last year in sever pain that ended up being diverticulitis. I don't know if some people are just prone to it or what. When I was diagnosed, I didn't really pay much attention as I didn't believe it played a part in my issues. After seeing the tremendous amount of pain it caused my friend, I began pay more attention to my fiber intake. I mix Kelloggs All Bran cereal into my regular cereal every morning just to be safe and have never had issue. I hope all the rambling helps.. Good luck

[rhan86]

Hi rhan86. I am new to this forum. I joined because I am having similar symptoms as you describe. It's been about 3 weeks now. How were you told to deal with diverticulitis, just to eat more fiber? This could possible be the case for me, although I feel like I get plenty of fiber in my diet and eat healthy.

So since I posted this....I went to see a GI specialist and didnt feel like they took me serious at all, said I have ibs so quickly and sent me on my way with like 2 tests to be done..A stomach emptying study and blood test for celiac disease. My doctor ordered an ultrasound of my abdomen and that all came back normal. Happy about that, just really wanting answers. Im going to see my gynecologist monday to rule out gyno problems and then week after that to a different GI specialist. I think I need an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy also. I just want answers. I dont think diverticulosis is whats causing all of this at all!
Hope you feel better soon Jeffery!

[JeffreyGret]

The problem is that, from what I have seen, a lot of doctors don't know much, and like you say are quick to put you through tests or write things off as what's simplest. Thats especially true when they don't know of your anxiety or its severity. From another post I made on here, from responses I received, it seems it very well can just be our anxiety (as hard as it may seem to believe). What I've learned dealing with anxiety and health issues, is that the symptoms your body can create are unbelievable! I'm guessing the fact that we both have anxiety and are on here with a similar issue, can mean that it is indeed anxiety induced. Check this from anxietycentre: "You may experience:
• nausea
• bloating
• burning sensation in the stomach or pit of the stomach
• gas, or being gaseous
• belching, burping, excessive belching
• feeling like there is a lump or knot in your stomach
• stomach discomfort or distress
• an uncomfortable fullness in your stomach
• feeling like you have butterflies in your stomach
• a tightness in your stomach
• an “anxiety” stomach
• an excess of acidity
• a “heavy” stomach
• a "rumbling" after you eat sensation
• an uneasiness in your stomach
• acid reflux
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• loose stool
• constipation
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• chronic stomach problems
To name a few.
Stomach distress may also cause erratic and sharp pains to radiate throughout the chest, neck, throat, and shoulder blades.
A person may have one, two, or all of the symptoms. They can come and go erratically, or persist indefinitely. All are common when anxiety is present."

Hang in there Rhan!