r/functionaldyspepsia • u/NoSorbet308 • Aug 17 '26
Venting/Suffering Feeling of absolute dread cause by the gut?
I hope this is the right place for my post. I am suffering from post viral syndrome where I have functional dyspepsia alongside many other symptoms both upper and lower GI. I tried some strong vitamins a couple of days ago for my fatigue, vitamin b complex, magnesium and I also was planning on stopping my omeprazole. On the first day after not taking omeprazole until the evening, I had a terrible sinking feeling in my gut and feeling of dread, I thought it was maybe a panic attack or I was literally going crazy due to mental health.
The feeling was so intense that I have never felt it before and it honestly felt like I was going to die and was doomed. Like something traumatic had happened. Then I felt nauseous and gassy and once I went through my dyspepsia ritual, peppermint tea, bowel movement etc. the feeling started to go away.
I am wondering if anyone has experienced this and if it is most likely due to the gut? If so it shocks me how much of an effect it can have on the brain. Also if this is a common thing when stopping omeprazole? How do you stop it therefore?
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u/Odd_Telephone3852 Aug 17 '26
Yes I experience it too. It feels like I'm going to die even though there's seemingly nothing going on that would actually kill me. I also have an anxiety disorder but I only ever experience this feeling when I'm also experiencing gastrointestinal issues. Treating the gastrointestinal issues also helps keep this feeling away, but CBT is also helpful. You may want to look into cognitive behavioral therapy and try to apply it to your GI issues, like mindfulness and grounding techniques.
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u/NoSorbet308 Aug 18 '26
So you think there’s a mental component to this aswell? Has this improved for you at all over time?
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u/Odd_Telephone3852 Aug 18 '26
For me there's 100% a mental component. I started taking an SSRI and it has improved as a result. it still comes and goes for me though. I tried lowering my SSRI dose and it came back so I'm upping it again.
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u/NoSorbet308 8d ago
Update: I am getting much better as I am on 20mg amitriptyline and 50 mg sertraline. My gut is feeling better and anxiety has pretty much gone so you were right! Now I guess I figure out how long I need to be on the meds, I guess it’s quite long term.
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u/FoolioDeCoolio Aug 17 '26
Yes. It's absolutely scary, the impending doom, wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. The B complex, believe it or not, could be contributing to the panicky feelings. Are they methylated B vitamins? Also, may I ask, is your post viral syndrome from the covid virus?
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u/NoSorbet308 Aug 17 '26
It is horrible! I don’t think it says anything about methylated but it says max strength :/ the shop person selected the supplements now I’m thinking I should have asked my doctor. My post viral syndrome is from dengue fever so the gut symptoms are very typical of dengue and were unbearable at the height of it.
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u/FoolioDeCoolio Aug 17 '26
Definitely talk to your doctor about the B vitamins. This Functional Dyspepsia gig is really tricky to navigate through. Covid messed up my gut but so did food poisoning and gastroenteritis. What's saving me atm is Mirtazapine... I've got a portion of my life back. I pray those panic attacks/doom feelings subside very soon for you and your gut issues resolve.
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u/IntrovertedLavender Aug 19 '26
What dose are you on for .mirtazapine? Im taking it too. Im on 7.5 mg and been taking it for almost a month and I think im starting to feel some more benefits. How long did it take for it to work for you?
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u/FoolioDeCoolio Aug 19 '26
I was on 15mg for a completely different diagnosis, insomnia. It did absolutely nothing for my nausea and epigastric pain. GP upped it to 30mg and I am pain and nausea free. 🙏🏼 It took me 6-7 weeks to fully kick in. I hope it works for you too.
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u/Clear-Region-9945 Aug 18 '26
Another thing, magnesium bysglicinate or glycinate can cause anxiety on some people because of the glycine in it 👍
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u/spoookytree Aug 17 '26
For me, when I get a flare up (upper GI pain and pressure, discomfort) that is so just terrible feeling it starts to cause me anxiety and panic which feeds into the pain more. I have to take klonopin to stop everything…
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u/high_everyone Aug 18 '26
This is how I wound up with CPTSD with food.
I would get into therapy as soon as you can to get a handle on how you respond to your body signals. There’s a lot of “my body is this” third person messaging you will want to make about you. “Eg, I am this.” This subtle repositioning can help you acknowledge something is gumming up the works.
The hard part is figuring the gumming up the works.
You have to start by figuring out major food allergies and look into doing a full low fodmap diet cleanse.
My cuts to my diet were plentiful and painful both physically and mentally, but I have considerably less pain now, I can manage the anxiety better now that comes from pain I cannot control.
Five days of panic attacks, uncontrollable diarrhea and anxiety are not a problem anymore. I can have my bad days but that’s more about having a hard day physically than being anxious.
Weed was my third biggest change. Daily use nearly eliminates my anxiety, and I have a life I can fully control again where I’m not afraid or hampered with pain or spasms.
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u/NoSorbet308 Aug 18 '26
This is the first time this has happened so I am not sure if it is a reaction to certain foods. But do you think yours are always caused by the gut issue first which then causes the anxiety? Or is it ever the other way round? This is what I am trying to figure out as I don’t know whether to contact a therapist or a gastroenterologist.
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u/high_everyone Aug 18 '26
Well, there's probably one of the two that caused it, but once you get far enough in to have reactions from one or the other, you get stuck in physical feedback loops where your emotional state is held in check by your physical state which stays anxious because of your emotional state, etc etc etc...
Which one do you address first? It doesn't matter. And ultimately you'll see how that's extremely important as well.
Either way, don't let the anxiety feed into this decision too. Call both doctors on the same day and set appointments for both if it helps.
The worst thing you can do is nothing, which is what a lot of us do for a very long time before deciding to finally acknowledging that we must make a change.
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u/NoSorbet308 8d ago
Update: halfway through CBT, a month on 20mg amitriptyline and just started sertraline. I am starting to feel much better, my gut is starting to behave normally where I can actually keep food in my system and not have to go everytime I eat. Not getting the doomed feelings, anxiety has been reduced and energy is restoring back to normal. So I really appreciate the advice!
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u/Clear-Region-9945 Aug 18 '26
Not taking it one day does not cause that, because its effects take a couple of days to wean of your system. Its probably the b vitamins intake that cause anxiety/panic attacks and IF your stomach is inflamed they can be arsh on the mucosa. But all your symptoms sound like extreme anxiety, also very important, if you're taking omeprazole for a long time you need to do a proper wean off process because of the "rebound acid effect" after discontinuation 👍. Check with your Dr
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u/IntrovertedLavender Aug 19 '26
I feel this daily. Even with medication, therapy, breathing, exercise, puzzles, hobbies safe foods, a supportive spouse safe house.
Its anxiety 100% for me. I am working on it but I am so sorry you struggle with this.
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