Wondering if my IBS is back?

OK so I've suffered with really bad anxiety for years. It started off as social anxiety before becoming more generalised anxiety, then for the past couple of years it's been very much health anxiety I'm suffering from as well.

I've had IBS a couple of times over the years, and I'm wondering if my current symptoms mean its back. For the past couple of weeks I've had really bad wind and gas, with bloatedness and chest pains. Now for the past couple of days I've been having loose stools and dirrorhea. I'm only having dirrorhea once a day though in the morning - although I occasionally feel like I need to go again I actually never do. There is no blood or mucas, it's just loose stools or proper dirrorhea. It doesn't get me up during the night or anything. I must admit to not having the best diet in the world but I'm trying to improve it. I have a good appetite overall even though I know after eating my stomach will take a while to settle.

I've also had a muscular type pain for the past few weeks close to the pelvic/bowel area - although I've seen my doctor about this and he examined me and told me it's a weakness in my ingunial canal muscle that may or may not develop into a hernia in the future. So that isn't linked.

Anyway I was just wondering if this sounds like my IBS could be back? My anxiety in general is high right now as I work and also have the stress of essay deadlines at university. My health anxiety is through the roof and convincing me I have something serious like bowel cancer - even though I have none of the other symptoms of that.

I just need to talk to someone about how I'm feeling I guess. Any help anyone can give me I would really appreciate.

Well I have already gone through Cognitive behavioural Therapy last year, and have now been referred back to them because gradually my anxiety is taking control again. I'm falling back into that vicious circle - thinking and worrying about my stomach etc, which heightens the anxiety and ends up giving me diarrhea.

With me, it seems that I'm always worrying about something health wise. Over the years I've went to my doctor with so many different symptoms; almost all caused by anxiety. But it's definately my digestive system that seems to bear the brunt of my anxiety - my poor stomach gets put through the mill when my anxiety is really bad!

I took 2 Immodium tablets the other day after finally getting fed up of having loose stools/diarrhea - I didn't have a bowel movement for 2 days afterwards but when I finally did it wa basically just back to the loose stools. I just wish my mind would stop obsessing and worrying about it. When I'm at my work I pretty much feel OK because my mind is occupied and not having the chance to obsess. I've never had to go and run to the toilet whilst at work which just shows that it's the anxiety, and probably IBS, that are causing this.

I used to think that General Anxiety Disorder was the worst type of anxiety I'd ever had - but actually I think Health Anxiety is even worse - the thoughts that give you are very distressing. I just wish I would wake up one day and not have my mind constantly try to convince me I have a serious illness.

I understand your pain. For me, it all started 13 years ago when I began having skipped heart beats. Went to the doctor, saw a cardiologist, and found it was nothing serious. But every time I feel these skipped heart beats, it freaks me out. As time went by, I obsessed more and more about it. Then it spread to other things. I began having IBS symptoms 6 years ago. So I obsessed about that. Then I started getting dizzy, and obsessed about that. Every little stomach gurgle, ache, or pain, and I'm freaking out... Googling the symptoms, trying to figure out what horrible disease I might have. It sucks. I completely understand what you all are going through and am here to encourage each other in any way I can.