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IBS & Stress causing disturbed sleep & nausea,,

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 7/30/2008 2:30 AM (GMT 0)

I was diagnosed with ibs when I was 5, and over the years it has gradually got better. Unfortunately, with my parents splitting up within the last 2 years it has flared up again very badly, my hair also started falling out ( my gp said both of these are due to stress ), my stomach has been bloating up randomly so much that i look at least 6 months pregnant, but my main problem is this: throughout the day i feel very sick but this tends to come and go, however for the past 2 weeks- every single night without fail i've been waking up between 1am-3am feeling very sick and panicky (i have a phobia of vomiting) and the only way I can go back to sleep is if I go to the toilet and wait there for half an hour or read a book. I thought I could just wait for this to stop but the lack of sleep is really getting to me now.
Has anybody got suggestions on how i could stop this?
Or has anybody had experience similar to this?
Please helppppp confused

p.s im 16 years old.

Posted 7/30/2008 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
xpox,
Hey there. It sounds like you might be suffering with some anxiety as well as your IBS. I totally get where your coming from with the huge fear of puking. (I thought I was the only one!) And this does happen to me alot. I'll wake up and feel nauseus and have to go sleep in the bathroom. Alot of my problems are due to my Anxiety Disorder. Have you talked to your doctor about that? I know this is very hard especially since you've been suffering with this for so long. I am no doctor and I'm fairly new to IBS but it's just my opinion that you should check into the anxiety factor. Also, it sounds like you may have a hormone problem. Have you ever been checked for ovarian cysts? The symptoms you're having kinda mimick that too. Again I am no doctor. Just hoping to offer you some good topics to discuss with your doctor.
I know someone will come along with some solid advice. Untill then I hope you get to feeling better! Love to you!
Rachel
Posted 7/30/2008 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
xpox, it does sound like extreme anxiety which can cause the bloating because when we are anxious we tend to swallow a lot and swallow air. Also, if you chew gum it can cause bloating because of the same problem. I think I would pursue the anxiety with a doctor. My grandaughter had much the same problem at a very early age and was put on medication and it changed her life for the better. I really don't know if she is on it anymore though. As for the hair falling out that doesn't happen overnight but when stress related usually takes a while before it starts. My other suggestion is to have your thyroid checked as that can cause all your symptoms including the hair loss. I hope you find an answer. If you are on certain meds that can cause hair loss also but you didnt mention any so I assume you are not.
Posted 8/1/2008 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
(hugs) sorry to hear about your parents.  I know anxiety/stress can do alot of things to the body.  Do you think it may be this?  If so, maybe getting your feelings down in a diary may help. 

I also have a fear of vomiting.  We're not alone as there's actually a name for it ... emetophobia. 

I've noticed that wheat causes me to blow up, do you notice a connection with food?  

I suffer from random nausea and take ginger capsules for this.  They are harmless and can be found in some grocery stores and any health food store.  

Hope you feel better soon :-)

Posted 8/1/2008 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
I hear you. Luckily for me my parents got divorced when I was 12, and that was before my IBS days.

Stress I can deal with, Anxiety I cannot. My wife is mad at me most of the time, we get all set to go somewhere (which I never know why I even agree), two minutes before we leave I start having problems. Stomach bloats, nerves start to tingle, I feel like I am going to lose control and pass out. I start sweating and shaking. Sometimes I can force through it, others I cannot, plus it doesn't help I have my wife in my ear yelling at me about everything.

I dont have problems puking, dont like it, but dont have problems. Have you tried the peppermints? The doc gave me some stuff a while back that was supposed to help, can't remember the name of it.

This week I was taken all my other meds and put on 10mg of some anti-depressant, not depressed, but apparently my gut is, lol. She says its something about ceratonin levels in my gut. She says the pills should help with my anxiety as well, but 10mg is pretty small, not sure how it will help.

I hope things go better for you. Try to relax, I have learned that life is going to happen, all you get to do is sit back and watch, then pick up the pieces or revel in its marvels. 90% of the time getting worked up isn't going to change anything.
Posted 8/1/2008 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeah, definitely terrified of puking!! You are NOT alone on that one!! I've done the Camp-Out In The Bathroom, too. My Mom, who also has IBS, also does it and we take turns keeping each other company when it gets really bad for one or the other of us.

My Mom just got divorced in the past year, too, and my IBS flared up (after almost a YEAR in remission - DANG IT!!) AND my hair started falling out. Over the past year I've lost over half my hair - luckily, I had a lot to begin with, so at least there's no bald spots. LOL

Couple of things that have helped me:
- De-stress (http://store.agoodvitamin.com/birede30ca.html) Like the name suggests, it helps you calm down. It's derived from milk (but I'm lactose intolerant and I can take it) and really gentle on my overly-sensitive tummy. Also non-habit forming. It doesn't zombie-fy you like antidepressants, just helps you maintain and gentle, mellow calm.
- Peppermint oil or candies. The mint helps settle the tummy. Same for ginger, basil, and lavendar. Lavendar will also help you calm down as it is very soothing.
- try drinking a glass of water before going to bed. Sometimes when I'm stressed out my tummy makes too much acid. The water dilutes it and helps me sleep through the night. Eating a slice of bread with the water also seems to help, I guess because it soaks up stuff... I dunno, I'm not a doctor. lol

I would definitely talk to a doctor though, sweetie. There are options and things to help you deal with this better. It's never EVER easy to go through a life-altering event like divorce. Don't be afraid to ask for help. *nods*

Good luck, I hope things get better!
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