Anxiety and Immediate Diarrhea - Anxiety Message Board

karen7 · 07-02-2007, 07:13 AM

I have had this problem for a long time. The second I feel a pang of anxiety, first I release gas then I have the runs. I know there is a brain to gut reaction but this is really limiting my life! I had to go to a family reunion last week so took 2 Imodiums beforehand because I had to get in a car for 45 minutes. It seemed to work but the minute I got back home in the evening I had the runs.

If this had been 5 minutes earlier in the car, I would have been in trouble. I will see a GI dr. but in the meantime, do any of you have this and have you found a med that helps?

Christian73 · 07-02-2007, 08:36 AM

I think the question here is "Is the IBS causing the anxiety or is the anxiety causing the tummy trouble?" Of course, you could be like me and if it's not one, it's the other.

morrisun · 07-02-2007, 08:53 AM

I suffered from this for a very long time with no answers. It was horrible and it got to the point where I only left the house if I absolutely had to. I had anxiety almost all of the time and I would get full blown panic attacks at least 2-3 times a week if not more.

I was told by numerous doctors for over 10 years that it was IBS or I needed more fiber. I tried every type of medication and supplement known to man. It got to the point where even Immodium (my lifesaver) did NOTHING for the diarrhea. I also had many different tests done, which they said all showed "nothing".

Finally, after basically not being able to take it anymore I went back to the Dr. (a new Dr.) and said look, this is not normal something is wrong. He asked if I had ever been tested for Celiac Disease and I said I was not sure. So he said well, you probably don't have it but let's check anyway. Long story short after 10-11 years of being misdiagnosed it was determined that I had Celiac Disease.

Once I went on a gluten free diet and my body began to heal, my symptoms started to slowly disappear. I didn't have the uncontrollable diarrhea anymore and my anxiety went away as well.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm not trying to say you have Celiac Disease, BUT....if you haven't been checked for it yet, you might want to ask your Dr.

Good luck!

bonzer · 07-03-2007, 03:23 PM

i found that anti-anxiety meds help with ibs when anxiety is the cause.

ediep · 07-03-2007, 06:28 PM

I have the same thing..... Immediate diarrhea when I get nervous, and I get nervous whenever my stomach hurts... which just brings on diarrhea. I have been taking prozac for about a month and it helps a bit. I still feel anxious, but it isn't interfering with my daily life anymore