Does Stress Cause IBS?

Posted on Sat, 24 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 24 Oct 2015 Answered on

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. i am a 30 year old male, i go throught a lot of stress at work. well i have been having shooting stabbing pains, at first it started witha pain by gallbladder, then shotting pain about 3 inches to right of belly button, and the to the left 3 inches of bellybutton, sometimes on the side between abdomen and back also at same height of belly button on both sides. i am going crazy here. my wife is pregnant and feel that i should be giving her support and not the other way around. i went to my doctor and got blod tests including h pylori and everything is good. he says it is IBS caused by stress, but isnt IBS pain, like pain urge to go to the bathroom, my pain doesnt urge me to go to the bathroom its just stabbing pain that comes for about 3 seconds and disappears. i am so paranoid that it wakes me up. i avn be fine for one hr and then get a pain please help!!!!! he prescribed chlordiaz, been on it 2 days and no difference how long till i see a difference

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I need further details.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome to hcm. i am dr XXXXXXX varshney. I understand your concern.
To help you better I need following details:
1. Is your pain colicky in nature?
2. Is your pain persistent or intermittent?
3. Any constipation or diarrhea?
4. Have they performed sonogram of your Abdomen?
5. Any history of any breathlessness?
6. Is your pain increasing or decreasing in intensity with the course of time?
7. Do you feel the pain while you are asleep. Do you get up in night from deep sleep due to pain?
Revert with the asked details for a better help.
Stay Healthy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Get Ultrasound done.

Detailed Answer:
Hi. It seems your pain is due to some stone that can be ureteric or kidney stones.
So I would advice you to go for an Ultrasound Abdomen to be sure and right back to me with the report.
Good luck.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anshul Varshney (1 minute later)

It comes in waves, sharp shooting. No ultrasound. It wakes me up. No other symptoms

But I get it on both sides of abdomen 2 inches from naval area. I've been to 2 doctors and they say it's stress anxiety and it moves towards the side of abdomen on both sides. He told me that the ultrasound would not be necessary because those symptoms were not from kidney stones

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No harm in getting an Ultrasound

Detailed Answer:
Hello. A diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms as well as the signs based on clinical examination.
Your symptoms are suggestive of stones vs IBS. Good doctor must have examined you and have you the diagnosis of IBS.
In my opinion there is no harm in getting an Ultrasound done as IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. So request and discuss with your doctor. They would post you for an Ultrasound and if that's normal you would need treatment for IBS.
Good luck

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar