Anxiety and Crohn's

I always seem to post with stupid questions, but I'm kinda doing my own research into this. I would like personal experiences. Like I said before, I haven't been diagnosed with Crohn's...it's the last GI test left to run before I can truly claim the IBS diagnosis.

My personal experience has to deal with anxiety messing with my nausea. While food in most cases triggers a huge nausea attack that lands me in the hospital on IV nausea meds, I also deal with nausea caused by anxiety. The nausea caused by anxiety always rang "IBS" in my head, but is it possible to have Crohn's irritated by anxiety?

May be a stupid question, I apologize. This just makes a difference in what I think is going on with my body. I will be seeing a new GI doctor on the 1st of November though. Looking forward to getting some questions answered. I didn't know if it was one or the other that was triggered by anxiety, or if it could be both.

Sometimes, yes. Mainly cramping pains. I have no other symptoms. I was told on here by multiple people that you can have Crohn's with nausea being your only symptom. My nausea is dehabilitating. No nausea meds work properly, even the ones I'm on. I'd rather know if it's possible to have anxiety making Crohn's worse though.

I see you have lots of conditions there. Is it possable one of your meds is causing your naseau? I have a close friend w/ panic disorder. She was throwing up daily and naseaus 24/7. Her doctor took her off her anti-depressant and within days the naseau went away. It sucked b/c it really helped her panic/depression but once they found the cause they found her a substitute drug and she is feeling much better. Maybe with your doctors permission you could stop one drug at a time to see if it is contributing to your issues.

Stress makes my crohns worse as does certain foods and early mornings or super late nights. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon. Also, have you been checked for ovarian cysts? When I had one my body had all the symptoms of being pregnant but I was 13 and it would have been the immaculate conception. Luckily my parents believed me.

As far as my medication situation goes, I was on Lithium before I got sick. When I got sick, they took me off of it, like you suggested, to rule out the problem. I was still sick for a month, and on top of that, I got manic. So they put me back on the psych meds I'm on now [Lamictal, Lithium, Neurontin, and Trazodone]. I felt no increase in nausea, nor any new symptoms.

I was checked for ovarian cysts. I did have them a year ago, which hinted that my lower back pain [that eventually doc's found out was from Fibromyalgia] was caused by them. But my last exam three months ago showed no cysts.

I think the problem is...I can hardly eat at all. If my nausea meds work, I get small meals in. But when I'm nauseated, I can't eat. Food immediately comes back up. Sometimes I can't even hold down water, which is when I have to go to the ER and get IV fluids [important for me to have water for my Lithium].

I've had the full GI work-up. I apologize for not elaborating :3 The last thing they needed to test for was Crohn's, but they weren't able to do it. They ended up giving me the dx of IBS, and I just went with it. I didn't think a person could have Crohn's with nausea as being the only/main symptom. But lately, ever since I've been at home with my parents, I've seen three more doctors when I'm violently ill, and they are saying that it's not likely that I have IBS and more likely that I have Crohn's.

I've been on quite a few antidepressants in my time [about 10], and none of the antidepressants gave me nausea. Now I know my mood stabilizer lithium needs to be changed, because it does increase the nausea a little bit...not a lot. It's just the form of lithium I'm taking [lithium carbonate]. I was told that switching to lithobid, another form of lithium, will cut down on the nausea. It's not a lot of nausea, but more nausea is the last thing I need.

I'd still like more stories on anxiety and Crohn's though instead of talking about whether or not I have Crohn's. I might, and I might not...it's a toss up really. I actually had another post I made about that a while back, and I don't want to repeat myself too much :3 Thanks for everyone's concern and suggestions though.

I have had Crohns for a long time.  I only had nausea on my first flare.  But now 30 something years later, thats my chief complaint.  Especially when I get stressed or anxious.  I immediately get nauseous!  I treat mine now with 8mg Zofran every morning and 25 mg Phenergan every night.  But when the anxiety hits I have to take Valium to chill out along with another 4mg Zofran.  Its weird I don't get anxious about things like where a bathroom or things with my job.  Mine comes when people upset me, or my husband whom I adore, occasionally turns into a idiot.  I can tell you the anxiety is a new symptom for me, and I hate it.   

Nanners..........and others .....

I have CD and I also have Anxiety and Severe Panic attacks although they are getting better and it does make many with CD have anxiety and panic we have a few on the a/p forum ......I am also on valium for my a/p .......and take ativan when broken out in PG sores ........which are made worse with stress and trauma to the body .....even colonoscopy's! ........... LOL....My ex hubby also turns into a dang dumb... when I was anxious around him.........or others........

Antidepressants ...MOST ...can and will cause nausea when first starting them but it does subside and it usually takes a good 4 to 6 weeks for them to fully kick in and see a difference in self .......CD and many other Chronic Illnesses can also cause depression from slight to severe.........and agoraphobia ( not wanting to leave house or safe zone) which I can understand due to washroom issues .....ect.........

Pop over to the A/p forum if you would like for some input and support as well ........LYN

Take care all and try to have a good day ......

I too started feeling like I lived on the edge. Little things would make me jumpy. I noticed that whenever I was in the car with my husband, I would gasp and tense up if a car next to us started changing lanes. At least once a day I would jump while in the car with him. And he's a good driver. Now that I'm on cymbalta I'm much more calm and less anxious. I never thought I was depressed or had anxieties but I probably do.

I have always had anxiety and stomach problems from stress. Any time I got upset my stomach would bother me. After getting the Crohn's dx my anxiety skyrocketed, I believe the steroids caused major anxiety problems for me and the whole concept of being ill with no cure was terrifying! I had what they called adjustment disorder, I cried every time they told me about what was happening in my body. So I went to therapy and started attending anxiety reduction group, along with going on Celexa and Klonopin. The meds help me a lot and I am actually off of Klonopin now and doing very well with using my coping techniques to remain calm and cool about stuff. I get acupuncture for anxiety reduction and try to do things that make me feel good.
I think that stress and anxiety will worsen any illness, and so try the best you can to reduce stress and take care of you. Your body can't be happy if your mind isn't, it is all connected.
I do have constant nausea, every day since I have gotten CD I have been nauseous. I take Reglan and Phenergan every day to try and calm the nausea. I don't think anxiety and stress help my nausea at all, it always worsens it.