I agree with Kim123. I was having exactly the same type of pain - beginning very low down in my pelvic area and radiating around to my lower back. My GI performed all kinds of expensive tests and couldn't pinpoint the problem. After doing research I decided to try a gluten-free diet. The pain is gone, except if I cheat. When I do get the pains, they are so strong that I find myself gasping to breathe and bent in half holding my stomach. Sometimes there is a little relief after using the bathroom but the pains last for hours. The only thing that offers a little lessening of pain is to take a hot bath.
Now that I am 99% gluten-free, it can be days without that pain. It only takes a little gluten to send me into spasms. I have found the bloating is 90% gone - my pants don't roll down anymore!
Seriously, try gluten free living for a week or two and see if you aren't experiencing less pain and bloating. It is a very difficult diet to follow and I personally know how easy it is to cheat but in the long run, it makes for a better quality of life. Just arm yourself with lots of gluten-free prepared foods for the first couple of weeks until you see if you are getting better. Whole Foods has lots of choices for you. Now that I am totally committed to this diet and see what a difference it has made in my life, I am experimenting with actually making "from scratch" items.
Good luck - try the hot bath...
Presently on: 600 mg. Remicade every 5 weeks
Presently on: 600 mg. Remicade every 5 weeks
Venofer infusion every 5 weeks
B12 every 5 weeks
12 Asacol daily
Zofran as needed
Dealing with Colitis since 2003, Gastro-Paresis, Reflux, IBS and Gluten intolerance.
"Food is in my dreams and in my nightmares!"
"Food is in my dreams and in my nightmares!"
I have had this problem also at times. I'm a Medical Massage Therapist and have been going to a Nurse who has taught me about using coffee enemas. Not only do they help with constipation and
pain from IBS they are great for detoxing the Liver. They dont hurt, they are pleasant and relaxing. Here is how I do it. Go to STAR BUCKS get a pac of Jamakin Coffee have them grind it fine.
Use a filter add 4-5 teaspoons make a 12 cup coffee pot full. When done, take 1.5 to 2 cups coffee added to Enema Bag or Jones White Enema can, with 1 qt water to cool coffee to warm. Take the enema slowly, hold it for 10- 15 minutes the first time, evac the solution. Repeat again, hold 10 - 15, evac again, and repeat with 1 cup coffee to 1.5 qts cooler water. This will clean colon also detox liver and reduce pain. Anyone can use coffee at any time for any reason, I use them for healing and relaxation. It will help alot. Also I use the thicker tube for insertion as it holds in place better. MyNurse friend does this for me when I need it. And I also perform this my self. I have given many coffee enemas to my clients and they are very pleased with how they feel after. Good luck :)
I know exactly what it feels like i have that pain now, i have had it all last night and today, even had a doctor out didnt know where to go with the pain, and was worried it was something major bad with that type of pain, not that ibs isnt bad, but not as bad as somethings that were going through my mind, so i looked on here to try and give me an idea of what it could be, and allthough i know ive still got more pain to come at the minute it makes me feel a bit better im not alone well a lot better actually, as much as i know other people have this horrible pain its give me an answer to what it is, i have suffered ibs for a few years but never has been this bad,. ive never had children and if it feels like this theres some very brave women out there is all i can say,.
hi i hope this may help someone, i have just suffered this excruciating pain with ibs and was in agony and didnt know where to go with the pain, i thought it was nothing i could do about it really as there is no cure, but i have just found out that yeast really aggravates it and can cause massive cramping in the stomach this is what my doctor has informed me today, i have looked this up and it does sound right, mine started after having two glasses of shandy lager shandy and apparantly the yeast in the beer causes big probles for some people with ibs, anyway just thought i would put this on as it may help,.?
healing waters
Colonics are not recommended for IBS or for anything for that matter and can cause problems with IBSers. For one there is no reason to clean the colon. Second it can mess with good gut bacteria and can cause other problems, including aggravating IBS.
Timmy even more then the yeast in the beer is the carbonation and alcohol. The gut is hypersensitive to all stimulus in IBS. Even normal events sometimes.
Yeast doesn't cause IBS or the pain. There is an underlying problem/problems.
You should look over this site.
http://www.aboutibs.org/
IBS Forum Moderator
I am not a doctor. All information I present is for educational purposes only and should not be subsituted for the advise of a qualified health care provider.
Please make sure you have your symptoms diagnosed by a medical practitioner or a doctor.
Colonics are not recommended for IBS or for anything for that matter and can cause problems with IBSers. For one there is no reason to clean the colon. Second it can mess with good gut bacteria and can cause other problems, including aggravating IBS.
Timmy even more then the yeast in the beer is the carbonation and alcohol. The gut is hypersensitive to all stimulus in IBS. Even normal events sometimes.
Yeast doesn't cause IBS or the pain. There is an underlying problem/problems.
You should look over this site.
http://www.aboutibs.org/
IBS Forum Moderator
I am not a doctor. All information I present is for educational purposes only and should not be subsituted for the advise of a qualified health care provider.
Please make sure you have your symptoms diagnosed by a medical practitioner or a doctor.
I can relate to all of the pain everyone on here is describing. I get horrible pain in my left abdominal side that shoots through to my back and goes down my left leg making it very difficult to walk. It has been going on over a year now. Doctors say it is spastic colon or IBS-C. I have had 2 CT scans which show normal except for some constipation. I've had a colonoscopy which was fine too. I am seeing a second GI doctor now and during my last visit was in the pain that we all describe. He sent me for an xray while it was happening and the xray showed stool in the colon despite the laxatives, and fiber I am on daily, which causes many soft bowel movements throughout the day. They are saying that soft or watery stools can go around the hard ones stuck in the colon. So they are now prescribing MORE Miralax (3 times daily) to try to alleviate this. My question is this: When I had my colonoscopy my colon was completely emptied for the procedure. But the morning of the procedure I woke up with the spasms. And during the colonoscopy, the doctor said my colon would clamp down on the scope so much that he had to wait for it to relax before he could move further. So if constipation is causing these spasms how was I spasming with my colon competely emptied???
Hi I just had the same exact thing happen to me! everything you described was to a tee! I passed out from the pain for three hours, and woke up not knowing what happened. I need help to figure out what this is.....I held my pee for a really long time before hand and i thought i ruptured something.....a heating pad really helps with the pain too jus as a helpful tip.....pls help
Ok I'm not sure what's wrong with me but I found you guys and my symptoms sound alot like this. I was wondering if anyone that has IBS feels like this..... My stomach hurts really bad on lower right side whenever it feels like it, I feel like I need to make a bowel everytime my stomach hurts, sometimes I have to force it. I get really cold when my stomach hurts but sweat really bad at the same time. And last but not least when I do make a bowel movement it's not normal it's small or thin but only when my stomach hurts??? Can anyone relate? 
oh yeah it started when I was 22 and lasted for 20 minutes now I'm 27 and it changed over time, it now last for 40-45 minutes. One last thing, a hot shower really helps alot but I have to lay there and let the water run on me for 20 minutes before I feel good enough to stand.
oh yeah it started when I was 22 and lasted for 20 minutes now I'm 27 and it changed over time, it now last for 40-45 minutes. One last thing, a hot shower really helps alot but I have to lay there and let the water run on me for 20 minutes before I feel good enough to stand.Post Edited (Bina1521) : 10/20/2011 11:51:42 PM (GMT-6)
HI,I have suffered with IBS for over 12yrs and there is no cure ,KERIAMON and Shawn seem to have the facts correct.I had to find what foods works for my body and stick with them.I also went thur not periods of not eating ,which is not smart!Its best to have small tiny amounts of food ,drink lots of water.Get all tests done ,and the DRs are really trying everything they can to help,even if it doesnot seem like it!keeping a food diary ,helps you realize what works for you!At times I have had Ibs pretty controlled ,other times it feels so bad and wonder is it something more serious happening ,only way is go to DR.IBS is so hard to manage but thats all you cando,it makes life seriously debilitating at times .The faster you learn to manage it ,the better off you are.Take care everyone
I too experience sever abdominal pain. Sometimes1to 3 a month a few times I have gone a couple months without having it happen. I have been told it was diverticulitis and ibs. But every doctor I have seen doesn’t seem to understand the degree of pain I am experiencing. Most of the time I’ll get a champ like a tapped gas bubble. I go to the bathroom and 9 times out of 10 I end up on the floor because I physically can’t sit up any longer. It has become so bad that I started keeping garage bags in the bathroom, cause I end up crapting on the floor. I’ve stop trying to fight it now when it starts I grab a bag take off my close and crawl into the tub it is much easier to clean up this way. I cry, scream, sweat, roll around trying to find a position that is comfortable until finally I have pooped all I can at this point I grab a two towels one for a pillow and one for a blanket and I fall asleep from exhaustion. I wake up feeling better and covered in crap. I didn’t know anyone had experienced anything like this until I read this forum page.
I've suffered with IBS symptoms & anxiety my whole adult life. I found Gluten Free diet in the last few years has helped tremendously & I have loads of energy, no constipation, pain, wind, mucus in stools (sorry grose I know) 20 years later I've been diagnosed with Helicobacter (why the Doctors didn't check for that when I first started getting chronic diarrhoea, cramps, weight loss etc I don't know).
My Dad's always had stomach problems, we thought it was a genetic bad stomach. He recently had a breath test & confirmed he had Helicobacter, people living together catch it off each other & I had a blood test to confirm I have it. I've had a course of antibiotics but don't feel they have worked as I don't feel any different. I feel a lot better from eating a gluten free (regular painless BM's, not anaemic etc) , low dairy diet and avoiding Vinegar & tomatoes have stopped the diarrhoea. I need to fast & do a breath test to see if it the bacteria is still present. But I recommend anyone who is having tummy troubles, constipation, diarrhoea, anaemia, infertility, miscarriage, anxiety, depression, low energy get tested for Helicobacter Pylori ASAP. Its bacterial & so easily contracted, I wouldn't be surprised if 50-80% of the population have it. Good luck! Let me know how you go?
My Dad's always had stomach problems, we thought it was a genetic bad stomach. He recently had a breath test & confirmed he had Helicobacter, people living together catch it off each other & I had a blood test to confirm I have it. I've had a course of antibiotics but don't feel they have worked as I don't feel any different. I feel a lot better from eating a gluten free (regular painless BM's, not anaemic etc) , low dairy diet and avoiding Vinegar & tomatoes have stopped the diarrhoea. I need to fast & do a breath test to see if it the bacteria is still present. But I recommend anyone who is having tummy troubles, constipation, diarrhoea, anaemia, infertility, miscarriage, anxiety, depression, low energy get tested for Helicobacter Pylori ASAP. Its bacterial & so easily contracted, I wouldn't be surprised if 50-80% of the population have it. Good luck! Let me know how you go?
Hello out there. I've been dealing with gastrointestinal issues for 3 years now. It took them a year to test me for H.pylori. The doctor immediately informed me that others in my family most likely have it. Low and behold my sister and mom were having stomach problems, got tested and they had it too. My husband on the other hand had no symptoms but he had it. My brother had mild systems and was diagnosed with H.Ppylori too. We all got treated, it actually took three rounds of antibiotics for me over a six month period because it wouldn't go away. I was okay for very short period changed gastro doctors because I had new pains. In my second year I found out I was severely lactose intolerant. I completely eliminated dairy and pork from my diet and felt somewhat better for a while. Here I am in my third year with new gastro doctor trying to figure the horrible pain, cramping, bowel discomfort once again. He recenty mentioned I had IBS. I've had ultrasounds, blood work, pap, endoscopy and kept a food diary. Today I had the worst cramping pain yet again. My poor husband must think I'm crazy. I think the doctor is crazy and wrong. IBS seems to be the simpe answer for when they dont know what's wrong with you. The problem I had the first year is completely different now in my third year. I sometimes wonder if 3 strong antibiotic treatments in less than a 6 months messed up my stomach. I'm so glad I found this forum because I thought I was going crazy. The pain and cramping is horrible when it comes on.
Post Edited (Miserablepain) : 1/4/2012 10:25:52 PM (GMT-7)
Hi, I have read through all of these posts and it all sounds horribly familiar... my partner suffers from IBS and is having the worst time I have known him to have (in 12 years) over the last three months. The intense left hand side pain along with loud rumblings have been awful to witness, never mind deal with - I really cannot imagine what you are all going through. My question that I am really hoping you can all help with is, what on earth do you eat when suffering like this? As obviously the fear of how the body will react to any food is so stressful that often my partner will go without. Please if anyone has any advice of gentle foods that work in these circumstances, any advice would be so greatly appreciated... Thank you.
hi, so glad to discover this forum, hear i am not the only one; i am going a little mad with the pain & frustration, and surprised the gastro-specialist didnt tell me that so many people suffer like this -- that it is normal.
i have severe pain in the pelvic area, apparently for no obvious reason or pattern, and pass gas with great difficulty, even though I get plenty of exercise. every night, i wake up at the Same Exact window of 2 hours when I cramp and pass gas slowly (usually not smelly), and I get really hot and throw off the covers. After this, I fall back asleep. It is terrible. GASX kind of works.
I am familiar with IBS for 15 years but these last 2 years have been a new kind of hell. Bloated and now this new consistent pelvic pain. Also, there is a sharp pain going up vertically on the left side from the pelvis to the stomach. My left leg cramps as well and rubbing it makes me pass gas.
I didnt realise that Apples were so bad, and had just started eating them regularly.
i found the exercise this site helpful to pass gas, have not tried the other remedies yet.
This is really awful. In the past, I found acidophilus (orally & douche) very helpful to counteract IBS. But I dont know WHAT I have anymore. The gastro-doctor says he thinks it is my colon reacting to my brain -- emotional stuff from bad relationship --
Literally the worst pain Ive ever felt has been my IBS attack cramps. Ive yet to give birth, but honestly I dont fear it because I have been dealing with the immense pain of these cramps for so long!
IBS has been life long for me- when I was a child Id beg my parents to not maje me go out ti eat because Id get sick in public which is ten times worse than getting sick at home. Now when I go out as an adult I simply dont eat much. Sadly its hard to enjoy dining out when you have IBS.
Still looking for solutions ti severe cramping. I usually resort to one of the following:
-heating pad
-squatting over toilet (its been so bad before though Ive had to squat over the floor and go because of nausea :()
-sitting in a hot bath
However nothing seems to help until the stool finally passes. My doctor has me on max fiber supplements but this doesnt help wgen there is an attack. Any advice for dealing with cramping?
IBS has been life long for me- when I was a child Id beg my parents to not maje me go out ti eat because Id get sick in public which is ten times worse than getting sick at home. Now when I go out as an adult I simply dont eat much. Sadly its hard to enjoy dining out when you have IBS.
Still looking for solutions ti severe cramping. I usually resort to one of the following:
-heating pad
-squatting over toilet (its been so bad before though Ive had to squat over the floor and go because of nausea :()
-sitting in a hot bath
However nothing seems to help until the stool finally passes. My doctor has me on max fiber supplements but this doesnt help wgen there is an attack. Any advice for dealing with cramping?
Hi, I am 53, and for years now I have had occasional IBS symptoms. I have tried to pinpoint what I have eaten, or whatever, to cause these symptoms, which are usually cramping in the lower bowel, feeling like I have to go, but find it hard to do so, and pressure on my rectum. It usually last a couple of days, then I am fine, for a long while. I think stress often brings it on, but it is miserable when I have it, I just don't want to go out or do anything. I have found the heating pas has helped this last bout, which I have had for a couple of days. It is somewhat better now. I feel if it were anything serious, it would not have gone on this many years without getting worse. By the way, I never have nausea, and my appetite is fine.
I suffered for years with severe intestinal cramping and was also diagnosed with IBS. Although I had good days, most days I was either bloated, passing gas, having diarrhea, constipated, or in pain. I even ended up admitted to the hospital twice due to dehydration from the diarrhea. The last time I was in the hospital the GI doctor suggested that I go gluten free. (I was tested for celiacs but it came back negative.) So, about a year ago I went gluten free and I have never felt better. It's not easy giving up gluten because it seems like everything has some form of gluten in it. I miss bread more than anything else but I feel WONDERFUL! I wish I would have gone gluten free 10 years ago. I challenge anyone having intestinal problems to try being gluten free for just 2 weeks and see if they feel different. If you feel better, then go another 2 weeks... I take it one day at a time but it has gotten so much easier now. When I go out to eat I ask for a gluten free menu or I order a grilled chicken sandwich without the bread. Gluten Free Living magazine has great information on packaging labels and eating out, along with recipes and helpful hints.
Hi. Am currently stressed out and boy does it affect my bowels. Every time I get under stress I get cramps in my abdo. Last couple of days it feels like there is a belt across there and really difficult to pee for same reason. I have lived with IBS for about 12 years. Originally had laporoscopy cos of heavy periods and ended up coming round with painful shoulders from the gas they used and got given a box of Fibogel drink and told to go away! Since then it just erupts whenever I feel out of control due to stress and anxiety.
It's stop-start-stop-start on the loo. I go and then I want to go again. It is every consistency known to man (too much info I know) and there is no relief as such for days. The pain in the gut is the worst. Like a really bad period cramp that just clenches your stomach in and you have to walk around like that all day.
I really commisserate with others that have vomiting. Thank god I don't have that. What can you do though? If you cannot stop the stress but also have to put up with the pain in the body and affect, as a woman, on your periods? It's like vicious circle. Anyway, helps to moan about it a bit. Is hard doing normal things with it and just been signed off for 2nd month with anxiety and depression and my doctor cannot give me anything for the IBS cos says it's (shock horror) stress - which I knew.
Mine is genetic as well. Mum and sister fine but dad in the loo about 5 or 6 times a day for years and then had a polyp removed, saw a nutritionist and went veggie and he's fine now. That also cured his psoriasis. I do find that if I eat meat (I don't much now - only fish and vegetarian) it doesn't help and wheat.
Best of luck all.
Luv
to Starxo
Re cramping
I am skint so cannot afford it but definitely peppermint oil capsules work. You have to take them for at least 3 months though. I did but cos I'm skint I couldn't carry on with it so now I'm in pain again.
Holland & Barrett do them. Also peppermint tea - although nowhere near as strong.
Is supposed to relax muscles in gut and soothe irritation part of IBS.
Given them a go.
Angellight
Re cramping
I am skint so cannot afford it but definitely peppermint oil capsules work. You have to take them for at least 3 months though. I did but cos I'm skint I couldn't carry on with it so now I'm in pain again.
Holland & Barrett do them. Also peppermint tea - although nowhere near as strong.
Is supposed to relax muscles in gut and soothe irritation part of IBS.
Given them a go.
Angellight
I fully understand what many of you are going through. I suffer horribly from ibs. I've tried virtually everything under the sun to relieve the horrific pain, but nothing really helps. I feel that this diabolical condition is like some kind of curse and there are days I wish I'd never been born. Ibs is a truly terrible affliction and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the pain sometimes drives me to the point of madness and I'm fearful that there'll come a time when I can bear it no longer.