Anxiety with IBS

Hi @gstill,

You’ve asked a very pertinent question; I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to see this video, where Dr. Kenneth DeVault, gastroenterologist and chair of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Florida, discusses Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and what researchers at Mayo Clinic are doing to better understand, diagnose, and treat the disease?

Whether you have IBS or not, stress can often exacerbate GI symptoms. Recently, several well-published studies have shown that there is a link between IBS and anxiety, yet despite the strong evidence, we still can't explain why that is.
– Anxiety and Depression in Irritable Bowel Syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733421/
– Irritable Bowel Syndrome https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2017/06000/Irritable_Bowel_Syndrome.26.aspx

I’m also tagging @agr205, @holly5757, @flip1949, @keysgull, @mvestuto, @cherriann, @ntp01, @cahnny, @srobison, @jeanie26, @grandmajan @travelgirl – I’d really like to hear your insights if you've experienced anxiety or other mental stressors in relation to GI disorders like IBS? What are your thoughts on having patients screened for anxiety and depression, when they are diagnosed with IBS or similar GI issues? Would it facilitate better therapy and outcomes?

Thank you, Kanaaz P for the articles concerning IBS and anxiety. I am reading the articles but could not find the link to the video by Dr. DeVault in Florida. I was recently prescribed Clonazepam .5 mg twice daily for my anxiety. Not only has it improved my anxiety, it has also virtually eliminated my IBS symptoms. I am certainly convinced there is a definite connection with the mind-gut problems of IBS. I am most interested in learning more , and also how Clonazepam works, it’s safety and whether it should be taken long term or how to wean off of it.

Thanks for the articles. My own personal experience is that when my anxiety level gets high it is soon followed by severe diarrhea. There is a definite correlation for me between the two.

@gstill I have had stomach issues most of my life. I have never been officially diagnosed with anything but GERD. The end of this month I am having an Endoscope Bravo, and an Esophgeal Manomentry. Which I hope, will help figure out, the on, and off issues, I have when eating?
Some days I can eat anything like nothing is wrong. Then BAM I end up with an episode of stomach cramps, and having to run the restroom. Or I eat or drink something, and afterwards it feels like I just put a blow torch down my throat. A constant burning sensation with terrible gas, stomach and chest pains with throat spasms. This will last for about 10 days.

So I can understand how, one may get depressed after being diagnosed IBS. It can be very trying on us, when eating food makes us feel sick.

But then again, no matter what a person's illness, being sick can cause us to feel depressed period. And, overall depressing, especially if it becomes a chronic condition.
I hope you are feeling better soon.
All my Best
Jackie

My sincere apologies; here’s the link for the video with Dr. Kenneth DeVault:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/on-facebook-live-ibs-and-how-we-can-help/

Thank you! Very helpful information!

Yes, I've had anxiety since early childhood as well as constipation. I was either pushed out of a moving car or I opened the door and fell on my head onto the road at age one. I had a very minor concussion went to ER was patched up sent me home. Had auto accident at 17 again I didn't seek medical care, walked away but had low back pain about a month. Started feeling neck pain age 19. In my early-20s I'd get dizzy upon standing, one day was sick of it happening, wondered what would happen if I didnt sit back down. Big mistake, had a grand mal seizure! Did not have insurance did not seek medical care. Once I got to the floor the seizure stopped. I now know I have orthostatic hypotension and I'm told head trauma as a baby could've been the reason. Had two other accidents late twenties early thirties. I have multiple spinal injuries from top to bottom as well as osteophytes / bone spurs and slight scoliosis. Was diagnosed with Nutcracker esophagus (motility disease) in 2011, GI doc was dumbfounded. Also diagnosed 3 years ago with eosinophilic esophagitis. They say it's rare but research says it's not so rare after all. I had a schatzki's ring, had one dilation done and so far it has held and I don't have food impaction. I'm on a very strict paleo almost vegan diet. It's helped with weight loss and blood work is great! Despite all of this I still have motility problems, m exercising walking Etc trying not to overdo it though. The esophageal manometry will show if you have NE, it's extremely painful there's also something else called Jackhammer esophagus which is much worse! You may have achalasia, I think I had this in my younger year's, I'm now 50. I believe I also have gastroparesis. My anxiety gets really, bad I have fibromyalgia and OCD. Clonazepam helps with all of this but I live in Florida, having hard time getting it. Seeing a psych doctor in 2 days. I'm coming out of a major fibro flare, seen neurologist yesterday gave me anti-inflammatory shot and 5 day supply or more of Meloxicam/ mobic as well as oxycodone but I do not take them unless absolutely necessary. The clonazepam is also an anticonvulsant that's why it helps me much more with spasms. I take Tizanidine/non-narcotic muscle relaxer, helps sleep. Once I get clonazepam again I won't have so many issues with motility. There are support groups on Facebook for these diseases. I admin for a nutcracker esophagus group only 123 members currently worldwide. I hope this helps, good luck!

Thank you sharing @blackoutthesun. Right now go figure i am feeling ok. I am suppose to have these tests done starting the day after thanksgiving. I am now down to the day where I stop taking all acid reflux medicine completely prior to my test. Hopefully they can figure out my on and off throat burning, chest pains, and stomach issues.. We shall see? I will let everyone know how it turns the end of this month..
And now I'm a tad nervous since you said the one test is painful... UGH....
Have a Good day..
Jackie

@caj, You are not being a child to try to deal with your illness; rather, it sounds like you need a lot more self-care to address it than you are allowing yourself now. I think you and your husband together need to adjust the priorities that you have set for yourself, for your business, and expectations of one another to allow you to cope in a more healthy way. The *evidence* that this is harming you is there as a basis to have this conversation. Have none of the physicians you've seen given you advice on addressing the GI symptoms you are having, since you say you are not on any meds? If you can get your physical life under better control, with the needed change in your regimen to support that, then perhaps some of your anxiety will lessen, too. Extreme stress is very unhealthy.

Thank you for responding. I took the Rx of Prilosec for 60 days and was finally better but have been off of that since last May.GI doc didn’t keep me on it. I hate to take meds. I have this bumpy rash on the back of my thighs, back and stomach. Had biopsy and it showed nothing. I truly think I’m nuts. You know no one likes a complainer. That gets old so you button it up and try your best to plug on. It’s like I hit this life crisis when I turned 69 and now 70.