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Posted 12/29/2011 3:33 PM (GMT -5)
Hello my name is Bo and I am a single daddy with 2 daughters 13 and 10. I have been a single daddy for 8 years now. I get very little help form the ex wife so life is kinda tough. With that said I suffer severe anxiety and panic disorder. And when I say severe I mean I have rushed myself to the ER more times thinking I was dying than you can imagine. What is going on now is I seem to be having alot more diarrhea and its almost everyday. I will admit that lately I have had more stress than anyone could imagine so I thought that could be the culprit. Well for the Christmas holiday I took a trip to San Juan to just "get away"...............I WAS MISERABLE THE WHOLE TIME.........I could not stop thinking about my children and I just wanted to come home. Well after I got home I started having the diarrhea worse and now almost foamy and burns very bad. I hate to sound so graphic but I need to know what this could be becuase like an idiot I called doctor google and being that I suffer with anxiety and panic I've found I've got every disease known to man. I am so tired of carrying myself to the doctor with every little pain or discomfort I feel. I love my kids more than anything but I am terrified that I am going to die before they can get grown (I'm all they got). Sorry to ramble on but this has lasted about 5 days, should I take myself back to the doctor or see if it will run its course. I heard there was something called travelers diarrhea and it can last up to a week, I would appreciate any info. I'm literally a nervous wreck right now because of this. Thanks.

Bo

Atlanta Ga.

Posted 12/29/2011 4:07 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome, you are in the right place for help.  These wonderful people have helped me so much.  I too have stress/anxiety.  When stressed to the limit the cramping and diarrhea start.  Its no fun, but yes stress will cause this problem.

Annie

Posted 12/29/2011 4:33 PM (GMT -5)
Hi SD and welcome!

I am sorry to hear that you are suffering with so much stress and its symptoms at the moment. You are certainly not alone, as many of us here can relate to what you are going through.

I am assuming that you mean San Juan Puerto Rico, (I live in California, and we have one here too) so it would make sense that you could indeed just be experiencing the Traveler's D. When your system can handle some probiotic yogurt or yakult you might want to try that to restore the balance that the diarrhea has messed with.

If you don't feel better in a few more days, then a trip to the doctor might not be a bad idea, so that you can figure out what is bothering your system, whether or not you need antibiotics, and to avoid dehydration.

As far as the anxiety goes...what if any treatment have you sought? Many members here have tried therapy, medications, self-help techniques...or a combination of these methods to manage their anxiety.

You may want to visit our Anxiety Resource Guide (main A/P page, 3rd post) You will find great links to sites that teach relaxation/breathing exercises that you could get started on right away:)

I hope that you plan on continuing on with us here...we are a supportive group who understand each other and are always willing to listen and help when we can.

It is difficult enough to be a single parent (did that for a stint myself) without feeling isolated by A/P. There is hope and help for you though, and this was a great step in reaching out, and towards your recovery!

Take care,
Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/29/2011 5:19 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the responses. Yes it was Puerto Rico. I am going to get some probiotic yogurt and try that and see if it can get me back to normal, if it doesnt work then Monday I will see the doctor.

I was prescribed Zoloft a while back and it made me very sick. I was also prescribed Buspar which also made me very sick. SO I take a 1 mg Xanax 3x a day OR as needed.

MY scariest moments are usually around 3 or 4 am when I wake having a full blown panic attack. Scariest  feeling in the world. I have had numerous EKG's and blood tests only to find out that I am a healthy 37 year old man.

I even spent 2500.00 to get a Stress ECHO done. The doctor told me before he even did the ultrasound that there was no way I would have made it that far at that incline level for that long if I had a heart problem. Its funny that all these doctors can tell us the same thing (that we are ok) but as soon as something "weird" or "doesnt feel right" happens we (we as in Death anxiety sufferers) think its over I'm dying............

I will keep you all posted and thanks again for the reponse, it feels good to know I am not alone and that there are people that know how aweful this is and that I am not crazy.

I personally believe anxiety/panic came from the devil himself...............

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 12/29/2011 3:35:54 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/29/2011 6:03 PM (GMT -5)
It's good to know that you are in good health and you have been seen by your doctor. That is usually the first logical step when seeking help.

Have you considered therapy? CBT in particular is effective in helping relieve health anxiety and panic issues. I used to suffer attacks daily, and am now free from them, and able to manage my anxiety well:)

You can consult your doctor about a referral for a therapist who can help you if you think you are ready to give this a try. Many of us here have had great success with therapy.

Whatever you choose to do, hopefully just being able to talk about your issues here will be of help.


S.C.

P.s. the edit on your post was because the word 'darn' had a link to an exe file that was suspicious...any idea why?
Posted 1/1/2012 9:47 AM (GMT -5)
Single daddy, i feel your pain, anxiety i'm sure will definately cause the diarhea i have quite a bit myself, i had panic attacks since age 14 and have been rushed to the E.R soooooooo many times they are getting sick of me but it is so scary, i get dizzy, head pressure, left arm pain and numbness, trouble breathing and chest pain, all scary symptoms, just found out i had costcochondritis, probably due to the panic attacks and stress they told me, but it's nothing serious, i also am on xanax 1mg but 4 times a day, they really help, i been under stress with my 3 children they have been very bad and busting up the house, and just don't listen to me or their mom, it's stressful, but is the xanax helping you, because that really helps me but my panic attacks been super strong lately and i'm starting to need about 2mg at once, take care buddy, your ok, glad your tests all come out good, always remember you won't die from the panic attack, lol, i know its easy to say it and meanwhile when i'm in a full blown attack, them words can't even calm me down.
Posted 1/1/2012 1:04 PM (GMT -5)
As a mom of two daughters 8 and 9- I know the anxiety that these divas can bring- Out in public is when I experience my worst cases- Lately I have no choice but to pop a Xanax in order to calm down- Bad stomach aches and flushed feeling- And not to mention a phobia of public bathrooms- Breathing and focusing on another object helps while waiting for my pill to kick in- The feeling of being trapped seems to be what triggers it- Stress is hard on your heart and your body- I take Lexapro on during the high stress points of life (holidays, beginning of month at work) seems to help ok but causes nausea until I get use to it- Once you find what method works best for you- this too will pass- Note your progress and wins against this and you will gain confidence for the future- and knowing you have people here walking in your shoes will help along the way ;)
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