Hello, I am new & wanted some advice.. I will give you my story, and you can take it from there:
Last September I contracted the West Nile Virus! I went through bouts of diarrhea for about three months straight because of the virus (I think).. Then I began to go through numerous symptoms.. I began to get very constipated & having difficulty with normal bowel movements.. I have approximately 20 panic attacks a week, most being relieved by a bowel movement or the passing of gas.. My gas gets very high, causing chest pains, originating in the abdominal area... I have alot of muscle & joint pains on a daily basis!! After numerous panic attacks, I go into bouts of depression that can last up to several weeks of me not even getting off of the couch!!

To give an cronological example of a panic attack:
Sitting in my rocker, a sudden fear overcomes me.. I will then have a muscle contraction in my diaphram(sp?) area which will grab my breath for a second.. I will then feel a bowel movement coming on... Passing the bowel movement is a challenge, lasting for up to a half hour.. When completed, I feel as if my bowel movement is incomplete!! Ten to twenty min. later, I will get really bad gas, that starts just below my diaphram & works its way up... Usually causes some sharp gas like pains on the left side of my chest area.. After the strain of the bowel movement, I will become very lethargic & get ongoing muscle cramps & sharp joint pains.. (Usually in the arms & hands, sometimes leg cramping)..

Anyone who has been diagnosed with IBS, please respond to this message & let me know if the above sounds like something that you may have experienced.. I have had numerous tests, all returning negative... Nobody has actually diagnosed me with anything, & I am scared that it may be something serious... To add, I have had no blood or mucus in my stools & they are not black or tar looking.. I am also a 27 yr. old male who has endured immense levels of stress in the past 6-8 months..

Thanks in advance for any advice,
Matt Cloud
confused02

Also to add to the above, I am eating a ton more compared to loss of appetite.. I have a colonscopy scheduled, but am wanting to still get opinions from those who suffer from IBS!!
Thanks again,
Confused02

Sounds like you have IBS and this is a classic. The panic attacks and the IBS do go together very much and the stress too. This is known as the mind/gut link as the same hormones are released that also affect the gut.

You need to treat the casue, being the anxiety stress to get rid of your stomach symptoms.

Good luck

There's a theory that some of the people who come down with IBS have been compromised by something that triggered the immune system to become hyperactive OR that a virus might still be lingering in the body.
I think the key is the hyperactivity of the immune system which can cause a lot of aches and pains and the whole body turning on itself.
The west nile is an odd sort of virus.
I know in horses there isn't much that can be done except to try and keep the brain swelling down while the virus runs it's course.
With what you are experiencing I'd guess it would be wise to follow standard IBS remedys and find a way to take stress off the body system and make yourself as comfortable as possible.
I'd also think that it would be wise to eliminate anything that will trigger a hyperactive response by the immune system, like eliminating garlic from your diet.
kat

After carefully reading your problems and what is going on --it brings several things to mind.

You may lack some minerals in your diet that cause you and your muscles to relax --- calcium, magnesium and potassium. Lacking any of these can result in spasms and cramps.

I also am a big believer in taking a water soluble fiber supplement like Metamucil and enough water. Your digestive system does not function normally without enough fiber in your diet!!! It's safe to take daily and is really a bowel regulator.

The mind-gut connection is usually treated with a small dose of an antidepressant like 10 mgms of Elavil.

I wish you well ---Harry

[This message has been edited by Harry (edited 04-24-2003).]

10 mg of Elavil is extremely effective for the treatment of pain of the specific neurological type.
In the lowest dose Elavil lends itself to handle pain. In the higher doses the medication takes on an antidepressant action.
For some reason, in the higher doses Elavil seems to lose it's pain solving properties to the anti depressant effect.
When Elavil is combines with an equally low dose of Prozac it's pain tending properties are increased.
But again you are looking at dose limitations.
kat

[This message has been edited by kat721 (edited 04-24-2003).]

I have had similiar symptoms at around your age. Stress is a very complex thing. Some lucky people get angry or moody or sim. Unfortunately I have digestive problems. These are awful because they have so many related systems that you continue to wonder what is really wrong with you. I diagnosed myself with back, neck, blood, heart, muscle, lung disorders usually all within the same week! After enduring this for several years (my world became very small) my doctor suggested an SSRI (antidepressant)on a trial. Within weeks my life had completely turned around. I could eat any foods, had perfect bowel movements and was gaining confidence. What a difference. It may not be for everyone but I wish someone would have suggested it prior to my 6 years of suffering.
Hope this helps.

Tried SSRI's & they made my condition worse!!

Stress, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, Hypochondria and panic attacks go hand-in-hand with IBS. I know, I have had them all for a long time (I'm 40 now and male). It is very common for these conditions to cooexist with IBS so it does'nt suprize me that you suffer from frequent panic attacks too. Ask your doc for some xanax or other benzo. It will offer almost immediate relief but try to only take it when you need it as too much can cause you to become a bit addicted.

Good luck

Hi Matt,

Just a follow up note that SSRI's require some time to be effective. In my case it took about 4 to 6 weeks.

Hope your feeling better.

Cheers

C.