IBS WITH CRAMPING

[lYNNETT]

I HAVE IBS AND I HAVE CRAMPING IN MY LOWER STOMACH. THEY SAY ITS DEPRESSION. I KNOW A LOT OF THE TIMES I HARDLY EAT ANYTHING AND I WORRY ABOUT SO MANY THINGS ALL THE TIME... I AM AFRAID....BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT CRAMPING IS PART OF THAT OF IBS AND WORRY??

[Fruitandnutcase]

Well it is for me. Have you been checked out thoroughly though? Now I know that it was IBS and not anything sinister I just go with the flow. I've had it for about thirty years and it's generally ok but I've had a couple of flare ups recently so I got checked out again and told it's still IBS.

You would probably be better to eat a decent amount of food, I'm not an expert but I think you'd be better to eat regularly. Avoid junk food and fizzy drinks.

You could try keeping afood diary and seeing if there is a pattern to what gives you cramps.

Don't know what medicines your doctor wants to give you but I'd tell him or her you want to avoid the 'depression' tag and treat your IBS first. Life can be depressing but that doesn't sit mean you are actually clinically depressed. I find it a bit depressing when a doctor doesn't listen to what you are saying but that doesn't mean I'm depressed.

You might find that some sort of relaxation exercises and maybe regular gentle physical exercise might help. But yes, I get spells where it feels like someone has grabbed my guts and is squeezing them out. It's horrible - I'm not depressed though.

[lYNNETT in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you for your reply. l do appreciate it very much! l had the colonscopy test a little over 2 years ago. Nothing was found but intestines in such a mess because he said l worry to much. The doctor said he had seen so much of it he knew it was worry all the time. He told me he hoped it was worth it. Maybe it is caused by depression or worry. l have tried to eat better but maybe it isn't enough. Really l just want sit down and cry and cry. I doubt it if that would help but probably make things worse on my abdomian. l cannot for the life of me figure out how you can dooky if something is wrong with your intestines.

Thanks Again

[claire_louise in reply to lYNNETT]

It's hard to give advice without knowing your full background but from what you've said I think you really need to get to the bottom of your anxiety as your main priority. Anxiety can have a huge effect on your digestive system and it does sound like that's the case here. I'd also guess that a lot of your pain comes from not eating enough (something I know from experience). What has your doctor suggested to help you emotionally? Mild antidepressants can help with the physical symptoms of IBS as well as the obvious emotional ones, but long-term something like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy might also be useful? Good luck!

[medcal73]

terrific pain and no controll over bowel yes i think ibs is caused with sadness continueous stress, and worry also now have diverticolosis get that and ibs tog. murder a also control over bowel also violently sick just cant describe the agony of it ,and hosp, docters do not know enough about this condition yet.

[Lulububs]

Depression, anxiety, sadness, grief, nerves anything can effect u in ur stomach, some people hold there anxiety in head ie migraines, some in shoulders, i grind my teeth so bad ive had two ops on jaw.

I have now started to hold it in my gut!!! YEAH!!!

I get cramp, spasms, wind, trapped wind, indigestion, gut rot. U name it i get it....

My periods got worse!

I couldnt eat....

I ended in a&e with crippled

Pain was told kidney, bladder , diverticulitus. Had colonoscopy nothing!! Laparoscopy nothing!!! I saw a gastro, i started eating healthy, no gluten no dairy!! No red meat as it hard to digest. Then i went walking slow long walk( got a dog) and it slowly got better and better!

So much so that i feel better then ever , ive lost weight, ive got healthy, i feel happier, my hair nails and skin look better.

U need to change ur mind set... i also saw a therapist to talk.

I also saw a pelvic floor specialist as i was holding stress in my pelvic floor and all in all it goin well. It all time consuming BUT i was in a bad place and something needed to change.

[lYNNETT]

I do have i b s and that's with all the test done! Also the gastros say l worry to much! My intestines are nothing but a mess! He told me he has other patients just like me! My question is how do you stop worrying when you get ready to eat! There's most of my problems is worrying what will happen to my stomach later and will l suffer with this at night trying to sleep? This everyday when l get ready to eat meals! Do any of you do the same or it just me??

[Kilgh]

The big question we all want answered! How to stop worrying about the risk of getting sick all the time.