I’m 30 years old and I have developed awful abdominal pain and mid lower back pain these last few weeks both of which feel like a period pain/Labour pain. I often feel constipated but can fluctuate between being constipated and having diarrhoea. I can also sometimes feel very nauseated upon eating!
I haven’t lost any weight, my poo looks normal and I haven’t seen any blood in it.
My GP said this sounded like Gastritis or IBS and ordered me to do a series of blood tests and a stool sample, all of which have been completely normal.
Should I be pushing for further testing or is this what life with IBS/IBD feels like?
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Kellylou1712
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Lower back pain is pretty normal with IBSD. The other symptoms sound pretty telling as well. I'd start searching around this community for some good things to try. Some really good ideas out there.
Unfortunately I don't have all the answers that blood tests would be able to reveal but I can share that yes, I too get lower back pain along with sciatica going down either one or two legs. I asked my gastro a while back ago and he says stool from constipation can press on the Vagus Nerve causing lower back pain going into the hip and back of leg. However only blood or other tests (have you tried Barium small follow through?)
Thank you Eliana5. I have had blood tests and urine and stool tests so far. I will likely push for more tests but don’t really want to push for invasive testing if it’s not necessary or if my symptoms very much point to Ibs.I’m a bit of a health anxiety sufferer and would get every test under the sun else! x
I promise it's not invasive. All you do is swallow a small cup of barium solution. (It tastes like a thick vanilla milkshake) and while the solution goes down your windpipe, upper abdomen, stomach, lower intestine, etc. There is a x-ray technician making sure the barium enema is going through your system properly. It checks for any possible blockages it all takes about 1/2 hour. All you do is lie on a table. It's very easy.
You might also have a urinary tract infection that turned into a bladder infection. A urine test will help with diagnosing that. Also if you have backed up stool it can press not only on the Vagus Nerve but on the bladder making it feel you can't empty completely or sense of urgency. I would definitely have a urine culture test though to rule out a UTI. ☺️
It wouldn't be IBD, that would have been picked up by the tests. So yes, it sounds like you have IBS. It could be food related or a stress thing. Take note of what you are eating to see if something's make it worse!
Hi Kelly I have similar symptoms plus bloating every time I eat I have convinced myself it's something more sinister but all my tests are negative I have had these symptoms for 6months with no let up Let me know if you find anything that helps
Hi Suean, thank you for your response! I too have convinced myself it’s something horrific, I’m an anxious mess which I know is not helping things at all!
I experienced similar symptoms and my GP said exactly the same: gastritis. It seems their lazy go-to explanation every time. It wasn't gastritis at all. I've had all the tests, everything is normal. Unfortunately what you're feeling will be the new 'normal' unless you are prepared to make lifestyle changes. Meds are no shortcut and the more you visit the GP looking for answers, the more confused and distressed you'll feel.
Currently starting a new exercise regime with low fodmap. Do yoga regularly. It's definitely starting to help.
I really appreciate this response corpgov10 and your take on things! I don’t want to be medicated up to the eyeballs so I will certainly look into your comments.
The diarrhea part of the constipation and diarrhea might be overflow diarrhea from constipation (liquid food pushing past impacted stool), so it could be that you are IBS-C dominant. The first thing I would try is to increase fibre gradually in your diet if not done so already to help bulk out and soften up stools. If you manage to improve your stools, but are still in pain, try Alflorex probiotic (scientifically studied for IBS) since your pain may be caused by bad bugs irritating intestinal nerves (particularly since you'd mentioned somewhere about taking antibiotics so you might have a gut bacterial imbalance). If you are still IBS-C and in pain after improving diet and trying Alflorex probiotic ask your GP about Linaclotide which calms intestinal nerves and aids motility. That is assuming you are IBS-C, but you'd need to speak to your GP or gastro about it.
xjrs such a knowledgable response thank you! I feel my GP did exclusion tests and when they came back fine has kind of wiped their hands of me, I have no clue about anything IBS so this is very helpful!
Don't forget it also can be due to underlying health issues like a mild form of Cystic Fibrosis. a mild form of CF doesn't always necessarily involve the respiratory system but can affect other organs like your intestines, bile duct and pancreas duct and is not always thought of. Even carriers of one CF gene, so not the normal CF sufferers can have CF related health issues 'recent' research shows. If you are an older person like me you're probably not tested for the CF gene just after your birth by using the "heel prick".
As far as I know, there aren't any tests that can tell you you have IBS. Am I right? I always thought it was typically something that the docs arrived at based primarily on symptoms and when they've ruled everything out.
The problem is the physicians can't rule everything out because they don't have a holistic approach as I experience unfortunately. It takes many visits to the GP and hopefully referrals to the hospital before the physicians may find, if they can at all, the original cause. The symptoms aren't straightforward and that makes correct diagnosis so difficult.
Interesting! I will have to monitor my symptoms a little more and see if I respond to probiotics etc, if I don’t then I will certainly explore this Avenue, thank you!
I also have bad lower back pain and ibs-d. My lower back/pelvic area is a mess basically. The back trouble came well before the IBS. I've had problems with my back for 25 years. IBS for about 2-4 years. Sometimes when I am having a flare up, I get an ache low down in my abdomen that just reminds me of a period pain. I don't have periods any more as I'm past menopause.
I always think it's just the nerves that get irritated which affect both back and gut.
But sometimes my groin, upper thigh, pubic bone halfway, and left lower abdomen go completely numb when I'm walking and are fine if I sit down
@luisa22 this is so so reassuring to me, although I’m sorry you suffer with the lower back pain. It states back pain as a symptom on the NHS website but I’m an avid Googler and Google suggests some studies haven’t found a link between back pain and Ibs so naturally I have petrified myself thinking the worst! Thank you for your comment x
I know, Kellylou. It can be scary sometimes, wondering if it could be this or that, and many options are usually something terrible on Google!
Some of my symptoms would be classic for ovarian cancer. But as my problem is focused always on the left side I know that's something I can cross off my list of worries. Because I had my left ovary and fallopian tube removed many many years ago! So it goes to show me when we check symptoms of these terrible diseases some definitely don't apply.
Plus most of the non invasive tests like stool and blood tests are ace at picking up red flag signs. So I always think if there are none of those signs, then not to go down that worry rabbithole.
I really needed to read that this morning Luisa22 thank you! I am in a bit of a bad mental place at the moment fearing the worst because this just feels so not normal all this pain and cramping 😩
Yes, the things IBS brings us are horrible. I know. I am sorry you have all this pain and cramping. It makes life so difficult. But still don't be afraid to ask your Doc. if you continually get problems that are very painful. They can be inclined to fob us off a bit, you know...send us home with the fodmap diet sheet when IBS is diagnosed.
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