Constant fear of having another IBS attack. How do people deal with it?

Hi,

I've had intermittent and infrequent attacks of IBS-D my whole life, however last year they got much worse, to where I was having 2/week.

After seeing a GI doc and through following a gluten free, low FODMAP diet, I've reduced my symptoms to about 1-2 attacks per month. I'm still working on trying to have less than that, but even when I'm not having symptoms I'm constantly fearful of having another. The attacks can be horrifyingly painful, right in the center of my abdomen under my belly button (right where my belt sits). It feels like an alien is trying to burst out of my intestines. Surprisingly, I've conclusively found that while stress, caffeine, alcohol, fried, greasy, fatty foods, insoluble fiber, red meat, etc may cause some minor discomfort, it's nowhere near the level of pain associated with a more major attack, the causes of which I still can't figure out.

I get light cramps every couple of days right in that exact same spot. While these aren't problems in and of themselves, the fear that accompanies them, that a major one might be coming, is overwhelming. Has anyone dealt with something similar? While my attacks are less frequent now (1-2/month), they can be so painful that I can't stop thinking about having one every times I have a minor cramp here or there in my intestines.

So sorry to hear that i know what you you mean. I had 3 bad flare ups with in the past 10 yrs but they last 3-4 months at a time.I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago and he put me on lexapro 5mg for the flare up. He said it takes around 4 weeks to clam down the anxiety which than will hopefully help the IBS flare up.Its rough I'm on day 12 and my stomach hurts & nauseous and waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety.He said it is just the side effects of the lexapro he gave me some Xanax .5mg just to get thru the side effects but i really don't want to use them but they help get thru the night i hope it works for me I'm tired of this already.
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I'm on day 14 of the escitalopam 5mg having a really hard time with it. I cut it down from 5mg to 2.5mg on my own the side effects are brutal!!!!! And on top to have a IBS flare up life sucks right now feel like quitting the med and try to go the natural route and give it a chance so confused people say the side effects will go away but i don't see no light at the end of the tunnel. Ive had bad flare ups before but i don't ever remember so much anxiety with it maybe I'm just stressing my self out more by always thinking about it.Gonna call the doctor today to see what he recommends doing i only been on meds for two weeks hope i don't get withdrawal symptoms if i just stop.

Thanks for the response I quit taking the escitolpam 4 days ago and I feel so good now not 100% but way better it was the SSRI that was making me so sick with anxiety have to wait it out now for the stomach to heal itself.