I thought i was the only one---I get this too---Before finding this group i looked all over the internet for such symptoms---I wouldnt wish all this on anyone but is nice to know im not alone...

I read that this was one of the symptoms of Panic Attacks "The need to empty the bladder and/or bowels". I have it too...yo're not crazy or alone. After the BM I tend to feel as if I had rid myself of the toxin that gave me the panic attack. Weird I know! But since taking my klonopin...no panic and no weird urge to empty myself!
Take Care!

Hi there. I joined the group just to post about this topic. This is the only place where I've seen anybody else coming close to referring to the symptoms that I've been experiencing.

I had anxiety as a young teenager, but it's been a non-factor since I was 17 (5+ years). I don't consider this problem to be "anxiety-related", but I could be wrong. I've always felt like it might be a toxicity issue, since after I expel the built up waste from my body, the dizziness goes away.

At times, the dizziness has been so intense that I was sure I was going to lose consciousness. It's a completely different feeling from what I used to call a "panic attack".

I also was wondering if any of the other men who experience this get their Cremaster Reflex activated very strongly while this is going on. For those who haven't heard the term, the Cremaster Reflex is when the testicles retract and suck up very close to the body. Some people even have them go completely inside when this happens. Mine remain on the outside, just very close to the body with the sack tightly compacted.

I have spoken with a General Practitioner, and a Psychiatrist about this, and neither one had any idea what could be causing this, so I'm hoping someone here will have further insight that can help to get rid of this extremely inconvenient problem.

I wish you all well, and look forward to finding some answers for those of us experiencing these symptoms.

-Ian

I have heard something about higher levels of ammonia in your system when your bowels are full of waste , and something about it going to the brain , maybe this has something to do with it ?
I get it too , I get feeling really anxious when I have to do #1 esp.. funny your adrenaline gland is near your kidneys , wonder if it triggers something ?

I feel light-headed and sometimes my whole body is trembling.

I actually joined this site because of this topic. Nice to know I'm not alone. Mine starts coming on before I even realize I have to go so bad, and I get all the physical symptoms of a full on anxiety panic attack coming on but not so much of the mental effects. And a few minutes later after I'm done I'm all OK again. it's gross and defiantly not a dinner table topic; "Well enough about my day at the office. Tell me honey do you ever get a really bad anxious almost panic feeling right before having to take a huge dump? What about you kids? You ever get that feeling?"

I can laugh about it now but it's not so funny when it's happening.

I'm having an episode of it right now. It doesn't happen before every BM, but it sneaks up on me a lot. It's favorite time is while I'm sleeping, but it's happening during the day too. I'm always afraid I have a brain tumor or colon cancer. Something hideous. I was just finishing doing something good for my body-taking a 2 mile walk w/the dog, then BAM! It hit! It sucks!

How do you have an episode of dizziness while you are sleeping? Or am I mis understanding what you said? Once you understand the connection between having a BM and your body's physiological response, you will know why dizziness occur. To keep this confidential, I can explain it relative to your situation if you send me a message. I am a nurse and it is something I know quite a bit about since I have cared for a lot of people with same symptoms..

Vic

I never joined a group before, but read the postings here and just had to let you all know that I suffer from random panic attacks and have also had the dizzines you described during a bowel movement. I also have irratible bowel. When I have an irritable bowel experience which I call a "Crap-attack" or diharrea, I experience an axiety attack. Since it is such an embarassing topic, I asked a nurse friend of mine with a PHD about it. She told me the stimulation of the Vagus nerve can be what causes it. You can look up information on this nerve anywhere on the internet, it really makes sense. Just my two cents worth. I know with anxiety and panic its better to understand whats going on then to wonder. I don't know if this is what causes anyone else symptoms so get checked by a doctor, but for me it made perfect sense. Hope this helps some of you. Have a good day and hang in there.

I used to get anxious/dizzy/panicky after a BM. I felt fatiqued and wanted to eat to fill me up again.

One thing it might be is similar to eating takes all the blood to the stomach so we should exercise for a while or we feel dizzy. Maybe a BM causes the blood to go to the bowel and away from other areas causing dizziness. ??

I to suffer from this unpleasant disorder and some days are far worse than others. The panic attacks have subsided somewhat but never the less it was a startling revelation when i discovered that i had a H.Pylori infection in my stomach and that the ucler was in fact producing the anxiety.
My suggestion is get a breath test for H.Pylori at any GP and see what it say.. after treatment the anxiety has gone and so has nearly all of the dizziness from bowel movements.
I assure you that living in panic constantly for months then suddnly completly gone was a life changing experience and it was all due to a bug in my stomach and a few antibiotics.

OMG!! I'm sorry this is what you are feeling, but so glad you posted it. I too experience the same thing but never said anything out of embarassment. Thank you for being braver than me. I now know I'm not alone in this and maybe I can now be less anxious about it!
Thanks you!!!!

The most common reason for dizziness before bowel movements are NOT low blood pressure or nerves, it's mostly caused by A DROP IN your BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. This isn't necessarily caused by anxiety or IBS but they _are_ common reasons.

This is how it works: Due to some reason your bowel movements are too fast (-or- your intestines are damaged and does not absorb what you eat properly), giving the LIVER a hard time to store spare sugar. This is why this often occurs in the morning when you've been without food for a longer period of time.

The condition can be dangerous and you should visit a doctor to check you liver values, print out this text and show it to your doctor in order to avoid misconceptions.

The short term treatment is easy, when this dizziness occurs drink a soft drink with lots of sugar in, the symptoms will probably go away within a few minutes. Stay away from sugar free diet drinks and similar because they can give the body false signals and worsen it all. My guess is that none of you suffering from this are diabetics, because this is a sign of the opposite.

Also, think about your eating habits. You need to slow down your bowels. Eat slowly, smaller portions more often, food containing lots of energy (eat junk food!), _cut down on fibres_. Take a nap after eating. If you sometime feel constipated treat that by eating sweet fruits. Have some dextrose candy on you in case of emergency.

Thank you for this article DrNej,

This was a good read, makes sense, totally. I do wonder about the "no diet" drinks and eat "junk foods". Haven't we been told time and time again to stay away from junk food or dont drink regular soft drink, but diet. For instance, my doctor has advised me to cut down on the sugar or I might get Diabeties. Or perhaps you were just trying to make a point...

Thanks for your help..

Victor

What we call "junk food" is often actually quite healthy and nutritious, seen from... let's call it an animal's perspective. The err lies not there, but that we do not live in such a way that we burn the energy we consume. The human body is made for hard labour, and that's what we need, both for the mind and the body; to run until we sweat thoroughly, drag around heavy stuff until we are exhausted, every day. To break down in a controlled way and then rest in order to heal into something a little bit stronger. Today most of us even have the choice to perform these necessary exercises in ways that are fun also.