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Suggest Treatment For Bloating, Gas, Indigestion While Treating Anxiety Disorder
Question: I have a few issues, and im not sure if thry are part of a larger issue or just separate issues, but they are starting to concern me that they are sonething more serious. The first thing i need yo mention is I have an anxiety disorder. I sm incredibly anxious, especially about my health, so snything that meets symptoms for something serious or life threatening really makes me panic. I feel this is relavent, becausr it may be the cause of any number of these symptoms, and it will help you to better understand why i get so anxious about them
Symptom 1: The strangest snd longest running symptom that i have is that i have rectal burning (nearly itching, but it is definitely closer to a burn) about an hour after a bowel movement, when i am standing up or walking around. It does not burn during the bowel movement and it does not burn immediately after, nor does it burn if i am sitting down in such a way to put pressure on the area (like on a couch or chair) if i am lying down, though, and there is not pressure on the area (for example lying on my side) it does not burn. I occadionally have bright red blood on the toilet paper after wiping. I have been to seversl doctors. One thought it was an anal fissure and perscribed me a steroid cream. I tried that for a month without improvement (except that immediately after applying the cream, the burning would cease. This is the case with any cream i apply. I think its just the protective layer) condition did not prove after a month.
I went to another doctor who thought it was a fungal infection, smd perscribed s fungal cream and an oral anti-fungal medication. No improvement after s month. Third doctor believed it was a fissure, burned the area with silver nitrate and told me to put a cream on the area and keep it dry, no improvement after a month, went to a 4th doctor who believed it was fungal, similar treatment to second doctor, no improvement.
Other symptoms i have been having lately: constant bloating and gas, especially in my lower abdomen, indigestion, and trouble with food getting stuck (almost adhering) to my throat. Especially rice, beans, and pasta. I also recently lost 4 pounds over 4 days, and i felt i was eating aboug tjd same as usual. I seem to have gained a couple of them back, possibly. As i said, i do have an anxiety disorder and i have tecentlh had a lot to be very anxious about, and im not sure if these symptoms fit together or are separate, but I'm scared that this could be something serious like colon cancer or something. Thanks for your help.
Symptom 1: The strangest snd longest running symptom that i have is that i have rectal burning (nearly itching, but it is definitely closer to a burn) about an hour after a bowel movement, when i am standing up or walking around. It does not burn during the bowel movement and it does not burn immediately after, nor does it burn if i am sitting down in such a way to put pressure on the area (like on a couch or chair) if i am lying down, though, and there is not pressure on the area (for example lying on my side) it does not burn. I occadionally have bright red blood on the toilet paper after wiping. I have been to seversl doctors. One thought it was an anal fissure and perscribed me a steroid cream. I tried that for a month without improvement (except that immediately after applying the cream, the burning would cease. This is the case with any cream i apply. I think its just the protective layer) condition did not prove after a month.
I went to another doctor who thought it was a fungal infection, smd perscribed s fungal cream and an oral anti-fungal medication. No improvement after s month. Third doctor believed it was a fissure, burned the area with silver nitrate and told me to put a cream on the area and keep it dry, no improvement after a month, went to a 4th doctor who believed it was fungal, similar treatment to second doctor, no improvement.
Other symptoms i have been having lately: constant bloating and gas, especially in my lower abdomen, indigestion, and trouble with food getting stuck (almost adhering) to my throat. Especially rice, beans, and pasta. I also recently lost 4 pounds over 4 days, and i felt i was eating aboug tjd same as usual. I seem to have gained a couple of them back, possibly. As i said, i do have an anxiety disorder and i have tecentlh had a lot to be very anxious about, and im not sure if these symptoms fit together or are separate, but I'm scared that this could be something serious like colon cancer or something. Thanks for your help.
Brief Answer:
looks like IBS & diet will help. get USG/ CAT
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
Your query is something which is reflects the pain and stress that any person suffering from anxiety disorder goes through....always in fear of having one or the other serious illness..I really understand your pain....now I will try to explain and help you with the current problem in best possible way that I can.
1. Your symptoms of indigestion, bloating etc which you mentioned are in my view can be due to IBS- irritable bowel disease. It makes similar signs and the patient complaints of not feeling the abdomen relax, that it bloats significantly after meals and remains so for long and lots of burp and gas...and there is feeling of indigestion.
IBS is frequently associated with anxiety disorder, and is manageable: so, dont worry. At present I donot feel that it is related to anything more serious like- cancer as the symptoms are almost same as of IBS; and coz I have seen many patients of mine who have this and have been helped a lot with its treatment.
2. Regarding the symptom of rectal burning which comes back again after a month or so of treatment. It can be due to constipation ( which can ne due to IBS) and therefore developing into some rectal fissure or simple erosion which is helped with applying cream but comes back again.
Here, it is useful to change the diet- take more of green vegetables and salad/ sprouts and 3-4 litres of water ( in sips every 10-15 min and not a glass in one go), and by becoming more active (walking). All this will help in preventing constipation. It is also advisable to stop using spicy/ fatty foods for sometime and cut on liquor ( if you take it). These measures will also help IBS a lot.
3. As you are quite worried and the symptom of rectal burning has lasted so long- an ultrasound abdomen or a CAT scan abdomen will be helpful in ruling out any thing like a serious lesion and put you off your worries.
So, please take the following steps and tell me how you feel. Also, i need to know what medicine for anxiety you are taking as they also can be one of the reason of indigestion in many cases and changing the drug helps.
Good luck and speedy recovery to you.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
looks like IBS & diet will help. get USG/ CAT
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
Your query is something which is reflects the pain and stress that any person suffering from anxiety disorder goes through....always in fear of having one or the other serious illness..I really understand your pain....now I will try to explain and help you with the current problem in best possible way that I can.
1. Your symptoms of indigestion, bloating etc which you mentioned are in my view can be due to IBS- irritable bowel disease. It makes similar signs and the patient complaints of not feeling the abdomen relax, that it bloats significantly after meals and remains so for long and lots of burp and gas...and there is feeling of indigestion.
IBS is frequently associated with anxiety disorder, and is manageable: so, dont worry. At present I donot feel that it is related to anything more serious like- cancer as the symptoms are almost same as of IBS; and coz I have seen many patients of mine who have this and have been helped a lot with its treatment.
2. Regarding the symptom of rectal burning which comes back again after a month or so of treatment. It can be due to constipation ( which can ne due to IBS) and therefore developing into some rectal fissure or simple erosion which is helped with applying cream but comes back again.
Here, it is useful to change the diet- take more of green vegetables and salad/ sprouts and 3-4 litres of water ( in sips every 10-15 min and not a glass in one go), and by becoming more active (walking). All this will help in preventing constipation. It is also advisable to stop using spicy/ fatty foods for sometime and cut on liquor ( if you take it). These measures will also help IBS a lot.
3. As you are quite worried and the symptom of rectal burning has lasted so long- an ultrasound abdomen or a CAT scan abdomen will be helpful in ruling out any thing like a serious lesion and put you off your worries.
So, please take the following steps and tell me how you feel. Also, i need to know what medicine for anxiety you are taking as they also can be one of the reason of indigestion in many cases and changing the drug helps.
Good luck and speedy recovery to you.
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Brief Answer:
start viibryd soon & make lifestyle changes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Its ok till you take xanax on SOS basis..dont take it continously for long.
Xanax is not supposed to lead to such symptoms which you are having, so it is not likely to be the cause.
I think that you should make dietary changes and also cut on tea and coffee ( as they increase anxiety in almost all people being stimulants..).
Take viibryd as soon as possible because xanax is only a symptomatic treatment and not curative for anxiety disorder.
If you can manage to get someone who teaches a relaxation technique - jpmr( or anyother): please learn them and practice them daily. They are very helpful in managing anxiety and sleep. I teach them to my patients suffering from anxiety and depression and they benefit significantly from doing it in their all symptoms.
Dont worry, get the tests (if possible) and proceed. Im sure you will get better and nothing major would come out in the tests.
Please feel free to ask more questions if there are any doubts.
Wish you good health!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
start viibryd soon & make lifestyle changes
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Its ok till you take xanax on SOS basis..dont take it continously for long.
Xanax is not supposed to lead to such symptoms which you are having, so it is not likely to be the cause.
I think that you should make dietary changes and also cut on tea and coffee ( as they increase anxiety in almost all people being stimulants..).
Take viibryd as soon as possible because xanax is only a symptomatic treatment and not curative for anxiety disorder.
If you can manage to get someone who teaches a relaxation technique - jpmr( or anyother): please learn them and practice them daily. They are very helpful in managing anxiety and sleep. I teach them to my patients suffering from anxiety and depression and they benefit significantly from doing it in their all symptoms.
Dont worry, get the tests (if possible) and proceed. Im sure you will get better and nothing major would come out in the tests.
Please feel free to ask more questions if there are any doubts.
Wish you good health!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
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