Guys, I seriously need your opinions

I think I am developing some sort of eating disorder. And I hope this is psychological, not a serious physical condition. Sorry for the long post but I need to ask for a solution really, any help is greatly appreciated.

Well you know I went to the gyn and all (and since she was an experienced oncologist so I doubt she would miss anything) so I felt better. But during that time of my fear (which obviously damaged my psychology), for around 8-9 days I lost my appetite, naturally. This is something all of us experience.

In my case, especially after I read a specific symptom of my worry [WARNING] getting too full quickly after eating [WARNING END], I started checking on it during meals and focusing when eating anything. This made me lose my appetite. And then I saw that I don't get full easily but still didn't want to eat much until I go to dr and get clear and all.

Now after dr results clear, I still check about food and my appetite is not getting better and I sort of get disgusted by food. Also my recent constipation problem -sorry TMI- and having excessive gas is not helping. I started checking if I have any problem with food (can be an indicator of serious disease *my thought*) and get sort of panicked, even though today when I was out I gulped down a hamburger and small size fries (which is not a very small portion indeed,) and didn't get full very quick, managed to eat and not disgusted. But I didn't enjoy it much because I was focused on how I feel. After meal I got happy and said "whoo, I can eat". Then after 6 hrs I came back home and when I was about to sit on table, I got disgusted, almost felt a little nauseous. Got panicky.

What is going on? My health anxiety was never this much sky rocket. It feels like this is a chain reaction of fears and it is so bothering.
It doesn't make sense, because my reason of worrying in start wasn't even related with getting full symptom to begin with. It was just abdominal discomfort and back discomfort (which I don't have too often now), then I got panicked and decided to go dr. I didn't even know about the food symptom when I panicked the first time. So this really doesn't make sense, how I got stuck in food worry.

I even go to the extreme of thinking "Do I have another condition which makes me lose appetite?" but my logic says that this is so stupid because I had nothing wrong before the fear. I could eat. I mean I never felt any chance, I would notice. My husband says, if I had a serious condition about appetite, I wouldn't be able to eat hamburger today.

I am seriously starting to worry about my psychology and chain reactions of HA thoughts. I even started losing a bit weight (which I should be happy about) but it makes me anxious. I mean, I changed my diet totally around 2-3 months ago because my husband became a vegan and I don't eat animal fat anymore, because I cook for both of us. I rarely eat it when I am out, or somewhere else. Maybe losing weight is related to this. But I really think I was eating well before my fear. Or else I would notice it, right?

Rr.,

I know I keep bringing up IBS...and I swear, I am not trying to diagnose you...

...but when other physical ailments have been ruled out...this is often the reason for many digestive issues!

Even fluxuating ones...from D to C, nausea, gas, pain, ect...

It is hard to accept that the things we feel are not something more indicative of a more serious issue...but trust me, many people have described some pretty intense symptoms from this stress induced/exacerbated issue!

Let me know if you would lke me to post some informative links for you. (I can weed through searches so you don't get caught up in symptom searching)

Hugs and understanding.

S.C.

Without bringing up any other potential medical concern, I can certainly share with you that I've gone through similar things,.....after a big emotional event (like a health scare/worry/concern, I've also done the whole "loss of appetite" thingie.

I think it can be a type of shock to our system, and let's face it, the mind and body are definitely connected, so they're related. You may just need some time to regroup, and you may need to just be nice and gentle with your dietary issues! :)





M.

I am not diagnosed with IBS but I had gastro issues last year and if you remember, I said in a recent post I'd convinced myself I had ovarian cancer. I had bloating, nausea, feeling full like a brick was sitting in my gut, etc. I went to Dr, had tests run- nothing! She had me start probiotics and take gas pills! It went away!

This was last year when I was having breakthrough anxiety on my old antidepressant that had worked great for 6 years. It was only a few months after my Cancer fear that I switched medications.

How long have you been on the setraline? Maybe increasing the dose or getting an addon medication could be considered if you can't get out of this cycle. I'm not a med pusher but since you're already on one, it would make sense to try increasing or adding something to it.

Also, no googling. I'm guilty too but my dear friend told me if I want to know something, to text her and SHE will google for me so I don't see all the scary stuff. Now when I get the urge to google, I think twice & sometimes lose interest knowing I'd have to first text my "Google filter friend." LOL.

Hugs friend. I know this isn't easy & very upsetting. Keep talking ♥️

Lisa

Rrakkma,

Here's my similar expeience:

When I was about 17 I went through a period of intense stress. My stomach hurt all the time, I would get full fast, I had bizarre changes in my stool. I unintentionally lost 20 lbs in two years and I am extremely thin.

I thought I had to be dying. I went to countless doctors and specialists and everything was normal except I was diagnosed with GERD. I never had an appetite. My hair was falling out.

I didn't know anxiety existed. Looking back, my anxiety caused me to have a flux in GERD which in turn worsened by IBS.

Anxiety starts a vicious cycle that effects many systems. Just eat what you can and focus on relieving stress instead of whether or not you have an appetite. That will even out when you take care of the root cause: your anxiety. It just takes time.

Here's some info to read up on...the second one shows paralells between IBS and gynecological issues...this may make  you feel reassured about your symptoms and fears.

http://www.aboutibs.org/site/signs-symptoms/recognizing-symptoms

http://www.aboutibs.org/site/signs-symptoms/gynecological-aspects

S.C.

Rrakkma, i'm a lot older than most on here and i still have flare ups with PAD, almost every time its associated with some kind of stomach distress, i get the feeling something isnt right, next some what if thoughts, next a hot flash then full blown Panic, i feel so dumb the next day but during an attack no one can tell me i'm not dying, so i think we all have some of the same symptoms. It's been several years since i had one but i will always remember what happened, I was told by someone i trusted to stop rehearsing the moment of my death! It took a while for this to sink in but when it did my life changed. I wish you Peace!
Larry ***