Brief Answer: A strong mind set needed to manage life. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXX! Good evening. I am Dr Shareef answering your query. Well XXXX - life is full of surprises. Every surprise is a test for us and we have to put all our efforts to pass out of this. I am sure you too must have tried, but some how or other due to some additional stress as described in your history, you have not been able to come out of it. You are in an age group when people might come to you for advice and solutions to their problem. So it may look more surprising if a lady of your stature breaks down with the shortcomings (if we presume so) in life. Breaking down this way won't solve the problem, but instead might compound it more. So, let us not allow the problems in our life to break us off and succeed in increasing their dimensions more than before. Therefore, I would suggest you to be more brave which you must have been till this birthday of yours, and face the situation more practically in the times to come. If you break, this might be more damaging for your son who had a breakdown as narrated by you. And no other person is better than a mother who could counsel her son and take care of him during stress and anxiety. So you have to make yourself strong enough mentally and physically both of which are inter related. As most of your investigations are within normal limits, I would say that all your present symptoms are also possibly stress related. You could have good sleep and good days ahead as yesterday if you listen to your inner strength and come out of your stress. Everyone has got some stress or other in their lives, but it is up to them whether they want to take it in a sportsman spirit or want to make it a debilitating disease/problem for them. I am sure you would be brave enough to face the situation with all these years of experience in your life which few would be having and also support your son in calming him down and counsel him and for all these to happen, you first have to come out of your anxiety. The IBS might be also a symptom due to your anxiety/stress. Once you fight it out, it would be ok. However, for symptoms like bloating now, you could try some proton pump inhibitor, and some pre- and pro- biotic drugs. A few changes in your life style would also help you, like a morning walk and keeping yourself busy in some kind of activity in your routine. Go for fresh vegetables and fruits, which will help you in your IBS symptoms. You might continue to take muscle relaxant and some mild anti anxiety drugs depending on the prescription of your neurologist, who would also be able to rule out any organic cause for your symptoms before labeling it as due to stress. At the end I would stress to you that our life given to us by God is invaluable. One must enjoy it with overcoming all the stress and strains in one's life, And I am sure your problem is just a transient one, and you would overcome it with your efforts, and over and above would also counsel your son to overcome his problems in the life. And I would like to listen from you when you succeed in this effort of yours, which I am sure you would. Thanks for choosing health care magic to clear doubts on your health problems. We are there to try to help you out of your medical problems. Wishing you an early recovery. Dr Shareef.

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