Posted 6/3/2009 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have always had problems with IBS-D, but in recent months I've suddenly developed constipation! I have also had constant anxiety problems (and been unable to tolerate the Effexor XR I had taken for years for it). I have developed constipation, urgency without anything actually present to pass, days of constipation and then diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain.
I have been to the GI several times, and we are sure this is not the Ulcerative Colitis flaring up. I've had a colonoscopy and small bowel just to be sure! I've reduced my Lomotil down to 2 a day from 8 a day which helps a lot, but still having pain. I'm also taking Librax 4 times a day to help both the cramping and the anxiety, could this be causing problems? I've been taking it for about a month and a half.
I don't know whether to add fiber to my diet for the IBS now that I have constipation (though I still have loose stools from time to time) as it always made the diarrhea worse in the past. I'm often not hungry, either from the pain or the constipation, or for fear that eating will bring them back. Add in the anxiety, and I feel like I am going to pieces! I fear going out, I have problems just driving to and from work, and avoid social situations because I'm either in pain or fear the sudden need to use the bathroom even after all these weeks of constipation. I've had two UC flareups in the past year and terrible diarrhea for several months early this spring while we trying 5 new antidepressant/anxiety medications, so the memories and fears of diarrhea are fresh on my mind. The pain ranges from irritating to severe, and seems to be worse after I've slept for a while (it usually wakes me up about 4 am) and feels somewhat better after having a bowel movement.
Any help or encouragement? I feel like I can never relax, and the doctors are frustrated. One blames the anxiety and the other the IBS. I don't know what to do since I'm used to only diarrhea, and I don't know if I'm blowing it all out of proportion with the anxiety problems raging. My first child is also only three months old so life has been anything but stable lately, making everyone's instructions of "relax" much harder to follow.
Yesterday was my birthday, and I had to stay home due to the pain and spent a rough night tossing and turning to wake up to terrible abdominal cramping. It's somewhat better now that I'm up and about, but I am tried of living this way!