Anxiety-Related Stomach Problems

[katiekatiekatie]

For those of you here who have stomach issues because/related to your anxiety, how long did it go on? What kind of issues do you have? What did you do to make the stomach issues stop or at least lessen in intensity?

I ask because I have had stomach issues (burning stomach, heartburn, etc) for the past four months. I've done a ton of testing and doctors can't seem to find the cause- other than anxiety. I'm just concerned about how long this will go on. :/

[Sleepless87]

I understand where you're coming from. I've had some pretty bad stomach issues and have had heartburn for as long as I can remember.

Here are some of my tips (even if some are pretty self-explanatory):

- Stay away from ibuprofen as much as possible. This causes almost instantaneous heartburn for me.
- Stay clear of a lot of acidic things (tomatoes, citrus, coffee, etc.)
- Drink milk and eat plain bread. It helps soak up some of the acid in your stomach.
- Try an acid reducer, TUMS, and/or go to the doctor and get a prescription for Nexium if the problem persists.

[WyattsMomma]

I am the absolute QUEEN of tummy issues derived from stress/anxiety. Acid, gas, diarrhea, bloating, nausea, vomitting. Mine can last days, and one particular time a month straight. It is awful but when I stay calm for a few days it starts to calm down some. I just try to make sure I was light, and non acidic in case it comes up. Good luck!

[Pokey449]

I confirmed last night night that my gut issues that I have been owrrying about being colon cancer is anxiety related. I have RUQ pain and loose, watery stools that wont go away depsite what I eat. This week I have been under a lot of stress, thus my gut not doing well. I finally broke down and took a couple valium yesterday. This morning I got up, my gut has quit hurting and I had a completely normal BM today, its like night and day. However, I dont think its just to anxiety, I think its really due to benzodiazepine withdrawal which aggravates/causes anxiety. I took a benzo for 20+ years. Got off of it in 2008, but have taken the occasional valium when I get really stressed out. While doing that lets me feel human again, when I stop taking it and am 6-8 weeks out from the last dose my anxiety and other symptoms come back. If any of you are taking benzos off and on you should consider this. My psych doc says, "no, can't be benzo W/D that far out. I amgoing to have to tell him, sorry, but you are wrong. SOme of the literature says you can have W/D sxs for some time, months to a year later. The final answer though is to never take the valium again, but easier said than done.

Pokey

[starr77]

almost all of my anxiety goes to my stomach and lower back. I get alll kinds of stomach/pelvic problems. Aches,twinges of pain,cramps,kanwing or burning feeling,gugrling sounds,bloated...the list goes on and on and at times lasts for months.

[crazilyanxious]

I've been getting stomach issues off and on for the better part of a year now!!  I still don't know if mine are really attributed to anxiety or not, but so far I haven't found any other answers for it.  I get heartburn, a feeling like something is lodged in my chest, nausea, burning feelings in my stomach/throat, constipation, diarrhea, stomach cramps, etc.  I haven't found anything to help me lessen these symptoms so far.  And things like pepto and gas X do nothing to help me, so it's really frustrating and scary.  I wish I could help you, but I can't even seem to help myself!  At least know you are not alone in this!

[chellebelle]

I have all these problems too. I seem to have "cancer of the month". For awhile it was lung cancer due to muscular pain in my chest, shoulder and neck (I swore it had to be a tumor), another month it was a" brain tumor" due to trigger points and tight muscles in my neck causing headaches, another month it was a different brain tumor due to ear problems, and now, I am "sure" i have colon cancer due to off and on again low abdominal pain, burning stomach, diarreah,gas,  etc. I am seeing a gastro in 2 weeks. It is hard to wait that long. I keep telling myself all my other "cancer of the months" had no major medical reason and they have passed...and so will this...but I get so unbearably anxious and worked up I'm sure it's making it all worse. Obviously I have pretty severe health anxiety.I also have a lot of stress.  I have seen a therapist a few times and have tried Xanax, with no luck. Doc just prescribed Zoloft. Anyone else ever try this for health anxiety/

[Slangevar]

I've had every stomach issue there is... usually they resolve within a few weeks of the anxiety going away. For the past month, I've been dealing with heartburn, persistent sore throat, stomach gurgling, constant burping, upper abdominal pains, lower abdominal pains, every color & kind of stool you can imagine.

I have an ENT on the case and I'm working on some theories for the sore throat (allergies, allergy to my mouthguard, dehydration, hormones, etc.), so the anxiety has gone down a bit, and I've already noticed that the burping and heartburn are getting better. (Ab pains are already gone.) 

Good luck with your stomach issues... they're one of my least favorite parts of anxiety.

[trainwreck]

For those of you here who have stomach issues because/related to your anxiety, how long did it go on? What kind of issues do you have? What did you do to make the stomach issues stop or at least lessen in intensity?

I ask because I have had stomach issues (burning stomach, heartburn, etc) for the past four months. I've done a ton of testing and doctors can't seem to find the cause- other than anxiety. I'm just concerned about how long this will go on. :/

My first bad bout with anxiety, I was 17.  I was all in my stomach.  Luckily I had a doc that recognized it right away and treated it.  But as the years went on, I would notice that it would show up in other places.  For years it was extremely sore and tired legs.  Another time fairly regular headaches. 

This last bout it hit my stomach the hardest. Same symptoms as you.  Anxiety is hard on your body, and you never can tell what parts it will impact. 

[trainwreck]

Obviously I have pretty severe health anxiety.I also have a lot of stress.  I have seen a therapist a few times and have tried Xanax, with no luck. Doc just prescribed Zoloft. Anyone else ever try this for health anxiety/

Xanax is not really that helpful for HA related thoughts.  It will calm your body, and ease your panic, but it is very short acting.  And you will be a bit calmer while still have the intrusive/obsessional thoughts.
Zoloft is a drug that hopefully will assist you in forming new thinking patterns.  I still have HA at times, but it is not nearly as life disrupting as it was before I used drugs and therapy.