Paxil side effects?

Hi im a 20 year old 6' 170 pound male.  I eat right, do cardio and lift weights and am in great health physically.  But early summer/late spring I had a bit of a nervous break down and was put on paxil for depression/anxiety.  And ever since Ive gotten on the paxil it seems I have been having some strange GI symptoms.  First of all I get some burning in the stomach though Im told that is a common side effect of paxil and it doesnt bother me much so I just have learned to ignore it.  But in the past month I moved to a new area several miles from where I was living, doing all of the heavy lifting by myself basically.  And ever since then I have been having other strange symptoms.  When I go to the bathroom and look in the water there seems to be some very light, almost entirely clear with a white tint, substance floating on the top of the water.  Of course being that I have problems with anxiety I tend to obsess over things and it is so miniscule that the only way you would notice it is if you were purposly looking for it.  I also notice white/tanish and what look like hard small pieces showing through my stool occasionally but I kind of passed that off as fiber or nuts from the cereal I eat in the morning (honey bunches of oats with almonds).  The third and final 'symptom' I have started noticing is that my stool is a light brown color with a slight yellowish tint.  But other than that everything is normal, its not diarreah (diarrhea) and im not constipated for more than one bowel movement, so basically just normal constipation and diarreah (diarrhea) that you get once in awhile.  What does it sound like this could be?  At first I thought fat malabsorption but then read that with that you also have extremely soft and smelly stools and often times its diarreah (diarrhea).  So then I thought maybe some sort of bilairy obstruction like pancreatic cancer but I dont see how I could get cancer at such a young age when nothing like that even runs in my family.  I figure the odds of me winning the lottery are greater.  Then I thought maybe hepititis (hepatitis) C or some other liver infection but again with that you usually have jaundiced skin and eyes and other symptoms, and I also dont share needles or do drugs and have never been given blood.  Am I just obssessing about this?  I really dont want to go into a doctor if I am because its embarassing being that I have problems with anxiety and always worry about my health for no good reason.  Does it sound like it could be a bilairy problem?  Cancer? An infection?  The 'symptoms' seem so few and very minor that it doesnt make much sense at all.  Advice, comfort or a slap in the face telling me to relax would be very appreciated...heh.


*Update* Now having a pale brown looking bowel movement for the past 3 days...still with the clear/white stuff floating on the top.  Can paxil damage your liver or effect it like this?...

[suzi-q]

I have been on paxil for 12 years and my liver is just fine.  You can be having stool changes due to your anxiety.  Anxiety plays having on your digestive system and I believe that is all it is.  However, if you are afraid of this, please go to the doctor no matter how silly you feel you will sound.  That is there job to listen to your symptoms and diagnose it.  He will probably ask for a stool sample to run tests and maybe urinate in a cup.  I am sure they will find nothing wrong, but at least it will help put your mind at ease.  I know how crazy our minds can make us feel.  Hang in there and try to relax.