IBS - lower back ache & tiredness

[Fernymv]

Does anyone else feel very tired and have lower back ache with their IBS? (neither D nor C but a bit of both)

I am not totally convinced I have true IBS and am currently awaiting an abdominal ultrasound scan. I’ve had all the blood, urine and stool tests with no significant results as well as abdominal and rectal examinations by two GPs.

Some days my symptoms are very mild and others more pronounced. Occasionally I feel like I also have irritable bladder, but not too often.

It’s very frustrating and almost as bad as the discomfort is not being certain what’s causing it, is it IBS or potentially something worse?

I realise me being anxious wont be helping but I just can’t help but worry

I would appreciate anyone with similar symptoms responding. Thank you in advance!

[Hidden]

When my bowels need emptying, my back is agony. I'm not diagnosed but find this group helpful, and the IBS Network website.

[xjrs]

I am assuming that you had the blood Calprotectin test and this came back normal? Have they ruled out coeliac disease from your blood tests? You'd need to be consuming gluten for this to show up in the test. The reason I say this is that if you are consuming gluten when you have coeliac disease it can block absorption of nutrients such as iron, which can make you very tired. It would be good once you get your full diagnosis as to know what to do next.

I am responding since I have IBS-C and severe night time lower back pain which starts anywhere from around 2am to 5am. I have been diagnosed with visceral hypersensitivity (intestinal nerve pain) which is causing my night-time pain, although I understand people can get this pain at other times too. I found out for sure when I had a colonoscopy and ct colonoscopy (because my Calprotectin, an inflammation marker was high). I was in extreme agony when my colon was blown up with gas from the procedures. The cause is due to the brain/gut axis and the brain receiving signals from the colon and instead of recognising those signals as normal activity, it translates them into pain. This is due to a loss of neurons in pain control centres of the brain due to life events (e.g. PTSD, extreme stress, neglect or abuse in childhood). The first line treatment is nerve pain agents such as 10mg amitriptyline. I couldn't tolerate the centrally acting nerve pain agents and am on Linaclotide for IBS-C and intestinal nerve pain. I have also heard that enteric coated peppermint can help with intestinal pain, but probably best to get your diagnosis first. Statistically most investigations will come back with a diagnosis such as IBS rather than anything else.

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More info on IBS symptoms here theibsnetwork.org/have-i-go...

[fodder4me]

Sounds IBS to me. Eat regular meals, Mix of soluble and non soluble. Try half a teaspoon of flax meal on your cereal in the morning, it helps with my C/D