Takes over my life
So I had an MRI this week as the IBS and gastritis are becoming more regular. I've had various scans which are normal. The consultant asked what operations I've had. I had a hysterectomy back in 2003 by a doctor who was actually struck off due to causing damage to many women, some bowel related but I thought I was one of the lucky ones and that may still be the case as I've read some awful stories of what happened to some poor women. Anyway the consultant says I could have lesions which cause the pain and flare ups. I'm waiting on the results. The frustrating thing is that even if I do then there's nothing that can be done. I really struggled having the MRI because when I got to the hospital I started to have a flare. This starts with trips to the loo to open my bowels although not diarrhoea, just normal stools but a lot of it. This is followed by my worse symptom which is nausea. I don't cope very well with this and basically don't want anyone around me making a fuss. I usually go to bed and shut myself away but had to go through the scan because it's not fair to anyone else who's waiting for one if I cancel. I managed to drink the 2 litres of solution which was a feat in itself considering the nausea then had to go into the tunnel for around 45 mins. I got through it then went home to bed although the solution had a laxative affect so several trips to the loo. My bowels are still sore. Ordinarily a scan would be ok but this IBS made the day much worse. I'm not coping very well with this at all now. I'm getting more anxious about having a flare up which in turn causes one. I've tried to think and focus on nice things, tried breathing and meditation. I do manage zumba twice a week. Have you ever got so fixated with this that it takes over your day to day living? I feel I'm in a rut. I've tried all of the probiotics, fodmap but I'm now thinking I'm causing more flare ups by worrying about having one
Sandy - you are not alone. I have had my own chronic illness journey for the last three plus decades and I can tell you (as well as anyone around me at the time) that I will take physical pain all day but nausea? Just no. No freakin' way. I cannot deal with it, I hate it, and it is one of the worst symptoms to bear in the world. So much so that when I had cancer I made them give me double anti-nausea and even a backup nausea medication in case the first one didn't work. I literally cannot deal with being nauseous. It ruins my entire day and, like you said, it takes over and it's all I can think about. You might want to ask your physician if they could prescribe a light anti-nausea medicine especially if your quality of life is being affected by it. Something that takes over your mental that much definitely falls under the heading of, "life-disrupting symptom." I, like you, have tried many times to use distraction and focusing on something else to try to help (usually video game) and while it does help a bit, it never really does enough that I can forget about it. Even lying down, which can help, doesn't do much good if I'm not sleepy also as I just lay there, bored, and focus on how bad my stomach feels. It is infuriating! All I can say is that you are not alone, and hopefully that's of some comfort. Keep on keepin' on, DPM
Thanks for your reply and sorry to hear you go through this. The MRI was clear apart from a small umbilical hernia, they don't seem phased by it so I assume it's OK. I have anti sickness tablets which do help generally however not so much with a flare up. I do need to try to crack this anxiety over nausea as it is affecting my life. Maybe CBT will help. Have you tried this? At the moment my constipation is under control through drinking more water but that doesn't necessarily mean no flare up. Anxiety and stress are major factors. I find chocolate isn't my friend either . Let's hope we find something to help soon . Take careBelieve it or not I have actually tried CBT, although it was a long time ago. It was not for me, but that certainly does not mean it won't work for you. I always say to people try everything! (As long as you do it safely.) You never know what might work and if you do find something that helps, then do it! Keep up the search! 😊 Keep on keepin' on, DPM
