Hello,

I have had a very noisy stomach since the last two years. It began about a few months after I came to US for graduate studies. I have seen at least two GI specialists and know now that it isn't induced by any allergy/Celiacness etc.

Briefly, the relevant symptoms are -
A growling/rumbling stomach (having nothing to do with hunger), mild social and work/performance related anxiety, easily alarmed/scared by sudden sounds/motion, feeling of loneliness (actually am I think! ), mild diarrhea-ishness AND gassiness from time to time (mostly when tense about a meeting/presentation etc)
[No other severe hysterical mood disorders or pain etc, just the above]

So, now I just *know* that my stomach noise and state is an indicator of how tense/nervous I am. [Readily verified by such symptoms present almost always just before an important 'show down' and *disappearing* immediately after that]. I guess it has something to do with the hyperactivity of the intestinal motor contractions induced by anxiety. Exercise seems to help a lot too. Symptoms seem to quickly disappear for about an hour immediately after a brisk abs-intensive exercise.

I have tried from allopathy the following -
Hyoscyamine & Dicyclomine to slow down my stomach.. they seem to work but only for about an hour (I am thus on my own when giving a 3 hour exam). And do not work about 30% of the times..

I read about Ignatia and related homeopathic remedies for symptoms similar (?) to mine. Before I try it, I have a few questions -
1. Any side effects?
2. Is it habit forming? Meaning, if it helps me, and I take it for the next 10 years on a as-needed basis, will I grow dependent on it to keep my stomach quite?
3. Does it *heal* the problem or simply cure it for the time-being?
4. Should I be taking it at all? Had read something like it's meant for Women only? (I am a 26 year old guy). Do my symptoms qualify for a prescription? If not, what should I try?
5. Where can I get it from? (in US) Is it available over the counter?
6. What's the usual prescription like (frequency/quantity)?
6. URLs for further reading if you have any?

Thanks a lot for your time and help! I usually avoid taking medicines for 'trivial' problems, but have given up on this one. It sounds trivial but has very embarrassing effects!

Do reply please!

[ 23 March 2002, 21:46: Message edited by: Rahul Nair ]