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My IBS flare ups have been unbearable.

Posted , 6 users are following.

Shellie6810
Shellie6810

I've been having flare ups once a month. What I experience seems to be different than what I've read on here. I have IBS with constipation. When I have an attack, I can't pinpoint any certain food that triggers it. I call it a trapped gas attack. It starts very low in my rectum and groin area. It is very sharp excruciating pain. It feels like I need to have a bowel movement or pass gas. I am usually unable to do either. Then the pain starts moving up to my abdomen and covers my entire abdomen area. it is so excruciating that I can't sit in any position to make it feel better. I can't stand, I can't sit, and I can't lay down. Though laying down is the best position for the pain. No matter what I have tried for the pain, nothing seems to work. I just had a flare up the night before last that is still happening now. I ended up in the ER last night to make sure it wasn't my appendix. It wasn't my appendix. I took Motrin 800, Tylenol, liquid Mylanta, hyoscyamine, and Xanax for the anxiety that the pain is causing. Not one thing took the pain away. I was able to have two bowel movements but they did not give me any relief. I wasn't able to even really get out of bed. The pain hurt so bad if I moved. I was just wondering if anybody else has the same symptoms that I am having. I don't feel cramping or diarrhea. I just feel Sharp Shooting gas pains like I'm being stabbed over and over. It's causing depression because nothing makes the pain go away. I'm very frustrated.

0 likes, 20 replies

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  • sam18386
    sam18386 Shellie6810

    Posted

    Oh gosh that sounds horrid! I wonder what is causing the pain. What are stressed about? That's what sets my IBS off. Some brain box ',expert' on here will know what to do. Apart from pain killers what else do you do? Do you do yoga or anything? Relaxation is is really important for IBS as it will help the muscles to relax. Ask for some counselling too, I have discovered mine is set off because I am having assault counselling which exceptionally tough! I wish you luck with the depression too, IBS makes you feel really depressed! X

    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 sam18386

      Posted

      It is horrid. I wish I knew what causes the pain. My job and commute are stressful, but I'm a teacher and Friday was my last day. I was fast asleep when this attack came on. It was strange, but has happened before while I was sleeping. I will say that I don't exercise enough. I need too start. I am also seeing a counselor. Thank you for your reply Sam!

    • sam18386
      sam18386 Shellie6810

      Posted

      Hi Shelley, I forgot to ask a basic question do these occur when you ovulate or when your period is due? Sorry to ask but mine is flaring once a month too. Sadly this time I then got a urinary infection on top.
    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 sam18386

      Posted

      Hi Sam! My flare-ups used to coincide with my time of the month on a regular basis. It would usually happen during my time of the month. But then they started Just Happening whenever. I will say that the one I had in March and the one that I had this month did coincide with my time of the month. My gynecologist thought I was having endometriosis but I know that is not what it is. My pain is almost completely gone but I don't feel well and I've been having very loose bowel movements now.

  • JayJayBee
    JayJayBee Shellie6810

    Posted

    This sounds like Proctalgia Fugax or Pudendal Neuralgia. There has been a lot written on here about Proctalgia in particular. If you search for it you will find numerous theories about what an cause it and various ways of dealing with it. I’ve suffered from it for over 20 years. It’s a sort of muscle cramp/spasm which starts in the rectum and gets more and more painful. It can last minutes or hours and usually comes at night when you are asleep. It is harmless but horrible and very debilitating, you just want to be able to go back to sleep. Personally, I find moving around helps or crouching on the floor with legs bent to stretch the affected area as much as you can. I do get IBS but I don’t associate it with that, it’s just a very unfortunate tendency that some people have. Do take a look at other sufferers suggestions, they are very helpful. Good luck, I feel your pain!
    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 JayJayBee

      Posted

      Thanks JayJay! I will have to look that up. I swear I have lived on the internet doing research trying too figure things out. Has yours ever lasted for over 24 hours before? And then when the big attack is done, I have this recovery period where I feel like my insides have been beat up. That had lasted a week before.
    • JayJayBee
      JayJayBee Shellie6810

      Posted

      I think I think the longest attack I’ve had would be 2or 3 hours. 24 would be extreme . I’ve had it return when I thought it had gone, it’s sneaky like that! To be sure it is not something else, you should check it out with your doctor. My doctor told me what it was instantly whereas a lot have never heard of it and people don’t find out what it is for years. Nobody seems to know the cause but some think it is caused by being constipated or sometimes it will happen after having a violent bowel movement previously. Or maybe it is trapped wind , of which I suffer from frequently ☹️. I have to say after it has gone, you do feel like you have gone 10 rounds in a boxing ring and you lie there hoping that it has finally gone so you can go back to sleep. The worst is when you are at work and it happens!
    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 JayJayBee

      Posted

      Hi JayJayBee! I looked up those two conditions that you mentioned and my symptoms don't sound like that. My pain never stays in the rectum area. It always moves up to my upper abdomen and I'm completely bloated. I look like I'm pregnant. I have gone to the doctor so many times. They have done colonoscopies, sigmoidoscopies, CT scans, blood test comma Etc all they tell me is I have IBS. It's so frustrating. You're right, it has happened while I've been at work. I'm a teacher and it is happened right while I've been teaching. It's just horrible!

  • turkey
    turkey Shellie6810

    Posted

    Not so good. I too get this. Have you tried lying on your stomach and lifting your head as though you were going to do a push up, can release a lot of trapped wind. Also put on a heat pad. IBS is a terrible problem who you get sorted. Try breathing in and out deeply too. Take care
    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 turkey

      Posted

      Hi there! I haven't tried that. Usually I'm in too much pain to even move. I have tried the heating pad and it has not helped one bit. Nothing has helped and that is what is so frustrating.

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 Shellie6810

    Posted

    I find nurofen very effective for severe IBS pain along with Buscopan.  I have had the odd flare up where I have not known where to put myself because of the pain.  Try a food diary or the Low Fodmap diet to pinpoint food triggers.  If you are having trapped gas attacks, try avoiding broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts which can be gassy.  Avoid gassy drinks.  The other possibility is that food is not triggering flare ups. My IBS is not triggered by food; stress is the only cause.

    Ask your doctor for a different antispasmodic since you are having trouble finding pain relief that works.

    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 pippa58442

      Posted

      Thanks Pippa! I'm beginning to think it's not food related. I have had anxiety issues since I was a child. So I'm thinking it's stress and anxiety. I also think that constipation brings it on as well.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 Shellie6810

      Posted

      Try lots of fruit or stool softeners for constipation. and concentrate on your hobbies to relax you.
    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 pippa58442

      Posted

      Thank you! I'll tell you, ever since yesterday I haven't been able to leave the bathroom. I haven't eaten for 3 days. I don't know what is coming out of me. I'm having the opposite effect of what caused my flare-up in the first place.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 Shellie6810

      Posted

      Try Imodium and resume eating but avoid fruit; this will help   I had three days of diarrhoea last year and I took Imodium after each meal and avoided fruit.  It worked for me.
    • Shellie6810
      Shellie6810 pippa58442

      Posted

      I have started eating again today. I still feel yucky but not as bad. Thanks for your advice!
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 Shellie6810

      Posted

      It’s always better to eat something otherwise you will feel weak.  Stick to bland food to settle your stomach.
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