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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
 Posted - 12/30/2008 : 09:07:42
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Hi! I havent been on in awhile but you were all so helpful when I was dealing with other issues so I thought I would see what you all think of this......in ealry October I ended up in the Emergency room with what was later diagnosed as diverticulitis. I had to take some strong (and nasty) antibiotics for about 2 weeks. I saw a Gastoentologists and in early December had my first colonoscopy......which confirmed the diverticulosis which when infected becomes diverticulitis. However, I continue to have cramping and the Doctor thinks it is spams of the colon due to stress....I have an anxiety/panic disorder and have just come through a very stressfull year. She prescriped and anti-spasmodic med which makes me feel "loopy" but the cramping and pain is still there and I hate meds so I take it only when I feel I absolutely have to. Could this be TMS?? ANyone else every go through this experience?
Thank You,
Cee |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2008 : 14:08:06
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Sounds like TMS to me. Many patients diagnosed with IBS (=TMS) report similar symptoms. Interestingly, one of the pioneer studies on IBS was done on medical students who were subjected to colonoscopies and the doctor would say something along the lines of "look at that tumor," or something like that, and the degree of colonic spasm would be recorded in response to the stressor. Patients diagnosed with IBS were reported to have a tendency toward "greater spasmodic activity." That is why IBS was sometimes referred to as "spastic colitis" in the past. So, yes, your symptoms are completely consistent with TMS and especially since your GI doctor ruled out anything else that might be going on (diverticulosis does not usually cause such symptoms by itself anyway), I see no harm in approaching it as such. Take the antispasmodics for symptomatic relief as needed, but understand that it is by no means a cure and if the adverse effects outweigh its benefits in your eyes then simply discontinue them. Best of luck!
Best,
MK |
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2008 : 15:17:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Cee
ANyone else every go through this experience?
Thank You,
Cee
diverculitis/culosis no, but the colon spasm.....hell yeah. 2 incidents where I thought I was gonna lay a bowling ball as I writhed on the bathroom floor, one of the times I think I passed out a bit. 3-4 other incidents where I felt it coming on and survived. Just one of the too many to list symptoms I've had over the last 2 years.
btw, knowing nothing about you, you put in your profile that youre a mom and wife and need to rtn to work, and I was wondering if your'e the kind of person that has to be the perfect worker, perfect mom, perfect wife or nothing at all? Or could you go back to work and accept that you could be an average good worker, average good mom, average good wife? Could that be a source of your stress? Which choice adds stress, takes away stress? |
Edited by - skizzik on 12/30/2008 15:23:21 |
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hottm8oh
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2008 : 15:52:25
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YES! I am in the exact same position as you are and I posted a similar story in another thread. I was diagnosed with diverticular disease in October and I've had HORRIBLE abdominal pain ever since. In fact, the pain is worse now than it was when I was infected. My doctor gave me anti-spasmotics, and they do nothing for the pain. I'm going for a colonoscopy and a second opinion on my gallbladder next month, but in the meantime I am miserable. I have also had a very stressful year.
I have to wait a month for a colonoscopy, so in the meantime I am going to apply Sarno's principles to this pain and see how it goes. |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2008 : 08:33:33
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THANK YOU ALL for your replies to my question. I am the mother of teenagers (between 15 and 18) and although I have no idea what 2009 will bring, the past year I will not miss. My "perfect" child pulled the unbelievable this past summer and took off to live with friends in the middle of the night just two weeks before college started and she was sitting on a very nice scholarship package. My other teens are also basically good kids, but like all teens, push the limit from time to time. My husband is a hard worker but on my case about going back to work as finances are a huge issue. Our daughter was in a serious car accident in the Fall, shortly after I was diagnosed with the diverticulitis. She will be okay and we are blessed but what a scare.
My Mom passed away a few years ago and she was my best friend. Her death still shocks me because she was only in her 60's and very into health, exercise and nutrition.....but cancer doesn't really care about that.....My Dad has not been the same since and has moved away leaving us all wondering if we will ever see him again. I am an only child but have cousins, Aunts and Uncles in the area who I am fairly close to.
Health issues totally stress me out, in part because of my Mom's death and my anxiety issues seem to revolve around my health or symptoms I feel are an issue. So, I have been seen in ER, had two CT scans and a colonoscopy and I am told that except for the diverticulitis, all looks normal. The cramping continues even though my body seems to be functioning as it should. Doctor tells me it is not IBS as that is diagnosed in your 20's and I am 2o years past that.....but it is stress induced pain/cramping.spasms of the colon....so what is the difference I wonder? I have a hard time thinking of this as TMS or stress but I beginning to think it may be.
And yes.....I am a total all or none Perfectionist. I do want to return to work but I feel so much pressure about it....and my teenagers have already informed me that I am NOT a perfect Mom....so there goes that one.....Thank You ALL so much and keep talking to me,,,,,I need your support and I want to help you too! Happy New Year! |
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hottm8oh
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2009 : 20:06:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Cee
Health issues totally stress me out, in part because of my Mom's death and my anxiety issues seem to revolve around my health or symptoms I feel are an issue. So, I have been seen in ER, had two CT scans and a colonoscopy and I am told that except for the diverticulitis, all looks normal. The cramping continues even though my body seems to be functioning as it should. Doctor tells me it is not IBS as that is diagnosed in your 20's and I am 2o years past that.....but it is stress induced pain/cramping.spasms of the colon....so what is the difference I wonder? I have a hard time thinking of this as TMS or stress but I beginning to think it may be.
I have also had two CT scans in the past two months. I had one when I was in excruciating abdominal pain on my right side, and the ER doctor told me my CT was normal. I said, "Then why am I in so much pain?" He said, "I don't know."
I had a colonoscopy 5 years ago that showed no diverticulosis. So this is a new development for me. My doctor also thinks I'm fine except for the diverticulosis. I've had IBS with diarrhea since I was 20, but the past 2 years have been significantly better. At first my gastro thought my pain was IBS, but this pain is NOT my usual IBS. It doesn't feel like cramps to me. It's a constant pain that lasts for hours. It could be gall bladder or pancreas, but I won't know until at least February.
I'm surprised to hear that your doctor would only consider an IBS diagnosis if you are in your 20's. As far as I know, there are no age limitations to it. Incidentally, IBS is nothing more than digestive issues of unknown origin, all of which Dr. Sarno believes is TMS. |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2009 : 08:20:54
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Hi And Happy New Year. Apparently, many Gastros believe that IBS is first diagnosed in your 20's and not afterwards.....but isn't colon cramping the same thing ? After 2 weeks on two of the the nastiest anti-biotics (I do not toletate meds well,,,,but anyone would tell you these two meds were tough to take) the diaherrea stopped as did the cramping. I was on a clear diet for the first few days and then a low fiber diet and then to the diet that I am on now that requires 25 mg of fiber per day (very hard to achieve with an American diet ) and drinking a ton of water per day , which I do anyway. So two Ct scans and one colonoscopy and I still have lower abdominal pain / cramping more days than not. So, I know what you are saying. Of course we do not want anything to be wrong.....but why do we have cramping/ pain? Is it TMS then? If so, what do we do next ?
I am dealing with this and a reoccuring anxiety/ panic disorder and I have
to go back to work as we have serious financial issues and two tuitions to pay and a house payments........
Cee |
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hottm8oh
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2009 : 09:19:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Cee
Hi And Happy New Year. Apparently, many Gastros believe that IBS is first diagnosed in your 20's and not afterwards.....but isn't colon cramping the same thing ? After 2 weeks on two of the the nastiest anti-biotics (I do not toletate meds well,,,,but anyone would tell you these two meds were tough to take) the diaherrea stopped as did the cramping. I was on a clear diet for the first few days and then a low fiber diet and then to the diet that I am on now that requires 25 mg of fiber per day (very hard to achieve with an American diet ) and drinking a ton of water per day , which I do anyway. So two Ct scans and one colonoscopy and I still have lower abdominal pain / cramping more days than not. So, I know what you are saying. Of course we do not want anything to be wrong.....but why do we have cramping/ pain? Is it TMS then? If so, what do we do next ?
I am dealing with this and a reoccuring anxiety/ panic disorder and I have
to go back to work as we have serious financial issues and two tuitions to pay and a house payments........
Cee
How long did it take you to go from liquid to low fiber to high fiber? Eating too much fiber too fast can cause cramps, bloating, gas, etc. You need to add it to your diet slowly. Your body might still be adjusting. Do you have any other symptoms other than pain? |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2009 : 14:40:48
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Hi. It took quite awhile to go from clear liquid diet to low residue/ low fiber to the diet I am on now which is most of the foods I would normally eat, but a lot of fiber, and a lot of water (which I did anyway) and nothing with seeds or nuts, including popcorn. Now the Gastro thinks I may be allergic to lactose because that can, I am told, happen at any time in your life.
Mostly, my symptoms are lower abdominal cramping and pain that last a few days, goes away and then comes back. I also have an anxiety/ panic disorder which I have most of my adult life. It was quiet for a number of years and so I had returned to work full time and grad school and was doing well until all the stresses hit last year....mostly family and financial stressors.
My husband is convinced that the abdominal cramping is due to my anxiety.....but he thinks Eveverything is due to my anxiety.
Cee |
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colon spasms
