Gastritis or IBS or Meds Side Effects?

[LockedShut]

I've been feeling basically like poop for about three weeks now. Saw a doctor yesterday who immedietly said it was the pills I'm on, 20mg fluoxetine, since the beginning of August. She didn't even check my stomach or check for a temperature.

I've had gastritis a few times since last year so I thought it was that, mum thinks I might have IBS.

I feel constatnly sick, get up in the middle of the night to stand over the toilet bowl just in case. I've thrown up a couple of times, had diarroah a couple times, currently I'm just annoyingly constipated. I'm weak and tired and I get awful headaches. I'm bloated and my weight is freakishly fluctuating.

The worst part is, I start a new job in one week. And I'm terrified that I'm going to have to call in sick on my first day. I've got to go out to the benefit office in half an hour to come off the dole and I'm terrified I'm going to puke or poop or pass out in their offices... :weep:

Any ideas or advice would be wonderful... :blush:

[Blackstar]

Hi there,

I can sympathise with you - I have terrible stomach and abdominal symptoms but as yet have no idea what it is. The first GP I saw diagnosed gastritis and put me on a month's supply of Omeprazole (to damp down the acidity), but I found that it didn't really help. I don't suffer so much with acid, more with a writhing feeling in my stomach and small intestines and SERIOUS bloating.

Like you I wonder if it might be IBS (obviously being anxious I worry about Crohn's Disease, colitis, cancer, you name it), because some of the symptoms fit, but I just don't know.

From what you've written, IBS sounds quite likely. It can be triggered by stress or a bug - maybe your bouts of gastritis triggered it?

Digestive problems suck and I wish I could be more helpful. Perhaps you should see your GP again and mention IBS? I think when I next go I'm going to insist on a referral.

Anyway, take care and feel free to PM me if you want to chat/moan/ask stuff! :D

:hugs:

Anna. x

[Paddington]

Hi there lockedshut:hugs: gosh sounds like ibs to me..i have had it for years and years on and off:mad: i too thought it was a terminal illness..my dad had died of cancer of the oesophagus and not long after that the panic and stomach problems began.Your dr should listen to you ..any of you out there in fact who suffer with 'nervous tum'...it can be all consuming and like anxiety it can feed off our fear.Ask your gp to refer you to a gastro specialist as it will put your mind at rest..it did mine..i have 'gord 'now[gastro oesophogeal reflux disease]which can be agony but meds keep it in check..stress makes it worse..no surprise there hey guys:huh: Also alterntive therapies work wonders with ibs or any tum problems..herbalists[not chinese]are fantastic..tho it can be expansive..peppermint tea is good as is ,ginger for the nausea..any way hope this helps a wee bit ..ask me an questions you like ..i am an expert on tum probs now:blush: :wacko: Love Paddie.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Blackstar]

Hi Paddington,

I just wanted to say thank you for the advice - it's really useful. I'm still undergoing investigations to rule out certain gastrointestinal conditions, but am wondering more and more if it could be IBS.

If, after all the tests and scans, IBS is the most likely cause I am definitely going to look into complementary therapy. :)

Best wishes,

Anna. x

[Paddington]

No Probs Anna..i hope they sort you out soon hun:hugs: What i have discovered is folk with anxiety get the same symptoms with their tums ..as when we are stressed acid is released in to the stomach which causes very unpleasent effects..pain .bloating etc..and the ibs is stress related too.Herbalist medicine is so soothing and it does work too.Keep me informed as to how you get on with your tests and the results hun..i know what you are going thru:flowers: Love Paddie.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx