Painful Cramping and Loud stomach noises..all the time!

unhappycramper2 · November 26, 2005, 8:21pm

Hello there,

I've been suffering for the past four months,and no matter what I eat or drink,I get get the cramping that lasts for about 20 seconds,then hear this very loud gurgling noise in my stomach. Then sometimes I get this undefinable,excruciating pain somewhere in my lower extremities that I have to hold on to something until it passes,usually lasts about 30 seconds or so,I feel the urine tract,bowels,colon, all that area, just very bad painful episodes. Don't know what causes this,but doubtful it's a urinary problem.The doctor said it was NOT a Paralytic Ileus.

I have had the tests,except for endoscopy,but the blood,colonoscopy,upper GI/lower Bowel are all ok. I've seen three doctors and a GI specialist,who all say that there is no cure,but with the right food combinations of soluble Fiber, always first, followed by insoluble fiber. I've stopped the fatty foods,coffee,and beer,and carbonated drinks,lost 28 lbs during these four months,and still don't know how I'm ever going to conquer this cramping.

I've taken Donnatal(barbiturate for cramping) Hydrocodein (Vicodin for pain) and even Zannox (for stress,and anxiety) helps a little bit. I got up at three-thirty this morning,and took a very hot shower/bath to help me relax enough to sleep. I hate this pain for anyone to go through with,and hope we can find something to tolerate it.
As far as raw vegetables,and friuts,I think I read somewhere that taken the skins off and cooking the veggies help with digesting food better than eating raw. I hope any of this helps.

For breakfast, Good Oatmeal (not instant) with applesauce on top. Later maybe a peeled apple,banana. Chicken broth,with white rice,(and bits of turkey) That's all I can stand right now. I used to drink lots of water,but that even taste terrible to me,so maybe flavor it with Pure cranberry juice. But you need to drink water.

Recently,I've joined a few IBS Forums,so maybe we can find out more. Good Luck for now...unhappycramper2

7Lil · November 26, 2005, 8:42pm

Hi and welcome!

I'm sorry to hear about all your struggles with this. I know you said that just about everthing gives you cramps, BUT have you tried keeping a food diary? Usually it can help pinpoint what is the most troubling. Apples and apple juice are terrible for those with IBS. I suggest cutting apple everything out of your diet and seeing if that helps at all. You are right about the veggies and fruits.... people with bad guts should avoid eating them raw.
I hope you find what you are looking for in the IBS forums. And please come back and share with us your findings.

Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

dbab · November 27, 2005, 12:02am

Hi unhappycramper (I love that username BTW :)

Welcome to Healing Well!!
Just like all meds, there are different kinds that work for different people. I am on an antispasmodic but not on the first one I tried. I took Nulev prior to being on Symax and although the Nulev helped, it wasn't really doing the job. The symax has really given me relief. I also have darvocet that I take on rare occasions but if none of those meds touch the pain I will break out my trusty heating pad. I even have an extra one at work. That always seems to be a big life saver for me. Also if you have just starting taking fiber, the cramping may be caused by that. It should go away though and you should be better if you try and stick with it.

_{Hugs, Des}

_{Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum}

_{~My reality check bounced}

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keriamon · November 28, 2005, 8:15pm

I can understand the pain. Sugar alcohols give me constant, horrible cramps for two days solid. Not to mention the diarrhea and the really loud stomach rumblings (feels and sounds like my intestines are trying to move into the next zip code). Make sure you never, ever ingest any. It's not good for normal people If it's sugar free (except for some jams and jellies which are naturally sweetened with grape juice), it's evil. That goes for sugar free gum and breath mints too. 1 gram of that stuff really does me in.

bunnybabe · December 1, 2005, 12:09pm

YES, i get the noisy cramps too!!! everyone around me says, "was that your stomach?" or "you must be starving!" i tell them it is bertha, the angry woman who lives in my intestines.

i am noisy and crampy all the time. i am still trying to find out what it may be, but i just found out that i have bacterial overgrowth--who knows..

--bunny

what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

unhappycramper2 · December 6, 2005, 5:58pm

Thank you all for the replies.

I never would have imagined that my life could change so drastically like it has over these past five months. I have had maybe three good days where the stomach rumblings and cramps have subsided,but it is confusing too hear the message boards tell IBS patients to eat Soluber Fiber and Bland foods. I have been eating Apples (Applesauce on oatmeal) But I have heard that apples were good. Others say No. It does solely rest on each individual.

I'm thinking the worst. No more Pizza,Steak Dinners,Chili,etc. I even homemade Turkey Soup with the leftover Turkey meat/bones.then strained that out and added carrots and celery,with hardly any Spices,thinking that this would be good for me,but all the while I was eating it,I still had the cramps/noises. And what about popcorn? I hear that with IBS, that's a BIG BOZO NO NO. about you? yes my friends,Had I known before that I would come down with this stirct food diet, I would have eaten lots more Spaghetti and Pizza...Yum! The good news is that since i have been drinking much beer,or coffee,and eating as much, I did manage to lose a total so far .....30 lbs. he bad nes is..I need new clothes to fit. Take care, and let me know about the Dailry,( I have been drinking Silk,but miss the yogurt) Steak, Popcorn, Pizza,or Wild Salmon.

7Lil · December 6, 2005, 7:12pm

Hi cramper,
Many of us feel the same way you do... that our lives have been drastically changed. It is tough getting used to. I have a difficult time going out to eat.
You are right about "It does soley rest on each individual." However, when it comes to apples it seems as though most (if not all) IBSers can't handle them (juice, sauce, etc.). Apples are supposed to be one of the healthiest fruits out there (filled with antioxidants) but to someone with IBS it can be the enemy. I would be willing to bet some of your rumblings are caused by apples.
Did you know that celery has negative calories? I learned that when reading "Why Do Men Have Nipples?" Most veggies and fruits will cause the rumbles.
As for popcorn, I don't have a problem with it. I thought mainly people with IBD couldn't handle popcorn (not so much IBSers). ????
What is your blood type? People with type A have more difficult digesting red meat. (I learned that here at HW.)

Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

keriamon · December 6, 2005, 8:29pm

I've never had a problem with popcorn, but anyone with diverticulitus (sp) has to be careful with nuts, kernels and seeds since that sort of thing can get lodged in the little intestinal pockets and cause a big problem. My stepfather has to be careful about things like strawberries; he can't eat them when he's flared up. No watermelon or sunflower seeds for him either.

You know, when I was sick with my gall bladder and nothing seemed to help, I just threw all the careful dieting out the door and said if everything's going to make me sick, then I'll eat whatever I want. If you get the same result regardless of what you eat, then maybe you should go back to eating things you like. Might as well be happy for a few minutes as not at all. And funny enough fruits and vegetables are actually harder on a messed up intestinal tract than other things, so maybe you'd actually have less problems after a nice, soft pizza (we'll, we can hope).

Your gut pains and gurgles sound just like me when I'm on sugar alcohols. I assume you never consume anything that's sugar-free (including gum and mints)?

Have you tried calcium? You don't mention that you have a D problem, but I've read that calcium can actually soothe irritated bowels. If you have D, then it can help with that. If you tend towards C, you can get calcium with more magensium which is supposed to counteract the constipating effect so maybe it won't make you worse. You can always consume yogurt and milk too, provided it doesn't make you worse.

The only other thing I can think of that might help you is a food-allergy test. If you are allergic to something, that could have your bowels irritated to the point that they hurt even when you aren't eating your trigger food.

runningrd · December 9, 2005, 2:08am

I too can't tolerate sugar alcohols in any amount. The only artificial sweetner that I can handle in my coffee is sweet n low. Too much diet pop isn't good either (I drink those with aspartame) Splenda is BAD news for me!

I have noticed recently when I'm at work after lunch - very LOUD rumblings. I can almost feel peristalsis (and of course I'm already bloated and constipated). I eat a big apple with lunch almost every day HMMM.....But if I eat them at home in evening, no problems. I seem to have so much trouble after lunch at work.

I've been gone for a while since I had my gallbladder out end of Sept. After about 10 days of continued bloating and C I was searching the boards and got the idea to go gluten free. I felt AWESOME for two weeks but then the C came back. However the pain from GB is gone, and don't get as bloated and gassy as I did before. I have really been trying to follow the diet so I have been on celiac.com Don't think it's celiac but could be gluten intolerance. Overall so far it's helped. Has anyone else tried this diet? The bummer is going out to eat more than anything. Gluten is in many things you wouldn't think of. There are many other symptoms of gluten intolerance that seem to fit with me.

I had one other question for anyone with the big C. I don't have days on end without going or really hard stools. Mine are mushy, sometimes a little loose, but I go in small amounts. Never really go more than one day w/o bm but that too is because I am a runner and running serves as a laxative for me . But other times its just a little bit here and there and I fell as if I have "incomplete evacuation" and this of course makes me bloated and uncomfortable. Anyone else with this kind of C?

7Lil · December 9, 2005, 2:15am

Hi runningrd,
"Incomplete evacuation" is a classic symptom of IBS. Unfortunately the only way to try and stop that is to eat lots of fiber, drink lots of water and exercise (you already do that). You can also try the medication route and take laxatives or prescription meds (Zelnorm, etc.).
Sorry, can't help you with the gallbladder thing.
Take care.

Oh, I almost forgot.... Apples are bad. Avoid them at work if you can, and only eat them at home. I know some people are prone to problems at certain times of the day. Some can't drink any juice in the mornings but are fine at night. Me, I can't eat salad as an only meal. I have to eat it with other food or I get D.

Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

runningrd · December 9, 2005, 3:43am

The gallbladder thing is resolved - it's out!

I think getting the gluten out of my diet has really helped except for that incomplete evacuation. I have tried Zelnorm in the past - it gives me D and really bad bloating and gas. At one time about a year and a half ago I took it for 4-5 months. After a while it just made me crampy. Then when I take on occassion its like I said above for a day or two. Laxatives concern me that they will only make the problem worse.

I do seem to be much better on weekends too. So at least I can now have a little bit of a life. I wish modern medicine would come up with a solution. I am SO tired of this every single day!

Thanks for your comments. Take care.

7Lil · December 9, 2005, 4:56pm

Have you spoken to your doc about Miralax?

Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

runningrd · December 10, 2005, 2:20am

He acted like that was too harsh.

I skipped the apple today at lunch. I had the same sandwich I eat everyday - a gluten free tortilla wrap with spinach and soy cheese with a handful of baby carrots and cherry tomatoes, water to drink. Followed up with a special function at work where cake was involved - I just ate the frosting. That was lunch...and it was loud, very gassy. After dinner (a tuna sandwich, more carrots with hummus and a few bites of my sons meat sauce I make him - ground turkey and tomato) had a very small bm. It's weird how it sinks! I recently heard that if your stool sinks you're not getting enough fiber. And no I don't mean stink. Ever hear that? Since I've been gluten free I'm sure my fiber intake is less. Anyway now I feel ok, I just look a little bloated. Do you think fiber caps are helpful?

7Lil · December 10, 2005, 4:06am

Many people with GI troubles can't handle raw anything. Fruits and veggies are notorious for causing gas. Tomatoes are a huge NO-NO for some of us. They are acidic and those seeds can hurt. I'm not sure if there are any other reasons but it is always on the "foods to avoid" list in my IBS books.
Yes, fiber sometimes can help. But when taking the supplements you have to remember to drink plenty of water and start slow. I wouldn't start with a full dose (lets say it is 2 tablets), I would start with 1 tablet and then increase as your body gets used to it. You will have gas and that is why starting slow is so important. The first time I took fiber I took the full dose and was up all night with cramps and the big D. I sure learned my lesson.

Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

runningrd · December 11, 2005, 4:06am

Of course I'm reading this right after I decided to take 2 citrucel tablets for the first time.

The dosage said 2 tablets up to six times a day so I thought if I started out with once or twice a day I was being conservative. Well too late now

Today was horrible. I didn't run yesterday so of course no bm. Today I must have went a dozen times in small amounts, sometimes very small, before I went to the gym to run. I was so bloated I wonder if people think "for all that running that girl does you would think she'd be skinnier" By the end of my run I lose 5 pounds. I had close to what I would call diarrhea 3 times during my hour run. Then after I got home and ate lunch I went 3 more times, again very small but with these bm's I have very painful cramping. I cannot live my life on the toliet! And it's not really diarhhea I guess, it's just like mush. Sorry for the visual but I'm thinking maybe I just need to bulk it up - so I took the citrucel. Do you think this may help? I know in theory it should but has it been successful therapy for some and not others?

7Lil · December 11, 2005, 5:40am

Oh no, runningrd! It was Citrucel that I did that with too. I paid for it all night and even some the next morning. I was bloated, nauseous and had D. I really hope what happened to me doesn't/hasn't happened to you. Start off slow... work your way up to a normal sized dosage. With regular usage your bm's should start to bulk up. Good luck! Please come back and let us know how you survived your 1st dose.

Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

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