What is really wrong with me?!!!

[cnote]

26 male.

About three months ago I started having an anxiety spell. My main symptom was a nervous stomach and no appetite.

About a few weeks after this I started getting diarhea and digestion issues. My dr said it's probably just IBS. So about a week after that I started getting a tight throat and a very sensitive gag reflex. Some days I couldn't barely talk without the urge to gag.

Well after one night of actually gagging twice I couldn't handle it so I went back to the dr. He said once again it was anxiety. And he wanted me to try paxil.

I was taking 5mg of lexapro before this. But he said that probably wasn't doing much.

So I've been on paxil 10mg for a little over a month and I have to admit the throat tightness has gotten much better and so has the gag reflex.

But I'm still having the diarhea issue. I've also been having tons of sinus drainage or post nasal drip. And not much of an appetite still.

I had diarhea all day today. And now I've developed a cough. And the mucus I cough up tastes foul. Like infection.

I've also been having flank pain. Mostly the left side of my gut.

I also have acid reflux from time to time.

So the past couple of weeks I havnt been having anxiety I don't feel. And I'm still having the same symptoms.

I go back to the dr on Monday. Should I demand him to run tests on me? The only test he did 2 months ago was a blood test. Came back normal.

I'll be mad if all I've had this whole time was a bad reaction to ragweed or allergies... And he's got me on paxil, which has ruined my wife and I's sex life.

So what do you guys think? All anxiety? Depression? Or something else? Gerd?

And what tests should he do for my peace of mind? He told me a colonoscapy at my age probably isn't necessary.

I keep fearing cancer. Because I smoke. But he said I have no signs of cancer... And that my bloodwork would have shown it. Like red and white blood cells count would be up or something.

Your thoughts? I'm thinking way too much about this.

[Paxiled]

Don't take that matamucil.  That's for constipation, not diarrhea.  Whoa, there.  I'm with nursegirl on this, of course you already know this.  You need someone who specializes in this stuff so you can rule out the physiological.  Good luck.

[remar]

Ask your Dr if there's an allergy med you can take with the Paxil and that won't give you anxiety.
It does sound like you have a sinus infection and post nasal drip. That will do a number on your stomach.
Have him check your ears too while your there to see if you may have an ear infection.
Also ask about an antacid for your stomach. Most of us anxiety sufferers have stomach problems.
Let us know how your doing and take care. Remar
P.S. I sent you a PM but don't know if your got it or not.

[cnote]

Thanks for the input. I see the Dr. today at 3pm. I'll let ya guys know what happens.

[gochoosy1]

symptoms sound like possible gallstones. or food intolerances. pay attention to what your eating and what time and whenthe symptoms come.. Just an idea.. best of luck

[cnote]

Thats exactly what I want to do. Is have him RULE anything else out. I'm tired of these stomach aches/pains flank pain.... digestion issues... diarhea...

the tight throat seems to be getting better... but allergies are bad.

Even if he tells me "you've become allergic to wheat... or dairy..."

Atleast something to rule out anxiety as my stomach issue.

B/c I'm not having anxiety at all really... and I'm still having the stomach issues.

[nursegirl6572]

You know MY opinion.  I think you are searching WAY too hard for an answer you may never have.  

Of course you should pursue the symptoms for treatment...but stop trying so hard to link everything together and find one diagnosis..it will likely never happen.  And, if some of these things ARE anxiety....after you have ruled out a physical cause...then it is time to move on and address the anxiety (continue your therapy).

My advice?  Ask for two things from your doctor...a referral to a GI specialist for the "IBS" symptoms and a referral to an ENT specialist for the persistent drainage/sinus symptoms.  Allow THOSE docs to assess you, recommend a treatment/diagnosis....and then go from there.

All the while...continue to work on your anxiety.

[cnote]

I just want to add, he is NOT a bad Dr., he's the only physician I've ever had that has called me on holidays, and just sporadic times to check on me... He'll even let me page him from the hospital on his days off or any time if I need to talk to him.

[cnote]

That's the thing, He put me on 10mg about 2 years ago... and I took 10mg for about 2 weeks... then I went down to 5mg.... and went on and off Lexapro several times in the past 2 years.

He thought "hey, if 5mg is helping him, or even 2.5mg... then good for him, its probably psychological."

But now he knows it's gotten worse... so he's trying me on Paxil...

I did ask him "why not just up my Lexapro to 10mg again or even 20mg..."

and he said "no, lets try the Paxil, I think it will help better."

But I'm still having the same symptoms.

This just stinks dude.

I had diarrhea again this morning....

My allergies are KILLING me too today... my ears feel stuffed and itch... and my throat feels raw...

I wonder if this WHOLE time, I've been having REALLY bad post nasal drip, which has been causing me to feel nauseous/no appetite... and cause diarrhea... or digestion issues? and even the tight throat... and gag reflex... And a mixture of acid reflux too?

I hope he just listens to me this time, and says "okay, lets do some tests to rule anything out."

And have him put me on something to at least stop the diarrhea spells. My mom called me today and she's got a bottle of Metamucil she wants me to have. I'm gonna try it.

[Paxiled]

I've said this before and I'll say it again.  Your entire treatment regimen sounds very fishy to me.  5mg of Lexapro isn't a therapeutic dose, yet you stopped there and moved on to a much more problematic med, Paxil, again not at a therapeutic dose, 10mg.  Given that you're still functioning well and not crippled by anxiety, medication probably wasn't called for in the first place, not until you'd tried therapy and tried  to figure out why you'd gotten anxious.  And your physiological symptoms are all over the lot.  The gag reflex could just as easily be related to your sinus congestion as to anxiety, and you have stomach problems and sinus problems at the same time, indicating a possible bacterial or viral infection or even food poisoning.  I'm no doctor, I have no idea what's wrong with you, but I'd ditch the doctor and find another one and start over.  Don't mention the anxiety -- people who suffer from anxiety get the flu and sinus infections and such just like anybody else would, but if you emphasize the anxiety, it gives the physician an out to blow you off.  If it is anxiety, why didn't you give the Lexapro a shot?  10mg is the minimum therapeutic dose, and that's for depression.  For anxiety, you usually need to go to 20mg.  Paxil isn't usually effective against anxiety until 20mg.  Now, some people are very sensitive to meds, and get an effect very quickly, but it doesn't sound like that fits what you describe.  I'd like to see what a different doctor would do, what tests he or she would run, if the doctor hadn't already predetermined your problem is anxiety.  You also need to work on your diet and quit that smoking; you're not helping your health any, and if this episode hasn't scared you into some changes, I don't know what will.  No doctor tells you you "just" have IBS.  It needs treatment.  I prefer natural treatment for such things, but even a clueless allopathic physician would put you on a high fiber diet if that's what it was.  He wouldn't just blow it off.  It's time for you to get proactive and find out what's going on.  Here's hoping you solve this once and for all.

[remar]

Your welcome Sweety.

[cnote]

I just noticed you're from at louis. I'm only 3 hrs from ya. Heard of Springfield mo?

[cnote]

Thanks so much

[remar]

It sounds like you have sinus infection. I'm going through sinus and allergy problems myself right now.
I think your Dr is right about you having IBS. You may need to change your diet. Cut one thing out at a time to see if that helps. You could be allergic to wheat so quit that for a few days to see what happens.
Usually you have a colonascopy, sorry about the spelling, at around 40 I think so you are pretty young to be needing that.
Your Dr is right about the red and white blood cells. I'm glad to hear he's keeping an eye on that for you. Don't freak out if your blood cell count is high or low. It could mean you have an infection, like a sinus infection.
I've taken Paxil before and it was great for my anxiety.The only reason I stopped taking it was because of weight gain. All I wanted to do was eat! Ha ha. I was on 20mgs and your on 10mgs so you probably won't have that problem.  I hope you do well on it.
I'm hear to listen if you want to talk. Take care. Remar