Beyond severe lower abdominal cramps... (embarrassing!)... Bowel issues, don't think it's Endo related..

[ipmacs]

Hi,

Sorry, I went to start a post but it would only let me put it in the Endo section.

I don't have IBS but I have always had irregular bowel movements, well it's probably what some would call abnormal but for me is normal - it's been like that since I can remember! Sometimes I don't "go" every single day but sometimes every 2 days or something. But it's never painful, I don't get cramps or constipation or diarrhoea - it's just how my body works.

I can tell the difference between stomach cramps when I "need" to go on rare occasions where maybe I've eaten a lot and the cramps I get because of period pain, endo and my ovarian cysts.

I had my breakfast this morning (rice krispies!) and about 15 mins later was met with really really painful stomach cramp. It's really low down like where I would experience endo pain "at the front" of my lower abdomen. It's not centered around a particular area but just literally as low down as you can get at the front and isn't on my stomach (like some people say they get it around the belly button or appendicitis is the lower-ish right hand side.. mine is a lot lower than this)... but it comes and goes which makes me think it's nothing to do with endo (I came on yesterday and whilst it's painful and my leaking cyst is being a badass mother, I think this is something else).

It comes in random waves, sometimes it hits me like a bus out of nowhere and other times it gradually creeps on and then fades after 5 or so minutes. But I have never ever experienced this when I've needed to poo before. I did go to the toilet as I'm at work and whilst I didn't feel I needed to go, I wanted to get away from my desk so I could shut myself in the cubicle and die!

At one point in the cubicle when another wave came on it was so bad I was on the fence about calling 999... but then I'm far too embarrassed because it subsides after 5 minutes - how can I justify an ambulance for that and I don't want to make a fuss. After it stopped, I "tried" to go to the toilet but I just don't need to - I'm not bunged up or have diarrhoea - I was able to go but it was tiny.. BUT.. I was then able to go back to my desk and I can feel my abdomen is sort of tender/sore and 90% of me is on serious edge that pain is going to suddenly rush back however it hasn't and it's been 40 minutes..

I'm not constipated, I know that pain is completely different and I "went" yesterday anyway.

Does anyone who has IBS or bowel issues experienced this before? My diet is sort of normal and I'm of an "ideal" weight for my height according to BMI index thingy so I'm not overweight or on a junk diet or anything (5ft 8" and weigh 10.5 stone - no idea what that is in Kilo! and I'm 28 yrs old). I've only ever had 2 instances of bowel issues - 1 when I was about 7 and had constipation (lol!) and another last year after the wedding and had diarrhoea for a week and half (BUT I knew why, I don't ever drink alcohol and at the wedding had 4 glasses of wine plus Chinese takeaways the next day so my body obviously was having non of it!).

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong area - wouldn't let me move it

[ipmacs]

I'm also unsure why it has tagged "Heroin" in this thread - I do NOT do drugs!!

[JeanOsborne]

I had this with every period. It turned out my bowel was badly stuck to uterus. When we are on our period we feel bowel pain really low down especially if things are stuck together.

[ipmacs in reply to JeanOsborne]

Really? It's annoying though as my GP treats me for endo as during a lapa they noted small lesions but that was about 8 years ago and they won't investigate further now. It's the only time this has happened but I'm "off" the pill because my Gynae said I should take a break to reset things. Which I'm doing but it is HORRENDOUS. I'd forgotten just how painful it all is as I used to take the pill back to back. I have heard that some people are rare and their endo has stuck the uterus to their bowel but if that was me I'd have thought I'd have felt something before now

[JeanOsborne in reply to ipmacs]

I'm assuming you are with a general gynaecologist. I suggest you go back to GP and demand a referral to a BSGE endo centre. Your GP is not qualified to be treating you. And general gynaecologists tend to miss endo as they only really look at reproductive organs. You need to get that referral Hun.

You deserve better than this.

[ipmacs]

Thanks... I may well do that. My mum had it and she had fibroids.

I'm just on the fence whether I try get to A&E/Urgent Med Centre today in York. It keeps coming and going and has sort of stuck around for the past half hour now. But I'm 50/50 because if it is just the fact "I need to go" then it's a waste of their time and embarrassing to boot. I keep bobbing to the loo to see if I can go but nothing. But I don't feel constipated?

[JeanOsborne in reply to ipmacs]

Yeah I never was. Always got diarrhoea when I had my period.

I could always tell the difference between period cramps and this.

It was horrendous. I definitely think you need another lap by a specialist to find out what is going on.

[ipmacs in reply to JeanOsborne]

Really? That's really interesting - I didn't even know they could be linked (i.e. bowel movement change when on period). This is the first full blown period I've had in about 2 years.. I was constantly on the pill and I'd get spotting or random bleeds but it was never a full period.

The pain seems to have moved now and I'm convinced it's a bowel thing and a case of I need to go at some point - but at the same time my body isn't "ready" to go. I'm going to hold out and hope it sorts itself out one way or another. Defo going to see my GP about this though having read some of the replies and ask for a referral/proper investigation. This may well be a coincidence of timing but the period stuff needs sorting out properly.

Thank you so so much everyone for your replies, insight and advice. You've been amazingly helpful.

[JeanOsborne in reply to ipmacs]

Yeah it's all to do with hormones. They change throughout your cycle and can effect various different things including bowel.

[Tboag]

Hi hunny, bowel symptoms are often linked to endo, perhaps because of where the endo is or due to adhesion,

You really should go back to go and get referred to a bsge specialist centre, look it up online and find one near you,

Also look up a lady called Lindle on here and read her posts,

Please don't just leave this, your gp shouldn't be treating you for endo,

You need specialist help, and the gold standard of treatment is thorough excision surgery by a specialist,

Xx

[Cma89]

I experience similar pain to this, my lower abdomin is swollen. I've never had a baby but it feels like contractions. The pain is unbearable for about 5 mins then it goes; this continues for me about every 20-30mins some days. It does feel a bit better once I've released my bowels.

I'd assume it was endo related, so I've not been to my docs about it yet.