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Rapid heart beat and nausea?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 9/27/2006 11:51 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone.  I'm new to this and still trying to figure out if I actually have IBS (as I've been diagnosed with on 2 separate occasions).  The difference that I'm finding in symptoms commonly associated with IBS and my symptoms are rapid heart beat and severe nausea (not to mention cramping, headache and feeling faint).  Non of these symptoms are commonly seen in association with IBS but I've told gastroenterologist these things and they stick me in the IBS catagory.  Does anyone else out there have these 'extra' issues or know what they could be attributed to?  Thanks for any insight.

Nitty

Posted 9/28/2006 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Do you get these symptoms when you're having a bowel movement or about to have a bowel movement? Some people on here have had similar symptoms when they are having an attack. The best thing we have come up with is a sudden drop in blood pressure, sudden dehydration (apparently losing a lot of fluids rapidly from vomiting or diarrhea can cause your body to freak out) or a panic attack.
Posted 9/28/2006 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Keriamon and thank you for responding.  I usually have this "attack" maybe once a month (or less if I'm lucky) and I don't know what to attribute it to.  I don't throw up before but sometimes the attack happens after a bowel movement.  I sometimes feel a sudden urge to have a bowel movement in the midst of it all.  I've been doing research quite recently and come across these symptoms in pancreatitis, gallstones, gastroenteritis (sp) and abdominal blockage.  So there's probably more to it than just my IBS diagnosis.  I just want to know whats wrong with me!  Original symptoms first occured in December of 02 and I've been having "attacks" seemingly randomly since.   
Posted 9/28/2006 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
You might want to think about getting an abdominal ultrasound, which can highlight a number of problems leading to nausea (including gallstones and pancreatitis).

Posted 9/28/2006 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Sarita.  I probably do need to get an ultrasound.  I have been a little discouraged with MD's lately because they tell me based on bloodwork nothing is wrong with me or it's IBS so deal.  It helps to know specifically what to do next instead of depending on the doctor to go to bat for you...

Posted 9/28/2006 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with acid reflux and IBS two or three times before they found my bad gall bladder. Took them 5 years to figure it out, even though me and my mother both were telling them that's what was wrong with it. In fact, everyone in my family diagnosed me quicker than the doctors because everyone in my family has had a bad gall bladder! (Genetics, you think???)

If you want your gall bladder looked into, insist on a hida scan. That checks the actual function of your gall bladder, independent of stones (which I did not have). The first two I had were inconclusive and fine respectively. In hindsight, I realize now that the reason why my obviously bad gall bladder did not show up on them was because I was having an "okay" period. I had my third one when I was having a real bad spell. If your gall bladder (assuming this is even the problem) is like mine and it randomly malfunctions, it may be hard to catch with a test. I have recommended to people who suspect their gall bladder but who are having a good spell when their test is scheduled, to try and precipitate an attack the day before your hida scan. Things that almost always brought an attack on for me: caffeine, fried fast food, pizza. Some people also have a doozy of a time with spicy foods like Mexican and Indian.

I have also heard of the four F's that increase your chances of having gall bladder disease: fair, fat, female, 40+. I hit three of the four of those. Some people also add in pregnant as apparently having children makes it more likely to go bad. Also, my surgeon said that people of Native American descent are at risk because apparently it's quite prevalent among them (I also hit that marker).
Posted 9/28/2006 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Wow.  I don't hit all of the markers but I will say that my mother and grandmother both have digestive issues so it could very possibly be a genetic thing.  I will definitely take your advice to get and ultrasound and hida scan.  What symptoms did/do you have during a bad spell?  Do you ever have the shaky, cold sweat, nausous feelings? 


Posted 9/29/2006 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Nausea is a very common symptom of a bad gall bladder--much more so than IBS. Right after having a bowel movement during an attack, I did develop severe chills. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea (where your poop is yellow- or green-tinged and burns like the devil), a sudden feeling of fullness--of even being stuffed--before you even finish your meal, feeling sicker when you lay flat on your back, pain along your right side or in the upper abdomen, aching in your right shoulder and/or right arm.
Posted 9/29/2006 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
That all sounds very familiar except for the main symptoms indicative of gall bladder problems which is the pain and discolored poop. I only have mild abdominal pain/cramping which has never really gone upward or towards the arm. I still plan on going to the doctor and requesting and utlrasound and hipa scan. I might as well check everything until I find the root of the problem. Thanks Keriamon.
Posted 9/29/2006 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
It's quite possible that you have a mild case. My symptoms certainly changed and got worse over time.

And I just remembered this morning that the other thing that can cause nausea, pain and diarrhea is an infection of h. pylori. They find that by doing an endoscopy and taking a sample of your stomach lining where it lives.
Posted 10/3/2006 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nitty,
I'm assuming you're female? May I ask your age?
It sounds like you're vasodilating all of a sudden. Sometimes that seems to happen with diarrhea.......or sometimes it can cause it. Do you have any other medical conditions?
There was a post here a few months ago about these same feelings, right before getting diarrhea.
Sometimes prostaglandins can make this happen right around your period. Have you noticed that these occur in relation to your cycles?
Posted 10/3/2006 4:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hi CathyA,

Yes, your assumption is correct, I am female and I'm 25 years old.  I have recently noticed that the last 2 times I had the attack was at the end of my period or the first day I took my birth control pill (which I have stopped taking).  I have actually read that IBS can 'flare' up for women at different points in their cycle which seems like an issue I have.  I'm actually interested to see what happens this time around!  I am slightly anemic and have been since I was born but otherwise, there are no other medical conditions (Thank God).  I will certainly start taking into consideration my cycle and the attacks, we may be on to something...

Posted 10/3/2006 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Lil found that her BC was making her IBS episodes worse, so that's certainly something you might want to look into. Several ladies have gone off the pill in favor of the hormone ring which keeps the hormones pretty localized to just the uterus.
Posted 10/3/2006 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
It's true! No BC pills for me anymore.

The ring is called NuvaRing. My doctor suggested it, so did a few women on this site, but I'm fine without anything now. I have a girlfriend with IBS who tried NuvaRing and it did not suit her well. Gave her cramps, which in turn gave her D. She switched to a low hormone dose pill. Goes to show we're all different. We just have to keep experimenting.
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