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So I dont know if this is 'anxiety'? I feel it's something more

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Posted 12/11/2007 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I was 'diagnosed' with Anxiety shortly after I had my baby girl. I didn't accept it, because I thought I had something wrong with my stomach. I had rib pain, shortness of breath, bloating, stuffy/tight feeling in ab area to where it was hard to breath. I had a cat scan, x-ray, heart tests, endoscopy...gastric emptying? Where I had to eat oatmeal and lay down while this thing took pictures of my stomach emptying the oatmeal out. Turns out my stomach is a little slow at emptying food. Doctor said it's nothing to worry about, but then I question why would they do the test anyway if it shows it is slow, but not worrysome...why do the test? The Endoscope showed I had mild/moderate gastritis. Which at the time I wasn't having chest pain after I eat..just stomach pain here and there.. I thought I was getting better.....it's been about two months since I had al these tests done and I've been doing alot better than I was. I learned how to deal w/the shortness of breath and I haven't had it in a long while. The bloating got better and I got my appetite back and I was feeling great. NOW, I'm having terrible chest pains, this lightness feeling in my chest. My stomach had crazy sharp/stabbing pains on and off, and I'm having this fluttering feeling in my lower ab/uterus feels like. I just had a baby in August, and I had a period in October...haven't seen a period since...tried taking a pregnancy test, didn't work. No lines showed up so I have to get another one. I'm praying I'm not pregnant because I had such a hard labor and IM STILL RECOVERING. I was on birth control than when my anxiety started I stopped taking my pills because I wasn't sexually active w/my fiance..stupid idea because now i'm in this situation. I went to the emergency room couple weeks ago because of the pain and they took a urinary sample and I had a bladder infection. It didn't hurt at all when I peed? So, I was surprised that I had an infection. I took antibiotics and hoping it's gone. I accepted the Anxiety and I think that's what made me better. Knowing that I'm healthy and I'm not dying than hey...deal w/the pains and crap it'll go away if you get your mind off of it somehow. Than all this pain has to hit me, and on top of that the possibility of being pregnant terrifies me....trust me being a mother is a blessing and I love every minute of being w/my daughter. It's the recovering, and jus having all these stomach problems and pain that scares me...how can I have another kid when i'm not even recovered? I just feel like the only one in the world w/this...I feel like i'm dying in a way and that's not how I should think. I keep telling myself when I'm feeling these pains and everything "it's just anxiety,, i had a bunch of tests and I'm fine" but why do I feel such sharp chest pains and why am I getting a bladder infection and feeling sick all the time? Sometimes I can't even sleep because I'll be too focused on my chest or heartbeat, sometimes it's racing, or feels like it's going tooooo slow. My fiance doesn't want to hear it.. he says it's "all in my head" back pain, chest pain, sore feeling in ab area rib pain, heart flutters...all in my head? I feel like I'm not getting any btter which really sucks because 5 days ago I was the happiest mother around.. because I was getting better and I felt great, I felt I had recovered. Than I get hit again with this 'anxiety' only it feels worse and it doesn't feel like anxiety. It feels like I have something seriously wrong thats undiagnosed. I'm not acepted for medicaid yet, we just moved so I'm waiting to get accepted so I can't go to the hospital until then. My fiance won't bring me no way no how to the hospital becausehe says it's just 'feeding into my anxiety' which def. helped me cope with it on my own and helped me learn how to handle it w/out the doctors....but now it just feels very physical and very wrong. My fiance is the best, he tries to help me any way he can....but I feel like what if something really wrong happens one day and he just says 'it's anxiety' and I have to sit there....idk I just need answers.. I hate this feeling of not knowing whats wrong with me inside. Especially not knowing if I'm pg again. I pray I'm not, I can't go through this all over again....I'm having such a bad recovery.
Posted 12/11/2007 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
Wow...this sounds very stressful; you definitely have a lot on your plate and have every right to feel overwhelmed. As a new mom, you know that a little organization goes a long way...so take a few deep breaths and then start making a plan! The first thing you need to do is take another pregnancy so you can know for sure whether you are pregnant. If you are, you should set up an appointment at Planned Parenthood or a clinic with a sliding scale so you can see a doctor and talk about the prospect of having another baby. If you're not pregnant, that's one thing to check off the list!

I get riled up when people are told they are "just anxious" when they show physical manifestations of an "organic" (i.e., not psychological) illness. You've had a scope showing mild to moderate gastritis. Gastritis can be very painful and can result in sharp chest pains like you've described; delayed gastric emptying can result in distention and discomfort as well. You may very well be anxious about your health problems, and that can contribute to people's discomfort, but you do have an explanation for your symptoms. The key is now to figure out how to resolve the symptoms. It may relieve your anxiety somewhat to know that neither gastritis nor delayed gastric emptying are considered "serious" - it is unlikely that anything horrible will result from the presence of those findings - but it is important to resolve your symptoms so you can move on with your life.

Until you can see a doctor, you might try a few "home remedies" that might be able to help ease the symptoms: cut out all caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, milk products, and any especially acidic foods (spaghetti sauce, orange juice, etc.) for several days. You might try taking an over-the-counter antacid (Tums, Pepcid AC, etc. - Pepto might work too but can make your stools black so just keep that in mind). Also get yourself a probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium; you can find these in most stores, and you can ask your pharmacist for help in choosing one - the most important thing is to get one that has plenty of live organisms) because after having a bladder infection and antibiotics for that, your GI system might need some help in restoring its natural flora.

In essence, yes, the findings on your tests could at least partly explain some of your symptoms, and your doctor should have done a better job in helping you figure out a solution instead of waving it away with the anxiety card. In the meantime, I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice here from these very knowledgeable forum members!
Posted 12/12/2007 12:59 AM (GMT 0)

Goodness, you have been through a lot of changes and stressful experiences.  It sounds to me like you are having some fairly significant anxiety and definately some digestion stuff going on.  I'm sorry you're pregnancy/delivery was so hard, but I think you've done a wonderful thing. 

I have terrible IBS and have real issues with food/digestion/bloating and all that fun stuff.  keep investigating..it helps to know as much as you can about what's going on with your body.  I find that the more anxious I get the worse my appetite/digestion so I get more anxious and my tummy gets worse..and you get the picture!!

You've been through so many changes lately try not to be too hard on yourself.  I can't give you any advice on being a mother but I can suggest you get some counselling around these fears.  And try and keep breathing. Give bubs a hug for me and welcome to HW.

Posted 12/13/2007 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
If you went to the ER and they took your pee to check for a bladder infection, they most likely checked for pregnancy as well. Every time I go in for crohns stuff they run a bunch of standard tests. Little did I know how many pregnancy tests I have had lol!!! If you are having trouble getting out to get a test try calling the ER you went to and asking if they tested you for that. Thinking you are pregnant is very very very stressful. I know there are so many trying to conceive in this world that it can be an unpopular topic, but it really really is scary. I am 26 and married w/ a house and pets. Sounds like the perfect situation if one was to get pregnant. But, it would actually be horrable because I am in my second year of law school. If I had to leave school I would have to start paying back all that debt and without a lawyers salary I never could. So earlier this month I was convinced my birth control had failed. I had all the signs. Finally I got up the courage to buy a test and it was negative. But I know negatives are not always reliable. Now I have my period, and I think it is "regular" enough that I can breath a sigh of relief. I just wanted to share that I understand how lonely it is when you are worrying if you are pregnant. Also I was feeling tormented by the choices. I was raised Catholic and just never really accepted the option of abortion for myself but at the same time other women fought for years so people in my exact situation would have that right to choose their lives and careers... plus we literally could not afford to have a child with the debt I have pending... then there is adoption, but at my age I couldn't bear explaining to everyone, yes I am pregnant but giving it away? Nothing seemed right. I still have no idea what I would have done. But again, I just understand... and I am sending you hugs.
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