Mel1981 11 Posted December 30, 2016 A couple of weeks ago I had a heavy feeling in the pit of my abdomen and had two small marble size pieces come out when I went to the bathroom along with some bloating and no appetite. Then it seemed to go back to normal and then at the end of that week it was slightly flattened but my appetite was fine and no bloating. I've had more rounded stools since then though. I've started freaking out now about c****r and today I'm having some stomach issues. I'm 35 and I'm just full of worry right now. My wife had a bug that made her throw up and my son had some stomach issues a few weeks ago. I had a blood test on November 30th which came back fine except for slightly elevated cholesterol. I had coffee this morning and hadn't had much of that in the last couple of weeks where usually I drink it every day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Livelean 3 Posted December 30, 2016 I can relate to you in a sense I get strange bowel habbits too. Never really chalked it down to anything but possibly IBS? If it's only been going on for 2 weeks I'd say let it pass as could just be a change in eating habbits, anxiety and stress or the flu that your family recently had. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fearoffear 0 Posted December 30, 2016 Probably just stress/ anxiety related? On bad days I steer clear of Coffee as it brings on some unwanted bowel issues when combined with anxiety for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel1981 11 Posted December 30, 2016 Thank you. I've felt what I guess might be muscle tightness and things like that in my abdominal area. Today it was some queasyness this morning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuneuronerd95746 2 Posted December 30, 2016 Hey Mel1981, Sorry to hear you're experiencing these symptoms. My SO likewise struggles with these type of bowel anomalies. It's easy to jump the gun regarding a diagnosis; whatever you do, don't visit Dr. Google when you feel like this. In agreement with these other supportive community members, I think you should try (easier said than done) to wait it out a little longer and see if symptoms subside, ebb and flow, or increase in intensity. Secondly, I'd definitely take stock on your mental health right now. Somatic complications, such as indigestion, change in appetite, nausea, bloating, and yes even bowel activity, are associated with distress. Whether something psychogenic is fully to blame, that would be hard to determine. I can say with confidence that worrying about the consequences as well as causes of these problems won't make the stress of the situation any easier. Which incredibly difficult to avoid given you are rightfully and appropriately concerned about your health. A third thing I should ask is whether you've either (1) changed anything dietary wise, including vitamin/supplement intake or (2) anything medication wise, including routine things such as birth control, blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds (even though it seems you're generally healthy which is excellent)? Small disruptions to your body's digestive system and waste removal process can lead to some annoying symptoms. As for a strong solution, I think continuing to monitor (but trying not to obsess over it) is an appropriate tactic at the present time. Again if you begin to notice a pattern to your symptoms, or they begin to get worse, then perhaps a doctor's visit just to be safe. Chances are it's a mixture of many factors including stress and general health, but not something serious like the C-word; don't jump to that! Bowel problems are incredibly common, even when they seem so strange. Hang in there! You'll get through this rough patch. feel better, brad Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel1981 11 Posted December 31, 2016 Wow thank you for the detailed response. At this point I can't tell if it's muscle spasms or not. I have some aches in my legs and back as well. I haven't been sleeping well either. I took a raw multi vitamin a couple of times this week. That might explain the lighter colored stool. I've also been worried about going to the bathroom, so maybe that's causing a problem too. Unconsciously holding back like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuneuronerd95746 2 Posted December 31, 2016 It seems like you've been able to isolate a few symptoms or stool oddities that are likely linked to organic, non-serious causes (e.g., the lighter stool color). Oftentimes there are very simple explanations that we overlook in moments of fear and distress. We seek for evidence which confirms our biased interpretation of our health. For example, if I believe I have developed diabetes, I'm going to start overly attuning myself to symptoms of dry mouth, frequent urination, even something as vague as dizziness- I'm going to automatically associate these common occurrences to the diabetes. Yet, I may have had coffee all morning and my throat and mouth may have become parched. That same coffee binge will likely expedite my bathroom trip routine and lead to more urination, and over-caffeination can cause dizziness. What this silly example highlights is how there are simple circumstances which I failed to appreciate to explain my symptoms. My fear of some horrible outcome- diabetes- dominated my cognition. My annoying rambling aside, often we become neglectful of rather simple alternatives which may explain these relatively benign symptoms. I'm think that it is a combination of stress, change in sleep, and possible dietary modifications which together are causing these problems. That's not to say don't monitor your bowel movements- but remember to factor in the more obvious causes. best of luck, brad Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel1981 11 Posted December 31, 2016 I would like to think that if I had something bad I would notice something like my stools changing and not changing again toward normal like they seem to have done. I just had a physical last month and everything seemed okay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel1981 11 Posted December 31, 2016 I just heard of about a friend of my aunts that died today from colon c****r at 36. I just didn't need to hear that right now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel1981 11 Posted December 31, 2016 My abdominal area just feels nervous if that makes sense. I was able to use the bathroom earlier and it wasn't diarrhea or constipation but came out very easy and wasn't bulky. I still don't know if I'm focusing on this just too much or what. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JOYCICLE 654 Posted December 31, 2016 Your abdominal area is nervous because you are nervous. Our minds and our bowels are so intimately tied together when one is upset the other goes off. I dont' know that I have met one person on this site with any type of disorder that does not have some sort of abdominal upset, ibs, diarrhea, constipation, extra acid, gerd, extra gas, etc. We all do and most of us have more than one to several. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mel1981 11 Posted January 1, 2017 Thanks Joy. I read last week about a symptom being persistent lower abdominal cramps and so now I keep thinking about that to see if I feel it. I get off and on tweaks in my abdomen. I've been sleeping funny and maybe it's my back causing these tweaks to come through to my abdominal muscles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JOYCICLE 654 Posted January 1, 2017 It may have a lot to do with what and when you're eating and drinking and adding on stress / anxiety about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
