Dear All: I posted this in the gastrointestinal group but the more I think about it, I think what I have may be related to anxiety. Sorry for the long post....
Hi there! Was wondering if I could get some opinions on here. I apologize for the disgusting details but I'd love some help. For the last four months I've been having some very strange gastrointestinal issues. I say strange because I've never suffered from stomach issues. It started a few months ago, I was very stressed on a work related project and I spent probably two days at my office going to the toilet every hour. I had terrible diarrhea. Sometimes a lot, sometimes barely nothing, but always an urge and I passed a lot of gas. I thought it was a virus, but then it happened again about a month later. In between and through to today, I've continued having that same terrible gas that gives you sudden horrid stomach cramps about once per day and makes you run to the bathroom although I don't always end up pooing, and I've been belching terribly (what I'm experiencing cannot be called merely burping). I've always pooed a couple of times per day and I understood that was normal, but lately there are days when each time I go to the bathroom I pass gas and I've been pooping 5-6 times in a day. The belching is also quite bothersome. I don't only burp after meals. There are days when I belch quite a bit all throughout the day. Also, what I find odd is that when I awake and get up from bed, I always release several burps. I keep the burps in when I'm out and about but I have to tell you it's a relief to burp out loud when I'm at home. I thought that this alone meant that I had acid reflux - the burps are acidy sometimes and when I have my mouth closed for them, it's simply worse. I'm 40, fit, active and of normal weight. Don't smoke and I rarely drink. I've tried altering my diet to see if that would help but it hasn't. This is embarassing! Help!