Irritable bowel syndrome and Amitriptyline

Hi Kate,

I have IBS though I don't take any medication for it, I just deal with it in my unorthodox way. I had been given amitriptyline became my face goes numb and I get pins and needles inside and around my mouth. It had no affect and so I've been put on a different variant.

Sorry I was of no help

Hi Pikl,

thanks for sharing your experience - it is helpful - so no need to apologise! I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with this too - it’s not easy is it? My family member is so tired of struggling with it and trying lots of things - none of which seem to help. It’s so disheartening for them.  The side effects you experienced sound very unpleasant - I’m really sorry that happened to you. I never seem to have much luck with medication either - I sometimes wonder if autistic people are more sensitive t9 medication. 
Do you mind sharing what has helped you with your IBS? Don’t worry if you don’t want to share this info though - I quite understand, it’s very personal after all.

I hope you do get further improvement with your symptoms - and thank you so much for your reply - it’s really kind of you :) 

Hi Kate,

Its looking like my facial issues are the result of prolonged anxiety,  but this is being investigated. 

I don't mind sharing what I do when my IBS flares up, but it isn't the right way to address it, it's just my way. I'm not very good at looking after myself properly and I do tend to use harmful methods to deal with things. When my IBS flares I go on a food detox, that is I won't eat anything at all for 3 to 5 days. It's my way of resetting everything. Like I said, not the best way of dealing with it. X

Yes - my stomach always reacts really badly to stress. I remember years ago my mum phoning me and telling me my dad had cancer and it affected my stomach immediately. 

Yes, I think stress is an important factor. Next to the brain, the gut is the most innervated part of the body. When my mother was in her terminal illness my gut problems were at their worst ever.

Hi Martin, thank you for your reply. It's so nice being somewhere I don't feel like a weirdo. I went vegetarian 3 years ago and I feel that's really helped me. I also find that some foods bother me one day and then not the text. I'm beginning to wonder if it's more my poor stress management that affects me,  rather than the food itself, hence why it seems to change. Feel an experiment coming on.

I had never considered myself an anxious person. Now I'm coming to realise that my normal isn't what is considered normal. Story of my life really. 

I'm currently looking for coping strategies at the moment and not finding anything useful. I was told by a therapist that my coping mechanisms to get me through the day are my biggest cause of anxiety. Do you sometimes feel like you just can't win?

I do the same, it is called 'resting the gut'. I also have many food intolerances, which distressingly seem to shift. over time and finding what is affecting my gut, and cutting it out, seems to help. I recently cut down dairy in my diet to a drastic degree, which helped my descending and sigmoid colon pain hugely. It also cleared up haemorrhoid pain entirely, which was an unexpected, but welcome, effect. I also take probiotic (bacteria) capsules, which seem to help as well.

Hi Pikl,

I have had prolonged anxiety (decades of it) - I’m so you struggle with this too. I hope you get some help that deals with the tingling etc. Not easy. 

it’s interesting that you try a detox. In the past (for my own health issues relating to joint problems and severe anxiety) I’ve tried fasting and it’s helped me. I think it’s a good thing sometimes - and if it’s helped you then I’d say it’s a good thing! There are well documented benefits to fasting etc - I think it can be ‘the best way’ for some people. I’m really glad it’s helped you - and thank you for sharing that idea :) 

Hi Pikl,

I have had prolonged anxiety (decades of it) - I’m so you struggle with this too. I hope you get some help that deals with the tingling etc. Not easy. 

it’s interesting that you try a detox. In the past (for my own health issues relating to joint problems and severe anxiety) I’ve tried fasting and it’s helped me. I think it’s a good thing sometimes - and if it’s helped you then I’d say it’s a good thing! There are well documented benefits to fasting etc - I think it can be ‘the best way’ for some people. I’m really glad it’s helped you - and thank you for sharing that idea :) 

I had never considered myself an anxious person. Now I'm coming to realise that my normal isn't what is considered normal. Story of my life really. 

I'm currently looking for coping strategies at the moment and not finding anything useful. I was told by a therapist that my coping mechanisms to get me through the day are my biggest cause of anxiety. Do you sometimes feel like you just can't win?