Stomach Clenching

I know this might not be Lyme-specific, but I do think that Lyme has predisposed me to muscle and nerve issues which I did not have before, partly neurological and partly deconditioning....

Anyone have issues with clenching your abdominal muscles? I don't notice that I am doing it, but sometimes they become sore or I feel them twitching as I fall asleep at night and they have a chance to relax. The sensation is not just in the muscles you'd feel get sore after doing crunches, but rather more interior, like the abdominal wall. I know that this is a thing that is happening, and I'd like advice about how to make it stop.

I also feel like there's inflammation in my stomach or intestines (upper abdomen, center) that's worse a while after I eat, and it seems possible that these two things could be related. This sensation feels like I have been punched in the stomach, and ranges from distracting to debilitating.

I have read about this happening to people with anxiety, but I'm not sure if this is the same sort of pain. Can anyone describe for me what abdominal pain from anxiety feels like? Is it affected by eating?

What do you all think? Have you ever experienced digestive pain (like you have been punched in the stomach) from clenching abdominal muscles?

If so, then how do I go about fixing this? Better posture and conscious relaxation of the abdomen, obviously, but what else? How can I stretch my abdominal wall effectively?

And how can I be sure this is what's going on? An upper GI endoscopy, abdominal ultrasounds, and blood work have found nothing out of the ordinary (for me) except for high eosinophils which have resolved.

Background: This pain was gone for one month, which coincided exactly with starting a mast cell stabilizer (cromolyn), but now has returned. Maybe the improvement was just a coincidence and not from the mast cell stabilizer? No other symptoms (reflux, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, vomiting, fever, bleeding...) and not in any sort of Lyme flare, no new treatment.

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Lyme, bartonella, babesia, mycoplasma, EBV
Mold, MCAS, POTS, CFS/ME, HPA axis
Herbs, AmpCoil, DNRS, diet, nutrients, EOs

I was thinking about parasites, specifically, because the bacterial flora of my gut has been tested and found to be fine. Also because parasites could have raised my eosinophils, whereas bacterial or viral pathogens would not have. What a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the types of white blood cells! ;)

WBF, did you have any testing that indicated parasites before you treated, or did you just opt to treat them and hope you were right? (I remember that the results confirmed you were right, I just mean did you know beforehand that parasites were the issue.) Did the squeezing sensation get worse with mimosa pudica? I guess it doesn't matter, really, I just can't imagine dealing with worse pain than I'm already in and still being able to take in enough calories not to starve. How long did you treat parasites before the pain subsided for you?

I would love to go ahead and treat something, but I am nervous about doing so without knowing what I'm dealing with, in case I make something worse. I know a lot of us are in that situation, and we just have to dive in sometimes blindly. I'm just venting right now I guess....

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Lyme, bartonella, babesia, mycoplasma, EBV
Mold, MCAS, POTS, CFS/ME, HPA axis
Herbs, AmpCoil, DNRS, diet, nutrients, EOs

Sara,

I had a comprehensive stool analysis by DRG Lab (I think). Wasn’t very comprehensive, IMO. Didn’t even test for Candida or other yeast. Did test for some kind of parasites. The whole thing was negative.

I know I have ropeworm because I see them in my stool. My OAT test showed high arabinose (yeast), high lactic acid (bad bacteria), and very low good bacteria in spit of years of expensive probiotics.

If eosinophils show up on regular bloodwork, then I have no issues there.

Yeah, I would definitely hit parasites. Even Mayo Clinic lists parasites as a cause of high eosinophils. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/eosinophilia/basics/causes/sym-20050752

Many on this forum have told me to skip the herbs and go for the Rx for parasites. Still haven’t done it. I have some pyrantel pamoate on hand for a full moon whenever I decide to use it.

The squeezing sensation was the worst in 2015 when the IBS and ropeworm started. In April 2018, I had a large expulsion of greenish yellow seaweed looking stringy stuff out of my GI tract. I had a big increase of muscle and joint paint, bouts of sudden weakness, and feeling abdominal discomfort for a couple of weeks prior. The night before the expulsion, my abdomen bloated like a pregnant woman. This occurred in response to over a month of Candicid Forte supplements.

I had squeezing and sore intestines back in early summer and my abdomen and sides were flattening and pulling in. I kept ignoring it. Not long after, I weighed myself and was shocked at the weight loss. Soon after, it was discovered that there had been another leak and mold counts had gotten much worse in the house.

I still don’t know what my gut issue actually is. Testing indicates yeast or fungal. Body responded to antifungal herbs and Nystatin. Visible ropeworm continues to be excreted almost daily in response to herbal supplements for parasites - Mimosa pudica and Formula One.