I was wondering if I could get some advice on IBS.
Recently I had a Kidney infection that was very painful I had to take several different antibiotics to clear it up. When the doctors said it was clear
I still was having pain, except now it was pain with stomach upset...The doctor that was treating
me sent me to a GI Doctor and he said he wanted to do a scope down my throat. The scope came back clear, apparently I fought during the scope badly
and I had told him that recently I had be having panic attacks.
Upon waking he immediately wanted me to take Paxil...
thats it and not see me again for one month. Well
the paxil made me feel like I had pins and needles
in my skin all over, so I stopped that. I had already been doing the program so I continued and really began to exercise and make myself eat. You see I don't ever feel hungrey. Well yesterday and the day before I found myself worring and obsessing
about things and before I knew it I was worring again about how my stomach felt. It feels hollow and painfully empty even after eating...alot of burping...very achey. Can anyone give me some
insight. Its so hard to keep my thoughts positive
when I feel this constant ache.
Ripp

Ripp,
I'm so sorry to hear you've been feeling poorly. I feel for you. I've been there. Had the crappy medical tests - they found nothing wrong. They'd prescribe pills as solutions, but the pills didn't work and made me feel worse. It's not fun.

I'm just realizing I have IBS, so don't have much advice I can give you because I'm still researching it myself. But I will tell you that if I keep my thinking calm and positive about IBS, I have fewer problems with it or, when I do have it, it only lasts a short time and I'm fine after that.

Read through all the posts in this IBS folder. I have been and am learning some helpful things about what to eat and do. Positive thinking is still extremely helpful with IBS.

What were you worrying about before your stomach ache started the last few days? I suspect you are focusing on your stomach ache as a way to avoid dealing with whatever is really bothering you. Maybe tackling the real concern would help.

Also, keep practicing positive thought replacement - that truly can help with the physical symptoms.

Hope you find some relief soon. Hang in there, I know it's hard to stay positive when you feel like crap. Remember the basics of self-care and remind yourself you will feel better, that it won't last forever. Sometimes I think the scariest part of having body symptoms is that they come and go and you start wondering if you'll be saddled with them all of your life. But we don't have to be - it can and does get better.

Patti

Pattie
I think I've been focusing on starting a new job that
I'm worried my anxiety will interfer with. I want
to progress so much so not to take so much garbage with me to my new job....I start on May 5. Last week
I was feeling stronger and able to eat and boom this
came back. But this morning I made myself eat oatmeal and a couple hours later a bananna, lots of water and walked my 3 mi on my treadmill...I still
have that constant nervous feeling and my stomach
feels "knawing" but some better....I'm trying very
hard with though replacement...I'm on my way out
the door to church feeling nervous but I have to get out there and do .... feel the fear and over come it ...Right!

Ripp

Hi,

You said you had been taking antibiotics. I would suggest taking an acidophilus supplement for a good while. The antibiotics kill off the good bacteria as well as the bad. Some bacteria we need. YOu can also find it in yogurt. I recently bought the book in one of the posts on eating with ibs. It hasnt came in the mail yet but maybe you can use something like that too.

Hugs, Reena

Hi Ripp---Reena's exactly right. It helps alot to take acidophilis when on antibiotics. I eat yogurt alot for the cultures in it. I just look on the label to make sure it says it has "live cultures", the good bacteria. Even if you have problems with lactose intolerance a nurse told me this wouldn't bother it. It doesn't me, but everyone is different.

Good suggestions. Good luck with your new job, I'm sure it will be terrific and you'll have that wonderful feeling of accomplishment

Reena and Serene
Great reminder about the acidophilus! I take a supplement daily from the GNC store. Plus I love eating yogurt.

Ripp,
Congrats on the new job! I agree with Serene, I'll bet you're going to do great and you'll feel empowered when you see how well you can succeed! Hang in there and hope this afternoon finds you feeling better.

Patti

Thanks all for the support. I went to church for the first time in about a year so I was very nervous plus my whole stomach thing but I'm getting out there and experiencing the panic in order to overcome it and boy did I. But...It went away! For about the first
15 min of church I wanted to run out the door so bad my heart was racing my mind was wondering I felt fuzzy headed. I tried to laugh at myself becuase
its really funny the idea of being afraid of church
so bad you want to run....church is where you want to
run too! I practiced 2/4 breathing, told myself its
only body symptoms...and I did it. After church I felt so strong. And to top it off the sermon was started off with the sentence "do any of you get
tired of anxiety?" Then he went on to say anxiety
caused depression and they are both bad habits.Then
I know you wont believe this but I swear it happened he went into how anxiety can prevent you
from wanting to start a new job! I was like WOW...
I couldn't believe it. It ended up feeling good.

thanks again
Ripp

Hi Ripp---Wow, you were meant to be in church today. Fate.

Glad you were able to stay and really get something out of it!!

I can sympathize with your stomach symptoms. I've been having the same problem for months with the gnawing feeling, IBS symptoms, etc. They also started for me after being on antibiotics. The probiotics are a good idea - I may try them myself! One medication that has helped me is Doxepin. It is a tricyclic anti-depressant but apparently low doses of it are also helpful for stomach problems such as IBS and ulcers. It has helped with the nausea and burning and it has a somewhat constipating effect, which helps with the IBS. I still have days when I have stomach pains but they are more tolerable than before and the medication has enabled me to start working back up towards full-time at my job.