Salmonella, anxiety and stree

Hello Everyone,


My name is Dianna. I wanted to get some info off other's who can relate to my topic and some ideas.



It started about 1 year ago I started to feel anxiety/stress from work. (I worked in a cafe at the time)

I started to feel bloated, pain in my left side and had a soft stool everytime i went toilet.

A week later i ended up going to the toliet again this time i noticed some blood.

I freaked out as you could imagine as im only (19 yrs old) and went doctors.

The doctor thought the blood was due to a cut from straining. As i havent been straining i didnt believe this was the answer.

I had this happen to me again about 2 times, once when i was in queensland and when i came back.

I went to another 2 doctors they both thought it was nothing to worry about due to my age and did no tests.

They went on to tell me that maybe i had IBS and to try and maintain a diet with no diary, spicy foods etc.

I did so and nothing really changed i still had stomach pain and soft watery stool.



After a while (few months) i thought i should try and see someone else a different GP.

She gave me 2 stool samples to do, a blood stool sample test and a blood test.

After doing so i went back to see her to find out i had Salmonella Thyporium. She said that the pain, blood and loose stool i noticed was from the bacteria from the Salmonella.

I took the antibiotics she gave me 3 times a day for 2 weeks and after doing so i felt great, i had a harder stool and was feeling no stomach pain.



This was all about 4 months ago, i dont feel like this anymore but i still get the loose - watery stool everyday about 1-3 times a day. Always in the morning.

I feel paranoid all the time about what happened that i always check the toilet. I have developed anxiety that my stomach goes in knots and butterflies. My family memeber is depressed and it has also taken its toll on me.

Im always thinking the wost in things and have had a few stressful family situations that havent helped.



I not sure if this Anxiety and stress in making me have the loose stool now.. as the doctor said all the bacterial from the salmonella has cleared (as i did another test). I have been to the doctors and have asked for anxiety med's and he thinks im too young to start on it (this is another doc as my doc left)

I have been taking herbal meds daily but havent noticed a change and have taken Yakult a few times also.



If anyone who has gone through the same thing help me with some info ..

Hey Junebug,

Thanks for the swift reply. Well my family have always been telling me its all in my mind (the paraniod part).
Like you said i have to keep positive and repeat I know that all the bacteria has been removed from my system, because I took all the antibiotics and the retest came back negative and the reason I'm having loose stools is because I'm overly worried and anxious about it." - makes sence.
I def need to relax more and enjoy being 20. I have been working F/T renting and now getting married next year which im sure have added extra stress. I dont do alot like a 20 year old. But nor do i regret it either.

As for CBT im not sure what that is?? And i dont think i have used it either.

Hi again Dianna! I am sorry that you are experiencing these symptoms right now. You have already been given some great advice, so I'll just explain a little more about CBT.

Cognitive Behavorial Therapy is a treatment for anxiety and panic (as well as depression, ocd and other disorders) that teaches you how to retrain your thinking processes, thus reducing your anxiety.

It helps you to combat the negative, fearful thinking that feeds the anxiety. You will learn tools and techniques that will help you to take charge of the fear that tries to control your life. Your physical symptoms will be greatly reduced as well.

If you can, get a referral from your health care provider for a therapist who offers CBT. If that is not possible, there is a free on-line version available. The link (Moodgym) is posted in our Anxiety Resource Guide, along with some other great links to sites that teach breathing and relaxation exercises. I think that anyone who struggles with anxiety can benefit from practicing these everyday! (you will find the guide in the second post on our main/first page)

Also, try getting some acidolphilus tablets from the pharmacy or health food store. Taking them everyday could help get your system back to a healthy ph. Taking heavy duty antibiotics can wipe out the good bacteria in the gut. The bad is gone (yeah!), but sometimes you are left with no helpful bateria to properly break down your food, allowing proper absorption, causing diarrhea:(

I hope that this gives you some good information to start with. I hope that you find the answers that you need soon. Do keep posting here, as we can understand what you are going through, and are cheering you on in your quest for wellness:)

Let us know how you are doing soon.
Scaredy Cat

dianna90

Hello and a warm welcome to HealingWell.

I am sorry to read of your problems as I know how stress producing this is for you. It is sometimes very difficult to tell which came first the watery stools and physical sx or the anxiety.

Salmonella is a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacilli that can cause diarrheal illness in humans. Persons with diarrhea usually recover completely, although it may be several months before their bowel habits are entirely normal. Salmonella is usually transmitted to humans by eating contaminated foods.

I noted you worked in a cafe when this all started and I wondered if anyone else working in the same cafe became sick right around the time you did ?

Could this be anxiety from worrying and stress, yes and you have received great input from the other members.

I would also like to suggest that you consider seeing a GI specialist if your diarrhea continues just to be sure you do not have any other physical issues going on.

I hope and trust that your experience as a member of the HW family will continue to be positive and that you will find the members are caring and simply awesome.
Gentle Hugs,
Kitt

Good Morning,

My older sister had lots of stomach upsets and had diarrhea. It definitely was because of the anxiety. Whenever she became upset or anxious she would need to be near a bathroom and she could not eat. Some Drs. will suggest Immodium. Imodium A-D has been used for years to treat diarrhea.

Anxiety can cause so many physical sx that I suspect your worrying about the diarrhea is perpetuating the cycle.
Any other physical or mental stress going on in your life right now besides this concern ?
I am a great believer in staying in the moment which I learned in therapy.
Learn relaxation and mediation techniques like breathing deeply, yoga, exercise and any other techniques that help you cope with anxiety symptoms.
If you continue to have uncontrollable diarrhea please do consider the GI physician. I have found many times Drs. will blame anxiety for sx that could be caused by something else so please be your own best advocate.
Gentle Hugs,
Kitt

dianna,

WTG, I am so glad to read you joined a gym. Making that committment is a huge step in the right direction.

Planning a wedding comes with many wonderful things to do but it also comes with anxiety as you have much to do and keep track of. Once the day gets here and you are standing with your new husband you will feel joy and the planning will be worth it. You are the bride so please remember to make this wedding what you want it to be. Don't try to please everyone. This is about you and your fiancee - it is about your love for each other.

Congratulations on your future wedding.

Kindly,
Kitt

Thanks People :)

I feel happier, anxiety still there. But only time will tell. :)

Tend to stress over the wrong things and then have nightmares, panic attacks.. gosh i cant wait till i feel normal again!