return of stomach cramps

[davide.h 26]

Had them a lot in the spring but they kind of went away on their own and now I am feeling them again. I don't know what to do. 

[bin_tenn 1252]

It happens. I've been dealing with some of these recently as well.

[davide.h 26]

What do they feel like? 

[Ironman 198]

Are you guys staying hydrated or getting enough nutrition?

[MARC 431]

I personally get stomach cramps if I eat the wrong foods, eat too much fiber or have to go to the bathroom. IBS can also cause stomach cramping according to my GI physician. 

[davide.h 26]

I wonder if depression can exacerbate them. 🤒

[violetdisposition 1]

Happens to me as well. They come and go, like I think you were saying. From what I know, both depression and anxiety can cause stomach pain and other stomach problems. Stress can make your system work slower (or faster, depending on the person), mess with hormones that affect the stomach, and make you more sensitive to existing feelings. All of these can cause or worsen pain. Like Ironman says, best thing you can do for it is exercise, hydration, and eating well. Depression could definitely exacerbate stomachaches, so working on stress levels should help too. If you notice that certain foods trigger them or if the pain gets worse and doesn't ease up with improved mental health, then it might be time to see someone about it. But I don't think there's much cause for concern right now. Feel better soon!

[davide.h 26]

3 hours ago, violetdisposition said:

Happens to me as well. They come and go, like I think you were saying. From what I know, both depression and anxiety can cause stomach pain and other stomach problems. Stress can make your system work slower (or faster, depending on the person), mess with hormones that affect the stomach, and make you more sensitive to existing feelings. All of these can cause or worsen pain. Like Ironman says, best thing you can do for it is exercise, hydration, and eating well. Depression could definitely exacerbate stomachaches, so working on stress levels should help too. If you notice that certain foods trigger them or if the pain gets worse and doesn't ease up with improved mental health, then it might be time to see someone about it. But I don't think there's much cause for concern right now. Feel better soon!

Welcome Violet. I must say that's a hilariously clever nickname. 🤣

[davide.h 26]

Drinking water seems to increase activity in my stomach, for lack of a better word. Lots of grumbling. Feels nice. I hope this is a good thing. 

[davide.h 26]

On 8/7/2021 at 3:40 AM, Ironman said:

Are you guys staying hydrated or getting enough nutrition?

Do certain things make it worse such as coffee?

 

[jonathan123 2368]

It's all a question of trial and error. Some people can take a lot of coffee, others find it intolerable. Anything in moderation is fine.  If you think the coffee causes problems then leave it, but don't knock yourself up over it. I still think it's anxiety. Stomach cramps are a symptoms of anxiety, and if you have been checked out then that's all it can be.  I suffer from IBS, have done for years. They say the cause is not known, but I know. Anxiety.

I am OK until along comes some stress then off I go. I no longer wonder why, just accept it and take the necessary medication. I used to get all uptight many years ago when it began but I knew no different then. 

[Ironman 198]

On ‎8‎/‎18‎/‎2021 at 9:08 AM, davide.h said:

Do certain things make it worse such as coffee?

 

Sometimes, muscles not getting enough water can cramp.

[davide.h 26]

Really scared about them this morning! Also, I do deal with anxiety but I feel depression has been my primary emotion in the last year!. 

[davide.h 26]

Reminds me of believing I had pancreatic cancer a few years ago. 

[MARC 431]

My uncle had pancreatic cancer at 85. He suddenly had severe upper abdominal pain and was rushed to the hospital and it was diagnosed. A friend of mine had pancreatic cancer at 62. He had worsening back pain over a period of many months. Your symptoms come and go and are not getting increasingly worse, so odds are you are OK. What is your age?

[davide.h 26]

scared of stomach or colon cancer 😥

[Ironman 198]

On ‎8‎/‎18‎/‎2021 at 9:08 AM, davide.h said:

Do certain things make it worse such as coffee?

 

It can.  Coffee, well caffeine, actually dehydrates. 

Also, after the Corona slump in trying to get back into shape....with all the coffee I drink, it actually messed me up while running to the point I had to take an antacid before running because it would slosh up and down lol.  I am okay now, but it was scary thinking that I'd have to take an antacid before every run. 

Stomach cramps can occur with nerves.  I do remember in my most extreme anxiety periods, it felt like cramps and I just couldn't eat - nausea persisted.

Drinking water is good for all the muscles.   Colon cancer isn't in the stomach, so there is no problem there.  The stomach is pretty resilient - picture how it can handle hydrochloric acid all the time!  I would be more worried about an ulcer than stomach cancer, but ulcers are caused by bacteria.

[MARC 431]

Stomach cancer is extremely rare and you are way too young for it. In addition your symptoms are not indicative of stomach cancer. 

[davide.h 26]

On 8/29/2021 at 6:40 PM, Ironman said:

It can.  Coffee, well caffeine, actually dehydrates. 

Also, after the Corona slump in trying to get back into shape....with all the coffee I drink, it actually messed me up while running to the point I had to take an antacid before running because it would slosh up and down lol.  I am okay now, but it was scary thinking that I'd have to take an antacid before every run. 

Stomach cramps can occur with nerves.  I do remember in my most extreme anxiety periods, it felt like cramps and I just couldn't eat - nausea persisted.

Drinking water is good for all the muscles.   Colon cancer isn't in the stomach, so there is no problem there.  The stomach is pretty resilient - picture how it can handle hydrochloric acid all the time!  I would be more worried about an ulcer than stomach cancer, but ulcers are caused by bacteria.

Yes, I know it's a different organ. In the abdomen I should say. 

[Doug97 19]

Anxiety causes abdominal cramps. Mine certainly does (as did the sertraline the doc tried me on - other SSRIs can too). Caffeine is also known to cause them. My friend suffers from constipation and only drinks coffee in the morning to "keep him regular"! (I tell him TMI but it's no use). 

Lactose, gluten and other food intolerances are also common causes. 

[Ironman 198]

I learn this the hard way.  Water also helps counteract the lactic acid after outside activity.  I have a bit of lactose intolerance sometimes, so the cramps help eliminate so to speak.  Muscles are good, but they can be a pain lol.

[davide.h 26]

On 9/9/2021 at 7:51 AM, Doug97 said:

Anxiety causes abdominal cramps. Mine certainly does (as did the sertraline the doc tried me on - other SSRIs can too). Caffeine is also known to cause them. My friend suffers from constipation and only drinks coffee in the morning to "keep him regular"! (I tell him TMI but it's no use). 

Lactose, gluten and other food intolerances are also common causes. 

Sometimes they're first thing in the morning though. I've been withdrawing from a benzo since December and I really regret it but I can't really turn back now. 😞

[Doug97 19]

Yes, sometimes so are mine. 

Stomach cramps are a known part of benzo withdrawal. And anxiety. No way should you regret coming off them, sounds like you've already put in a lot of the work. Don't turn back now and waste all that effort. It took me 5 months to come off them and it was one of the proudest achievements of my life, precisely because it was so hard. Just remember things can only get better. 

[davide.h 26]

I'd never heard that before. Do you have a source I could read?

[Doug97 19]

The Ashton Manual is probably the number one best source of high-quality information about benzo dependence and withdrawal. I used it to design my own tapering schedule:

https://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha03.htm#16

Think about it. Benzos reduce anxiety, so their withdrawal increases it. So in benzo withdrawal you get an increase of any symptoms that anxiety can cause. 

I googled "anxiety stomach cramps", dozens of pages in the results, e.g.:

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety-diarrhea