[Guest]

I have this feeling of helplessness after a "d" attack or even just a loose stool. I have been a "d" and lower left side ache sufferer for over 20 years. Can anyone relate to the feelings of impending doom after an attack? I was diagnosed with severe lower sigmoid spasms years ago. My symptoms have not changed but I get this feeling that something is seriously wrong with me besides the IBS. This just exagerates the symptoms, i.e viscous cycle. Im very confused whether my head is causing the symptoms or whether my physical condition is causing the depression. Any thoughts?------------------2tone[This message has been edited by Tommy2tone (edited 03-12-99).]

 

[Judy]

The anxiety about this thing is overwhelming. Been going through the same thing myself for six months. Believe me the D causes the anxiety first. I never knew what anxiety WAS until I had this. When that D comes I feel so out of control, scared to death, weak, shaky and depressed. I think part of it is a chemical imbalance when it happens. It's so violant and traumatic to your body it sort of sends it into a tailspin I guess. I'm still not concinced that I don't have something seriously wrong with me.

 

[Missycat]

I think you're on to something, Judy - I get depressed and sometimes truly PISSED OFF when I have bad episodes of D - maybe it has something to do with depleting important minerals, maybe endorphins (no - they would make you feel good), I don't know - maybe something weird goes on with our blood chemistry when we have a particularly virulent attack. Or mabe we just hate it so much because it SUCKS! But there's hope! I truly believe we all can improve our conditions! Read, read, read! There's so much priceless info on this board!

 

[Guest]

Hey I know how you are feeling... I just had an attack...I was going to go out with my friends tonight, I haven't seen them in awhile as I am trying to get my IBS under control... I am off on sick leave right now from work as well... after these attacks of D you do feel down and I feel so wiped out... I had a questionable food today which is usually okay but I am beginning to get a cold so I think my body is out of whack right now anyways... I am glad the BB is hear so that you can talk to other people with the same problems... My boyfriend is wonderful but he doesn't know what I am really going thru... Hang in there it does get better.. and it helps to talk as well..

 

[Blair]

irrational depression after a bad attack, yes. Irrational because it usually comes at the end of a bad week, sort of a climax. It gets me wondering about seritonin(sp) and the connection with IBS.

 

[Ty]

JudyI agree with you (and Missycat)! I feel the same way as all of you - tired, weak, shaky, and irritible. I think it's just our bodies recovering from the 'attack'.Ty[This message has been edited by Ty (edited 03-15-99).]

 

[Guest]

I'm with you, Missycat. I get depressed after going through an attack, then I get PISSED OFF. But I think that's a good thing. It pisses me off so much that I just say I'm not going to put up with this #### anymore and it sort of helps physically.------------------Martha

 

[Guest]

Tommy,I get a helpless, weak, exhausted feeling during and after an attack. It sometimes can last for hours. I'm sure it's like the immobilizing feeling that someone in total fear has, like being asked to parachute out of a plane, or go into battle. I find the best thing is to try to do something, accomplish something, rather than give in to the urge to hide or go to bed. Most of the time I'm convinced that the D comes from my head, but I still think that the whole thing originated with my gut. That is, I had D enough times that I have become phobic about it ( " I might get an attack in such and such situation, and need a bathroom. Is there one there?")I don't think my feeling about this is unique, but instead of calling it the "mind-body" connection, IBS should be called the "body-mind-body" connection. Make sense?

 

[Guest]

I think it is mainly a physical symptom, because when i had a flexible sigmoidoscopy, I had to do these saline enemas, and they caused me to have pretty violent D, with bad spasms, felt weak, shaky and irritable. I like to take stuff with electrolytes in it, because D really causes imbalance in the electrolytes. "E-mergency" has vit C, and B12, and Potassium. I think it is the potassium- I usually get enough salt, but not the P. There are alot of sports drinks that have it too. The Pediatrician had me give electrolyte drinks to the kids when they had D.When the electrolytes get off, our brains get off, too, I think.

 

[Guest]

Hi. Boy! How I can relate to your situation! In fact just this morning, I had a mild case of the runs--again! I have been stuck in proximity to my toilet, as if that were my only companion! When I have the shits, I don't become depressed, but I do feel tired and exhausted. I get more in the 'alpha state' more than anything else. To me, it can get rather frustrating when I can't leave my flat. I just know that as soon as I go out the door, I will have an urgent need to go! Indeed that is not so uncommon for me to come down stairs just to have to make an about face and go back up stairs to the john! Most of the time I have made it, but there have been times that I have not! Thus going through more clothes! So to me it is a question of frustration rather than outright depression, and the exhausted feeling. I wind up resting and even going to sleep for a while -- asumming I still am at home. I thought I would just pass this on to you. All the best!RUNNYBUTT------------------