IBS/GERD

[jojokdz]

I unfortunately I have both!  And for many years.. It started with Gerd only and after several years, I was diagnosed with IBS..  this with my other health issues, my anxiety got worse!!!  I suffer with severe panic attacks and anxiety.. I was used to flare ups, but about 2 months ago, something happened here with my life, and my anxiety went out of control, and my digestive system went nuts.  And since then, it has not settled down, I am hungry so thats a good thing, cause I had nausea and lost alot of weight.. I couldn't eat without gas, rumbling, pain under my left rib and side,, and I suffered with IBS-D and this time around it went to constipation.. Went to the ER 2x over this pain.. I had xrays of my stomach and entire colon, chest xray, bloodwork, EKG, and was told I had moderate stool in my colon.  I also had a total heart work up, stress test etc.. Took mirilax for 5 days, and it did work, but not normal stool but alot. Then I stopped and still was able to go on my own, and then the constipation is back..  Also was put on a antidepressant because of my anxiety!!!  This pain under my left breast, and in the middle between my breasts, and this is there whether I EAT or not..  but triggers the pain a bit more.. its just a dull knawing pain.. someone told me this is where the colon bends and stool and gas gets trapped?  my question is CAN IBS/GERD cause this much pain!???  Its hard to choose things to eat, cause I have both IBS AND GERD!  I also had a abdominal ct scan about 10 months ago.. and a KUB 3 months ago...  anyone else have this type of issues!!!!!!!!!!!

[jojokdz]

I am on toprol xl for pvc's/blood pressure.. skipped heartbeats, low dose of antidepressant, a statin drug for cholestrol .. but was on all these prior to my the incident that upsetted my digestive system and sent me to the ER 2x!!!  so I don't think these are causing my constipation..  I would say I had IBS-D FOR most of the time, this not going is all new... out of nowhere!!??!

[jojokdz]

Thanks for all the comments.  I have had IBS/GERD For many years, but it was maintained with meds. Occasionally I would have a flare up but within a day it would be ok.  As I said, about 8 weeks ago, I had a big stress thing happen to my family, and coincidentlly my digestive issues got the worse they ever got and still have not settled down totally.  I always moved my bowels every morning, maybe not always normal but did, and if I got stressed it would send me to the bathroom.. This is totally different, I am constipated.. ugh!  My pain is in the Upper left quandrant, middle too.  So it makes me think both Gerd and IBS are doing their magic.  The Dr. put me on prilosec 40 mg 2x a day, and dicylomine for spasms of my stomach which really doesn't work at times.  So I have been trying gas x instead which honest to God works better to stop the gas and rumbling and pain that associates with it.  Then he told me to take mirilax to help me go and it works.. So what confuses me is should I be taking this, or metamuscil fiber/lots of water to make my bowels work!!  ???  And I agree, my stomach just feels so uneasy most of day, u move forward with your day, its there, u just keep on plugging away!!!!!

[Clysta]

Stress definitely will play a huge part in your symptoms. Anxiety can cause stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, difficulty breathing.... and stress of course can flare IBS symptoms as well, making it difficult to say which is the actual cause.

As for pain, when I get it it's focused in my epigastric area and radiates to the URQ of my abdomen. I've been tested for gallbladder issues, gastric emptying and have had endoscopies, colonoscopy and biopsys done so I know it's not any of those that cause the URQ pain. The colon runs across your upper abdomen, and then down your left and right sides, so you could have pain in any of those areas. Personally, my gas and whatnot is focused on the right side, others have said it's elsewhere on them. The feeling you can't swallow is likely from your GERD. Feels like something stuck in your throat or chest?

Personally I would think condochondritis would be up higher, more in the chest area because of what it is, but I'm not a doctor and can't really say. IBS is weird...my GI explained it as your head having one brain and your intestions having another. It's more overactive and reacts more than one of someone without GI issues. It's hard because you can't really control it, it just goes spastic on you. From the people I've talked to many have just an...uneasy feeling. Like it's not pain, it's just a stomach upset that's never really gone. I know I daily have a blecky feeling in my stomach that nothing can really get rid of. It's just no fun, because you have to limit SO MUCH and it's so hard to stay healthy and get a proper diet.

[Clysta]

I'm surprised you're on Dicyclomine.. it's not recommended for people with GERD. Depending on what you're on for anxiety it can interact with those as well. I would talk to your doctor or see about a new one. A lot of medications can cause constipation though. I know mine (I'm on Omeprazole, Levsin SL, Zofran, Probiotics, daily multivitamin and fiber supplements) can cause it, but the fiber and diet help balance it. Drinking a lot of water does too and now unless I have a flare I never have diarrhea which is SO nice, I used to have it constantly. You should have been tested for celiac disease and lactose intolerance at your first appointment. I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance when I was 3 so he skipped that, but had all the others done (and yes, most are just simple bloodwork) and some you need other things like an endoscopy.

[jojokdz]

I am taking prilosec for my Gerd.. And dicylomine for my spasms.. also meds for other health issues as my anxiety.. so sick of all these meds.. I know we need them, but I wonder if it adds to other side affects as my constipation..!  I find that it depends on the day with the eating thing, sometimes one day it may hurt me and the next time it doesn't... thats why I know when I am having a severe anxiety day, my stomach acts up and then anything I eat that day hurts!!  But there are a few things I absolutely can't eat.. !  I am thinking of going for another opinion to a different Gastro Dr.  cause I have repeatedly asked him to test me for celiac, gluten, lactose, and hyPLYORI, and stool cultures.. its all bloodwork I think, check my pancreatic enyzmes.?!  I know my stress plays a big part of this, cause my stress came first before all these other physical problems came.. this is fact.. Do u get this knawing pain under your left rib, under the breast and side after u eat?  And sometimes in the middle, it feels like I Can't swallow sometimes, although I do, it just feels like that.. but that pain sometimes is there all day, just dull but enough to let me know its there.. the ER Dr. said it may be condochondritis, and my Dr says it where the colon bends and the pain is typical for that area for food and gas to get trapped.>>????

[Clysta]

I have severe IBS, GERD and Gastritis. It's annoying to say the least. It can definitely cause severe pain. When I eat a good I shouldn't, especially chocolate, it more or less poisons me and I get extreme upper abdominal cramping (Epigastric) nausea, vomiting and horrible diarrhea. Make a list of trigger foods and make sure to read labels. I can't eat chocolate, HFCS, Italian sausage, cabbage and any form of caffeine, juices or certain fruits. Organic foods can help, even though they are slightly more expensive. Are you on any medications to help the IBS? (Personally I find it worse than the GERD or Gastritis)