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This is really interesting . . .
I'm close to 2 people w/severe migraine problems and they both have something very similar happen, and it begins just prior to their worst attacks. The one who had/has this the most often spirals into a panic attack when this happens. (Does this part sound familiar to anyone? I ask because my daughter had the panic thing ramp up in association w/the worst IBS attacks.) This migraine sufferer also got the advice (from a therapist advising her re: the panic) to stand in a cold shower when things started to go this way for her. So, the fight/flight/freeze response has been triggered inappropriately in these cases . . . (I suppose it could be something associated w/severe pain or the repetition of incidents of severe pain, rather than a commonality more specific to migraine and IBS?)
kem (daughter w/ibs-d)

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YES. When I start to feel an attack coming on, or when I start to get that sweaty/flushed feeling, I get panicky. This is probably because I've had two "accidents" now in a store and I start freaking out thinking it's going to happen again. Or that I will not be able to find a bathroom, or that I'll be gassy and I'll gross out the people around me (either strangers or friends/family). The freaked-out feeling makes the gut cramps and sweating/flushing worse. That makes the panicky feeling worse. Which makes the gut and sweating worse. It's a vicious cycle.

I also think it has something to do with my OCD. It's awful to have OCD and IBS. Can you imagine the struggle I have to keep "clean"??? I can laugh about it when I'm not in the middle of an attack. My OCD kicks in about the time the panicky feeling kicks in. For me, even mild gas is not acceptable. I start to feel even slightly "unfresh" (to quote every pantyliner commercial ever) and I freak, thinking I'm leaking poo. My OCD just goes into overdrive, which I think helps fuel the panic and, in turn, the gut.

But to be clear...I've had the flushed/hot feeling come totally out of the blue and I've noticed that it precedes an attack. The OCD doesn't really kick in until AFTER the initial flushed/hot feeling. I think maybe the flushed/hot feeling is my body's way of warning me that something bad is about to happen.




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IBS-D since...well, a long time
(probiotic acidophilous, SF supplements, IBS eating plan)
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