Fear from bad GI disease

[Garoll]

Hello guys, I am 23 yrs old. I used to have Somatoform disorder. I had plenty of symptoms which get relief with Tricyclic antidepressants. However recently i have terrible abdominal pain in my lower abdomen and sometimes something like diarrhea. I saw that my symptoms could be triggered by spicy food. I did colonoscopy without biopsies (becausemy colon looked healthy) and did 20 calprotectin tests (marker for inflamation in the bowels). I am scared of having crohn's disease. All of my tests are just normal. Like i am completely healthy... however i still feel bad from time to time i have periods when my symptoms come back a t full power . They tell me that i have IBS-D (irritable bowel syndrome), however i am feared of crohn's disease. What is your opinion is it possible to be in my head, is it possible to be IBS and is it normal for spicy food to irritate me so bad.

 

[Concernedgal]

It is true that Crohns disease symptoms do include digestive symptoms. Heres a list of symptoms to look out for p.s. If this doesn't sound like your symptoms. . Your may have had a relapse on the samatoform disorder

 

[Garoll]

That doesnt help me much, i am not bleeding i dont have joint pains. I havebonly pain and diarrhea

 

[Concernedgal]

Well. Your fear was Crohns disease. And now you can set those fears to rest. A couple of more things to consider. Ulcerative colitis and of course stress induced pains due to high levels of cortisol in your system. Have you considered gluten sensitivity? Or any kind of food allergy would cause the same type of pain. Above are symptoms of gluten sensitivity.

 

[Concernedgal]

If that's not it. Try to look more into the viral and parasitic route.

 

[janemariesayed]

Spicy food can have an adverse effect on people and give symptoms like you are suffering. It may be an idea to give up spicy food and spices all together and see if you feel any better. If after a week of not eating spicy food you still feel the same, then you will know that it isn't the spicy food having this adverse effect on you.

What you could then do is to cut out one type of food at a time. Just for a week. If it is gluten that is affecting you, one week without gluten products will tell you if you feel better.

 

[Rinka]

Seems a bit simple, but have you tried not to drink any milk?
I remember, about 8 years ago, I started to become very bloaty and my stomach felt really heavy.
So I just thought, sod it, try drink you coffee without milk and reduce any milk products. And...
It really did help after a while everything got back to normal as long as I don't have milk or cream. Cheese and yogurt are fine though.