GI Disorder and Internal Shaking

Posted by gigiraj @gigiraj, Feb 15, 2019

Hi all. I'm a 21 year old South Asian female and I have been having GI issues for about five years--mainly along the lines of constipation. I do have bowel movements every day but it takes a long time & I am rarely fully cleared out. These GI issues are always accompanied by other health issues (gas, pressure in head, etc). Recently, some scary new conditions have manifested: In the past few weeks, there have been times where my heart starts beating wildly and very fast. Sometimes, when I'm tired and constipated, my entire body feels like its vibrating internally; the shakes aren't visible but it feels like all my muscles are quivering. At this point, I feel a constant shaking/quivering within my body, especially in my heart cavity.

I have had TWO EKG's and both came back normal. All lab tests for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, etc came back within normal limits. I am very concerned about this internal shaking. My dad says he found something about how GI disorders can impact muscoskeletal system and since the heart is a muscle, it's contracting and being affected. But I wanted to know if anyone here can help!!!!!!! If anyone knows anything at all please please please let me know!!!!!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@astaingegerdm

@laurieb63 - Welcome to Connect! I’m glad you can discuss your frustrating symptoms with others who are going through similar illness without a complete diagnosis.
I just want to say that your NP has a good suggestion that you should see a neurologist. You have a hand tremor in addition to sudden severe head pain.
The brain connects with the gastrointestinal tract in many ways.
One that comes to mind is abdominal migraine.
Make your appointment and get a neurological opinion. Also, you don’t have to take new medication unless the doctor is sure it is going to help you.
Please get back to us!

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Thank you , for your response. My NP put the order in and I will be scheduled with a Neurologist that treats my symptoms. I will repost when I know more.

Thank you again.

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@deb3

My symptoms are very similar to yours. I have suffered for years from the internal vibrations, tinnitus and arms falling asleep. It too has taken a toll on me. I have been to countless doctors and naturopaths with no happy results. Recently, I came across an article discussing low stomach acid. I never would have thought that this is something I have, as I do not have reflux, however after doing several morning tests with baking soda, (you can google this) I have finally found some relief. I am taking absorbic acid in the form of vitamin C with my breakfast and dinner meals. I am also taking a digestive enzyme. The idea is that the increase in stomach acid helps food and nutrition to be broken down easier. For me, I believe that improperly digested food is causing intolerances that are causing my tremors. I am also taking Vitamin d and the sublingual form of B12. It has only been two weeks and I do have a little shaking upon waking, but I feel that I am headed in the right direction to getting better. Good luck to you in finding help.

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Curious how your progress has been. Are you still thinking that low stomach acid is contributing to your symptoms? Have you ever tried HCL with pepsin For low stomach acid?

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@etr

Curious how your progress has been. Are you still thinking that low stomach acid is contributing to your symptoms? Have you ever tried HCL with pepsin For low stomach acid?

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Hi
I stopped the famotadine in December and the tremor stopped in my hands, & tounge. The internal tremor stopped briefly. It is not as bad as it was on the famotadine but it is there when I am sitting or after excercise. On my left hand my small finger and first finger have a tremor all day.

I am being referred to Neurologist and awaiting the appointment. It's one test after another. This meds will help this but then another symptom pops ups. How are you feeling?

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@highd

Hello,
Has anyone found anything or had any diagnosis from these symptoms?? If you have, please let me know. I’m 46 and desperate.. been having these same symptoms for over 9months now. And i would add a lump feeling in my throat. I’ve been 5 times at hospital er and 6 times at walk in clinics (i live in Quebec, Canada and dont have a family doctor, she retired and am on a waiting list that is very long for a family doctor) I’ve quit smoking in March thinking it would help. But it got worse. Cleaned my diet. Plus visits and treatments to Osteopath, acupuncture and chiropractic. After 6 months of trying to get better i’m still feeling awful and the pains are just getting worst. I’ve been told that it’s anxiety, my nervous system, hypochondria, migraines, IBS ...Not to mention the numerous test, head CT, abdomen, barium swallow, ENT, spine MRI, ultrasound of abdomen, thyroid, pulmonary embolism blood test, chest x ray, basic CBC blood test that always came back clear. The only thing i found out a couple weeks ago, is when i tracked my symptoms and the internal shaking seizures relieved by gas, (neurological disease??MS??)they happen a few days before my period and other symptoms shortness of breath, severe upper stomach pains like burning and twisting, throat tightness, jaw and left arm numbness, left side whole body pains, left sciatica (my knee becomes numb cant walk for long) happens between 8 to 11 days after first day of period, around ovulation. Only one doctor mentioned endometriosis??? Im seeing a gynecologist in a few days. They all say its not life threatening but its threatening my sanity and life as i cant continue feeling invalidated. Doctors think i make no sens cause of too many symptoms. I just want to find out what’s wrong with my body. Please help thank you!

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Hello
I know this is way past your post but I had endometriosis years ago
Nobody knew what was wrong until surgery to seee and it was endometriosis.

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@nancy926

Regarding the internal shaking, mine responded to a dietary supplement from Metagenics called Intesol (antispasmodic GI support). Its main ingredients are chamomile flower extract, peppermint leaf oil, lavender flower oil, and sodium copper chlorophyllin. I am on a regimen being treated with several nutritional supplements in a specified order for hPylori, leaky gut, and yeast, parasites, and bacteria. I was a mess and have made steady progress toward regaining health, weight, and am starting to add a little muscle. I really believe my internal shaking was from the spasms caused by the excess air. I was so full of air caused by the conditions mentioned above. I found GI specialists did not really understand the severity or cause of symptoms. I found it hard to function in daily life. All of this causes or adds to anxiety which only makes all GI symptoms worse. Mine all started with massive antibiotics for about three conditions in a row 2-3 years ago.

Something else I just thought of. The stuck in throat thing I felt when I was full of air. It helped to drink water and force the air down. Also when I took my daily allotment of Gas-X, I found activated charcoal tablets (found over the counter in drug stores or Walmart) to help get rid of gas. But the supplements are helping to get rid of the gas producers.

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@nancy926 Can you tell me the name of the several nutritional supplements that you are or were taking, please? Thank you.

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Hi @gigiraj I haven't posted on a health site for years, but I periodically look for others who share the same cluster of symptoms that I do. I'm so glad I stumbled upon your post and just wanted to reach out and tell you that you're not alone in what you're going thru.

I've had very similar symptoms since 2012 (I'm a 33yo male). For me it started as sudden onset of constipation and thin/discolored stools. The change in bowl habits seemingly came out of nowhere, and I haven't been the same since the change began 9 years ago now. I'd say about two years into the bowl changes, I started experiencing a swelling sensation around my liver that would at first come and go, and then the swelling sensation became constant and a whole lot of other symptoms began to emerge. Pins and needles/burning sensations in my limbs, cycles of diarrhea/constipation, pressure in my head, night sweats, internal vibrations, severe brain fog, skin rashes, heart palpitations, muscle twitching. These episodes would last for a few months, subside for a few months and then come back, each episodes usually being more intense than the last. From the outside you'd never know I was dealing with any health issues.

I've seen countless doctors, specialists and had many tests done (at UCLA no less). Every doctor and test imaginable to try and find the source of these symptoms. Instead of any clarity, I've gotten reaffirmations of being in great health due to fantastic bloodwork and normal scans. Every test has come back completely unremarkable, yet the symptoms still come and go.

I wanted to mainly reach out and let you know that while I haven't been diagnosed with anything (other than the IBS nonsense and anxiety), I have found that keeping to an AIP diet has helped curb the more serious symptoms I was dealing with. I haven't had a serious episode since early 2018. The heart palpitations and constipation persists, and sometimes I'll still get moderate brain fog. But the pressure in my head and around my liver have mostly gone away. I attribute my internal tremors to high levels of anxiety that have developed over the years around these health issues, and have found that they happen a lot less often when I can keep my stress levels low. Anyways, I'll stop rambling, but just wanted to reach out and let you know that you're not alone! I wish there was others I could have connected with during my more trying times, but I had never really found anyone else dealing with the same group of symptoms.

I know this is kind of an old post now, but I hope things have gotten better for you. They have for me -- at least to a point where I don't feel like my symptoms hold my life hostage anymore. And if I ever end up with an actual diagnoses I'll be sure to try and reach out.

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@tysonn

Hi @gigiraj I haven't posted on a health site for years, but I periodically look for others who share the same cluster of symptoms that I do. I'm so glad I stumbled upon your post and just wanted to reach out and tell you that you're not alone in what you're going thru.

I've had very similar symptoms since 2012 (I'm a 33yo male). For me it started as sudden onset of constipation and thin/discolored stools. The change in bowl habits seemingly came out of nowhere, and I haven't been the same since the change began 9 years ago now. I'd say about two years into the bowl changes, I started experiencing a swelling sensation around my liver that would at first come and go, and then the swelling sensation became constant and a whole lot of other symptoms began to emerge. Pins and needles/burning sensations in my limbs, cycles of diarrhea/constipation, pressure in my head, night sweats, internal vibrations, severe brain fog, skin rashes, heart palpitations, muscle twitching. These episodes would last for a few months, subside for a few months and then come back, each episodes usually being more intense than the last. From the outside you'd never know I was dealing with any health issues.

I've seen countless doctors, specialists and had many tests done (at UCLA no less). Every doctor and test imaginable to try and find the source of these symptoms. Instead of any clarity, I've gotten reaffirmations of being in great health due to fantastic bloodwork and normal scans. Every test has come back completely unremarkable, yet the symptoms still come and go.

I wanted to mainly reach out and let you know that while I haven't been diagnosed with anything (other than the IBS nonsense and anxiety), I have found that keeping to an AIP diet has helped curb the more serious symptoms I was dealing with. I haven't had a serious episode since early 2018. The heart palpitations and constipation persists, and sometimes I'll still get moderate brain fog. But the pressure in my head and around my liver have mostly gone away. I attribute my internal tremors to high levels of anxiety that have developed over the years around these health issues, and have found that they happen a lot less often when I can keep my stress levels low. Anyways, I'll stop rambling, but just wanted to reach out and let you know that you're not alone! I wish there was others I could have connected with during my more trying times, but I had never really found anyone else dealing with the same group of symptoms.

I know this is kind of an old post now, but I hope things have gotten better for you. They have for me -- at least to a point where I don't feel like my symptoms hold my life hostage anymore. And if I ever end up with an actual diagnoses I'll be sure to try and reach out.

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@tysonn hey, thank you so much for this. This is an old thread but I still get notifications because I'm glad people can share their experiences of what seems to be an un-diagnosable intersection of a bunch of different stuff. Your post especially fit my symptoms to an exact T. Down to the skin rashes and the looking healthy on the outside.
For you and anyone else who's curious, my internal tremors & palpitations & muscle twitches have largely stopped because I am now in a much more stable, stress-free environment. This isn't to say "it's all in your head", but it's worth noting; like you said, a lot of my personal stuff was a psychosomatic anxiety response to my more ongoing health issues (constipation, brain fog, etc).
That being said, I'm absolutely going to look into the AIP diet (I assume that's the Autoimmune Protocol Diet). Even though the more worrying stuff has stopped, I still have an annoying IBS-type situation that definitely makes life difficult. So thank you for the suggestion!

I hope everyone else on this thread gets some answers or at least are able to share experiences. This stuff can be really scary! Sending you all love.

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I have noticed a shaky feeling inside my body- and my heart seems like it’s beating more strongly, but my pulse is usually within range. Also, my hands/fingers have slight tremors. I’ve had diverticulitis and c-dif in the last two months. But I’ve been off augmentin, flagyl, and vancomycin for a few weeks now. I’ve also been taking miralax the past few days for constipation. I don’t know if it’s due to the medication. I do have an appt with the gastro this week, and cardiologist and neurologist later this month. This does make me worried.

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@gigiraj

@tysonn hey, thank you so much for this. This is an old thread but I still get notifications because I'm glad people can share their experiences of what seems to be an un-diagnosable intersection of a bunch of different stuff. Your post especially fit my symptoms to an exact T. Down to the skin rashes and the looking healthy on the outside.
For you and anyone else who's curious, my internal tremors & palpitations & muscle twitches have largely stopped because I am now in a much more stable, stress-free environment. This isn't to say "it's all in your head", but it's worth noting; like you said, a lot of my personal stuff was a psychosomatic anxiety response to my more ongoing health issues (constipation, brain fog, etc).
That being said, I'm absolutely going to look into the AIP diet (I assume that's the Autoimmune Protocol Diet). Even though the more worrying stuff has stopped, I still have an annoying IBS-type situation that definitely makes life difficult. So thank you for the suggestion!

I hope everyone else on this thread gets some answers or at least are able to share experiences. This stuff can be really scary! Sending you all love.

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Hi I did send you a private message. But I am dealing with the same thing currently. Internal vibrations mainly. In my core. Stomach area and chest. It’s been going on a while now and I have been referred to a neurologist. What kind of tests did you have and I’m assuming you never got a diagnosis??? Glad to see it has stopped for you though. Gives me hope xx

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@hollyj89

Hi I did send you a private message. But I am dealing with the same thing currently. Internal vibrations mainly. In my core. Stomach area and chest. It’s been going on a while now and I have been referred to a neurologist. What kind of tests did you have and I’m assuming you never got a diagnosis??? Glad to see it has stopped for you though. Gives me hope xx

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Hello @hollyj89 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that you have found a member whose experience resonates with you in @gigiraj so will let the pair of you compare notes and experiences!

Have you scheduled your neurologist appointment?

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