Episodes of dizziness and digestive problems... GP thinks this could be Anxiety?
Hi All,
I've been feeling terrible off and on since the beginning of the year and it is starting to really worry me.
I've had 5 episodes over the past 7 months where I feel absolutely terrible. These episodes usually last a few days to a week and the symptoms are always the same, but the intensity of the symptoms vary.
Dizziness
Stomach Cramps
Diarrhea
Nausea
Fatigue
It always starts out the same and at this point, I know when an episode is about to happen...
I start feeling a little dizzy, not like I am going to pass out but unstable, sort of like being slightly intoxicated. After the dizziness starts, my stomach starts acting up, noisy and gassy. The next morning I wake up feeling terrible. The dizziness intensifies and gets worse when I move my head. Nausea and Diarrhea set in and the intensity of each of these varies.
By the second day, the Diarrhea is usually gone or subsiding. What remains over the next couple of days is the Dizziness and upset stomach. (Not much of an appetite at all during this time). I usually end up spending a couple of days in bed because of the dizziness. If I feel well enough, I will work from home, but I usually end up having to take at least 1 sick day. By the end of the episode, the dizziness goes away and I start to feel well again.
I've seen my GP a couple of times regarding this. At first he thought it was some sort of stomach virus, then he thought I might be having an intolerance to something I ate, so I started a food log to keep track of what I was eating and cut dairy out of my diet.
My last episode began on Tuesday evening and nothing that I've eaten points to a food intolerance. It is now Monday afternoon and I am still not quite right, I am still experiencing dizziness but not to severe, and my stomach still isn't back to normal.
I went to see my GP this morning for blood tests to rule out any serious illness, I should get those results in a couple of days. During the consultation with my doctor, he said he thinks that I may be suffering from anxiety, and he prescribed Klonopin. He wants me to try the drug for a month and then come in for another visit.
I am having a hard time accepting the fact that these 'episodes' I have been experiencing are being caused by anxiety. If you have any thoughts on this, please let me know.
Thanks,
Ed
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