panic and change in bowel habits

Glitterrain30

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2016

Posts : 26

Posted 8/28/2016 10:36 AM (GMT 0)

hello all :)

sorry for the TMI in advance but i feel like i am spinning out of control and driving myself insane! ever since my anxiety and panic attacks got really really bad i feel like my whole bowel systems changed. I randomly get super small stools which ofcourse worry me because i google them and colon and bowel cancer show up everywhere which puts me in a panic state as i lost my aunt to bowel cancer in 2014. My stomach gurgles, i fart alot,(sorry tmi :P)my body decides to go whenever it feels like it and last night after i was finished i wiped and there was some clear mucus on the toilet paper!. has anyone else experienced such a change with their anxiety disorder? and if so, how do you handle it? i have had recent bloods done and the dr said that everything was fine except my iron and due to that my red cell count was a little bit low and although he reasssured me that it was iron related, i am worried that i have something serious going on in my bowels. If something was really wrong, would it show up on my full blood count?

Thank you in advance,

xx

Steve n Dallas

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2008

Posts : 5399

Posted 8/28/2016 11:16 AM (GMT 0)

"The presence of mucus in stool is common. When you’re healthy, the mucus is typically clear, which makes it difficult to notice. Having a noticeable increase in the mucus in your stool may be the symptom of an underlying health issue, such as:"

Continued here:
www.healthline.com/health/mucus-in-stool#Overview1

Scaredy Cat

Elite Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 28868

Posted 8/28/2016 3:35 PM (GMT 0)

Hi GR,

The symptoms you describe can certainly be attributed to IBS...which can go hand in hand with stress/anxiety.

Since a diagnoses of IBS is pretty much made by ruling other things out...

...it may be that your doctor doesn't give you a definitive answer...but rather has told you that you do not show signs, or test for anything more serious.

Still, if you feel that you need more reassurance. ..you could request a colonoscopy/further GI testing.

For now, see our Resources at the top of the main forum page here for great self help material for managing anxiety.

Post with us anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat

super20dan

Veteran Member

Joined : Sep 2014

Posts : 1205

Posted 8/29/2016 12:57 AM (GMT 0)

when my anxiety flares up -i get bowel issues much like what you described. constipation usually too. goes back to normal when anxiety subsides

Glitterrain30

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2016

Posts : 26

Posted 8/29/2016 10:13 AM (GMT 0)

thank you all for your replies :) i went to the dr coz i couldnt take it anymore and i mentioned the mucus and he said sometimes its normal and sometimes it can mean inflammation so he took some blood to test for celiac and my CRP just to be safe :) i'm comforted but even more worried because my stupid mind has to be catastrophic and think the worst gahhh anxiety really is the b word. I'll keep everyone posted xx

Scaredy Cat

Elite Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 28868

Posted 8/29/2016 3:55 PM (GMT 0)

GR,

I understand. ..I worry about medical test results as well...and the waiting to hear back is awful...:/

However, your doctor is just being thorough. ..and the odds are, everything is going to come back just fine.:)

In fact...if you get going with the anxiety management coping skills...chances are your symptoms will be greatly reduced by the time you get the good news that all is well!

S.C.

panicgirly

Regular Member

Joined : Dec 2012

Posts : 295

Posted 8/30/2016 5:39 PM (GMT 0)

GR, I feel your pain and hope you get your results soon.

I'm not sure if my anxiety is due to the change in my bowel habits or if they have changed due to my anxiety! They are very closely related to each other and feed into one another for sure...
I just logged in because I'm battling the dreaded "D" and my anxiety is just hovering, trying to take over.
I keep repeating positive mantras to myself, "you're fine, it's just anxiety".

I truly hope your wait for answers is brief!

Glitterrain30

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2016

Posts : 26

Posted 8/30/2016 11:24 PM (GMT 0)

Hello everyone thank you for your support :)) I just called the receptionist and she said that she couldn't give me results but told me that they were in and that there was a normal next to all of them phew now I can breathe a bit lol xx

panicgirly

Regular Member

Joined : Dec 2012

Posts : 295

Posted 8/31/2016 12:12 AM (GMT 0)

That's great! I'm sure your BM will settle now that you know!

Scaredy Cat

Elite Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 28868

Posted 8/31/2016 1:12 AM (GMT 0)