Irritable bowel and painful colon spasms

[arvine]

along with several other issues, limiting my mobility for long time now, at 76 , been diagnosed yr or so ago with spastic colon, so every morning for 2-3,hrs am in pain because of spasms, until able to go to bathroom 3-4 times, it s realy getting me down, recently muscle tears in gluteus and hamstring just from stretching to make my bed, I m sure being on prednisone for 7 yrs has taken a toll on my body, pred was prescribed in 2016 for PMR, can anyone out there relate to this pain and how are you treating?

[KittyJ]

There is an IBS support group on HU where you might get more replies and support than in an RA group, here’s a link 😊

healthunlocked.com/theibsne...

[arvine in reply to KittyJ]

Oh thank you Kitty

[Jackie1947 in reply to KittyJ]

There is a connection to RA and bowel problems me being one of them. Being here makes you realise you're not alone

[KittyJ in reply to Jackie1947]

But they’d get more advice in a specific group, I’m not saying they can’t post here too at all just trying to get them the most help 😊

[welsh12]

Feel for you have had my fair share of spasms stress and pain make it worse unfortunately can only suggest hot water bottles looking at diet and meds you are on and trying to relax and manage pain . Have you had up to bowel tests bloods stool sample..

[Jackie1947]

I've been recently diagnosed with unspecified colitis after years of IBS. Yet it wasn't IBS after various tests,scan and colonoscopy. Dr are far to quick to play the IBS card. I think another word for spastic colon is IBS. If you haven't already had blood tests,stool tests it might be an idea to press for them. I cannot tolerate steroids . It was suggested that having RA I was at higher risk of having bowel diseases . Microscopic Colitis being one of them.

[arvine in reply to Jackie1947]

Thx Jackie do you mind me asking what your symptons were/are, I was diagnosed with IBS like back in my early 30 s, only by symptons, went from diahrrea to constipation on and off, sometimes thought diet to blame, and still do think intolerant at times for dairy products , not all the time, I do have anxiety and that doesnt help, traumatised few times thru the years when uncontrollable diaharrea struck on certain occasions, now at 76 between that issue and several others it has interfered with daily lifestyle, isolated at times afraid to go out, must know or have access to bathrooms, a real basket case, and chrinic pain frim back , hips, losing my son has made it all more prevalent, interfered with relationships, social life( next to nil)!as of now dr only focused on hips and serious back issues , referring me, suggesting surgery, which I am very reluctant to have, due to age and outcomes Ivevheard of

[Jackie1947]

Abdominal pain like severe cramps. Loss of appetite,nausea and fatigue. Rushing to the bathroom . Anxiety of not knowing what was causing this so I saw my GP. I was referred to a Gastroenterologist but there was a long waiting list.. In the meantime time he arranged for many tests his end. Also during flare ups and even now I have immoduim on prescription. I'm not saying you have more than IBS as IBS has it's triggers stress and anxiety being a vicious circle. 76 isn't too old to have surgery if it's needed. I've had two hip replacements in my 70's. I would also recommend talking therapies a free NHS service. I felt like I was taking back control.

[arvine in reply to Jackie1947]

Thank you Jackie

[Blackwitch]

After having a nightmare Christmas & New Year following a Sjögren’s flare, tonsillitis and ending up with a course of antibiotics that just about finished me off, I started reading and listening to all the Zoe YouTube videos and podcasts about the gut microbiome. Even if you don’t follow it, you can probably pick up some tips that will help. I’ve started eating as much organic fruit (not citrus), salad leaves & veg as I can. It’s not expensive if you eat slightly less, eat what’s in season or buy tinned or frozen. It’s trial and error but it’s helped me get my digestive tract back to normal. Good luck.

[Deutschland46]

I am a 77 year old female and have had IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) for decades. I use Miralax every day due to having had several abdominal surgeries that were unrelated to IBS, but I can vouch for IBS having the ability to make your life plain miserable. You have to be careful about what you eat, especially when you are in a flare, there is a medication your gastro doctor can prescribe for IBS called Linzess which is specifically made for people that have IBS-C (IBS with constipation) which is what I have. I have tried this medication but had trouble with it and stopped taking it years ago but it does help with cramping. There is also one other medication, a tiny little gel pill that will stop cramping called Bentyl or another one called Levsin, ask your doctor about it. Miralax does the trick for me, you can buy that over the counter and can be taken every day mixed in water, being tasteless, otherwise there isn’t much else you can do about IBS that I know of. I do get spasms in my rectum off and on, mostly at night when I sleep which are excruciating and will wake me up because by my colon is going haywire with spasms inside which can last 5 minutes or longer, not fun at all. Hope this info will help you some, you are not alone in this as you can see, but I refuse to take prednisone or any steroid because it is a two edged sword that will exhaust your adrenal glands and can cause other major problems as well.