Low blood sugar, anxiety, panic attacks. UC related?

Hi all,

My first post here. I've not been diagnosed YET, but from what I've been reading this condition fits me perfectly.

I'm 54, and since I was 16yo I've had low blood sugar, panic and anxiety. 4 years ago I went gluten free due to bad diarrhea (going to loo 4 times in a row, literally 30 secs out then back in again and eggy smelling). Helped greatly going GF. However, I noticed I also get urgency when having carbonated water and also fruit juice. Stumbled upon UC only last weekend as I was very bad after having one 25ug Vitamin D tablet. My Vit D is low.

Also I have a high platelet count, I think due to dehydration, so I've been diagnosed with polycythemia vera.

I also find I have times when I'm well then other times when I appear to get ill suddenly and for no apparent reason.

I also don't tolerate medication very well, I usually get the side effects.

If it is UC, I think I'm now having some sort of flare as I've been asleep all night and I'm still tired. I also find by mid-afternoon I struggle to keep my eyes open. Also when I'm not feeling too good I can have soft and yellow stools.

Anyway, is there anyone with knowledge / experience of having low blood sugar and/or anxiety and panic with UC.

Although my Dad is long gone, I'm convinced my coeliac / UC has come from him. He could pass wind for England and he would always leave the bathroom smelling dreadful. He was never diagnosed with anything.

After feeling so ill last week and stumbling across UC I immediately went to my GP and I felt he agreed with me, so he's referred me to a private hospital. I'm now booked in to see the Professor no less on 9 May. How's that for quick! It's quick for England.

Hope I've not bored you too much.

Thanks in advance.

If you have blood with BM's I'd say get a colonoscopy right away because that is the only way for you to know if you have UC. Biopsies plus visual confirmation (with photos) are standard diagnosis.

There are many things that can be causing your anxiety, low blood sugar and panic attacks. You should talk to your doctor although I'm always in favor of doing some background research too.

Your description of childhood abdominal pain and adult urgency after eating fits IBS (Irritable Bowel) profile. Google the difference between IBS and UC. Many similarities but UC is treated with totally diff. meds. IBS can be helped by determining what foods cause symptoms.

Good for you figuring out that wheat causes symptoms.
Low blood sugar is really something to ask your doctor about the cause. Perhaps you are pre-diabetic? I don't know much about diabetes.

For your own peace of mind schedule a colonoscopy. It should be free as a "screening" procedure (for colon cancer). And hope they find nothing consistent with UC so you can continue to search for answers.

Good luck. (There is an IBS forum in Healing Well).

Blood in toilet water/stool is the number one reason people seak out an ulcerative colitis diagnosis, and you don't mention it above. My toilet looked like a csi murder scene before my diagnosis after every bm. Without blood, it's likely not uc. A typical diagnosis involves a colonoscopy with biopsies and a stool test ruling out infectious causes.

You could have IBS-D. Although interesting, bloodwork of that type isn't used for an initial diagnosis.

Horrible smells are more common with a c difficile infection. I hope you get the answers you seek, see a doctor and get some diagnostic tests done. Uc is a diagnosis that requires ruling out other pausible causes of your symptoms. Inflammation in the large intestine causes the same symptoms, but infections, autoimmune disorder, and other things can trigger that inflammation. To me, it doesn't sound like uc. Dr Google and self diagnosis are often wrong. It'd be much better if you had the non-chronic variety, c diff of or just colitis that clears up after a one time treatment!

Your GP should be able to order a stool test to check for pathogenic causes. If it comes back positive then they'll prescribe medications (antibiotics, corticosteroids, or anti-inflammatory mesalamine). If negative, then the GP could diagnose IBS due to the lack of blood.

A negative stool test, you'll could get referred to a gastroenterologist-specialist who will likely repeat the stool test and schedule a colonoscopy with biopsies. Infections, uc, or Crohn's would show inflammation during the colonoscopy. IBS doesn't show anything unusual during a colonoscopy. It's called IBS when nothing is found within stool tests or colonoscopy.

It does not sound like UC to me, and I think online info and you anxiety are pairing up badly.

You can get scoped for a UC diagnosis. If you have it, you will be offered standard therapies, and you might search for supplemental or alternative therapies that help in your case.

But IMO, this thread is enabling your anxiety more than it is giving you useful information. There are no ANSWERS here, nor can there be because we can;t examine or diagnose you.

See you doc, get a referral to a GI. Get a scope.

good luck