1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Is this IBS or something more sinister?

Posted , 8 users are following.

julia69169
julia69169

 I have abdominal pain about 10 cm to the right of my belly button.

It is a stitch like pain when I am not applying pressure and when i press on it it really hurts. Feels bruised. I have not done any exercise and have had a c-section so have some excess skin and also mussle definition is a bit all over the place.

I have also had a lot of gas for about six months but did not put two and two together.

I had a sigmoidoscopy in aug and all was fine and ultrasound which show nothing just a small gall stone about 4 mm. 

Could this be just muscular? Sometimes if i lie on my right side there is a sharp pain in that area like a sharp rod has been pushed in but quickly goes. 

Does anyone know what this is? It started before the sigmoidoscopy.

I have had a duodenum ulcer in the past (confirmed with an endoscopy) and have internal haemmaroids that sometimes bleed and this pain is a lot less.

Sometimes I feel the pain on my waist and travels to my back.

Not sure if the pain is getting worse I am just more aware of it. 

 

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

Next
  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 julia69169

    Posted

    Has your doctor mentioned IBS?  Sometimes when you have stomach surgery, it can cause irritable bowel.    If all other tests show nothing, IBS is diagnosed.
  • jan48389
    jan48389 julia69169

    Posted

    Sounds very similar to the pain I experience with IBS. For me the pain is almost always on my right side and it varies between feeling like a stitch to a tautness or brief stabbing pain. Occasionally I have pain just below my ribs, again on the right hand side, which feels sore and tender. I'm told this type of pain and discomfort is common with an IBS flare up. The pain disappears when my IBS symptoms disappear. Like you, I had an ulcer in the past. I'm told that IBS sufferers genuinely feel discomfort more acutely than non sufferers, so it is quite possible that you are more aware of the pain. Sorry I can't offer solutions but hope you are reassured that if it is IBS it does come and go....so look forward to the good times and know the bad times will pass. 

    Jan

  • a60450
    a60450 julia69169

    Posted

    Hi Julia

    I would say that it can't be anything to do with your bowel. If that's your concern as it runs down the left side of your body. Stress can cause any number of things but if you are worried ask your doctor to examine you as they can tell a lot from how your stomach feels

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 julia69169

    Posted

    IBS pain very often focuses on your left hand side because that is where the bowel is located.  But the pain can move all over your stomach and settle on different areas.  It can radiate to your waist, hips and back as well.  It also affects your joints.
  • amandahc
    amandahc julia69169

    Posted

    Hi Julia, I really think it is much better to see your doctor again because you are obviously very anxious about these symptoms. From what I have read here IBS symptoms vary hugely and mine are entirely different to many others. One symptom seems common to all and that is stress or anxiety. Hope you do seek the reassurance from your doctor that you need.
  • julia69169
    julia69169

    Posted

    Thank you, for all your replies. Yes, I had a blood test earlier this week and have an ultrasound appointment on the 18th, so hopefully it is IBS.
  • sunni13905
    sunni13905 julia69169

    Posted

    I have diverticulitis which is another bowel disorder.  Pockets form in weak parts of your colon and food particles can get stuck and cause flare ups.  I have most of my pain across my abdomen and on my right side around to my back.  sometimes up as far as my ribs.  I had to have a CT Scan to be diagnosed.  Now they're saying I have "mild" IBS too..
  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 julia69169

    Posted

    You say nothing just a small gallstone!

    Get rid of the blasted thing I would say and ask if they will remove your gallbladder.

    You will feel better afterwards.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Sarah xxx

    • julia69169
      julia69169 sarah87162

      Posted

      Apparently if it's small it shouldn't cause any probs! I'll see at my next scan, but I've read that people who have had their gallbladders have suffered other complications!
    • sarah87162
      sarah87162

      Posted

      They told me I only had one stone but when they removed my gallbladder it turned out there were several.

      I suppose if it is not causing you any problems you are reluctant to have surgery but remember if it is there it can rear it's ugly head at any time.

      Happy New Year

      Sarah

       

  • a60450
    a60450 julia69169

    Posted

    You don't say how old you are and if you have any other health issues or medication a 4mm stone is tiny and these can be quite large! Do you have any other symptoms or change of bowel habits. Hemorides are common and most don't even know they have them. Remembering these thing come and these things go in life. Have glass of real ale every day it's said to disovolve gallstones over time.

    We all worry and I'm a Virgo so I panic over anything. Try not to read stuff on the internet as you will only see stuff that you haven't got. Hope this helps

    • julia69169
      julia69169 a60450

      Posted

      I'm 35. I don't have any change in bowel habits at all, which is why I didn't think it was irritable bowel...but if the scan in August showed nothing then I am at a loss as to what it is. 

      If i lie on either my left or right side now, there is pressure on that part of my abdomen, (stitch like pain) which feels like I need to pass gas. My ribs on the side seem to also hurt.

      If it is in indeed IBS, how would I manage this pain?

       

    • sarah87162
      sarah87162 julia69169

      Posted

      If you go to GP for tests make sure you are clear about the results they give you.

      I had blood test a few months ago and when I rang up for results I was told they were normal.

      What I found out when I went to GP this morning is that they were raised, but that was what was expected because I had had my gallbladder removed, so I was told they were normal.

      The result of all this is that I now have to have another blood test next week and go back and see the GP that I saw this morning the week after that. If my bllod test is still raised that would indicate that I have a stone stuck in my bile duct!! Why on earth can't they be frank and honest in the first place?!!

      Sarah

  • jan48389
    jan48389 julia69169

    Posted

    My GP prescribes Buscopan for the pain, although you can buy it over the counter. It certainly helps. I am also on the Low Fodmap diet and that really does reduce the frequency of the stomach pain. I really would urge you to see your GP if you haven't done so recently - you need to know that the likely cause is indeed IBS. 

    Jan

    • sarah87162
      sarah87162 jan48389

      Posted

      Buscopan certainly helped me when I had gallstones. Not on it now as I have had my gallbladder removed.

      Sarah

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.