first time.

[Redevil3]

no diagnosis yet but I am suffering with cramps in both left and right lower sides of my stomach and am getting this overwhelming bloated feeling and trapped wind along with constipation i was diagnosed with an inflamed throat which looked to me like tonsillitis , for which I was given antibiotics. Wondering if there is a link there.

[Maureen1958]

Often antibiotics can give you diarrhoea, perhaps if you have been constipated, the antibiotics are upsetting your tummy and trying to push out the backlog?!

[Luisa22]

Maybe you could try a probiotic to see if it helps? Antibiotic kill the good gut bacteria, as well as the things they are meant to kill. They're notorious for upsetting the tummy.

[Lamly]

definitely antibiotics are well known for coursing diarrhoea and any related bowel problems.

[Blearyeyed]

If your more prone to Constipation, or have IBS Constipation type , antibiotics , and various other drugs can cause constipation , stomach pain and cramps, bloating , trapped wind and heart burn , or make those symptoms worse.

One way you can ease it is to drink the recommended daily fluids as cool water , and if you can , with constipation , Vitamin C from juice can help. This can help in general with IBS- C.

Antibiotics reduce the good bacteria in the stomach and intestines not just the bad ones , and when the bacteria begin to return they can be out of balance. The bad bacteria as they reproduce can cause a lot of bloating and gas. It is good to have a diet low in processed sugar , and with few white carbs , especially for a month after a course of antibiotics to reduce various stomach issues , including constipation, diarrhea and bloating.

Eating a diet low in processed sugar , having natural probiotic live yoghurt for breakfast ( you can add a little honey nuts , fruit or oats to it) and making a tablespoon of it into a dip ( add herbs , garlic or spices etc.) with some chopped veg or bread sticks really helps stop the bloating and can reduce stomach acid when eating. With constipation, keep away from foods with insoluble fibre as it can can make IBS-C worse but try and get a variety of soluble fibre foods as these can help. This is a help for IBS related pain, gas and acid in general.

Using anticlockwise gentle circle movements around the stomach with light pressure from the base of the hand can alleviate gas and help to reduce constipation. It's basically DIY colonic massage at home. It can be very soothing if done for a while when you have cramps or pain.

Warm baths or showers can also ease the constipation and stomach pain. Try a warm wheat bag on sore areas. If you are able to take it, Turmeric capsules can help , but only take half the recommended dose on most bottles , especially at first , as it can cause a bit of diarrhea or some grumbling ache as you body gets used to it. I find I miss Turmeric more when I run out of it than my IBS medications but everyone is different , it is trial and error and as with any medication or supplement you can have a few mild side effects at first while you body gets used to a new thing .

Garlic supplements and ginger tea is also soothing. Green tea drank hot or cold of any unsweetened flavour is soothing for burning in intestines or or the throat from stomach acid, check you can have these if you are on medications.

Try keeping a food diary and doing food eliminations and see if it helps . Try going without gluten for a few weeks first then slowly bring it back . If there is no significant change you try cutting out lactose / dairy ( although oddly probiotic live yoghurt you can still manage) keep trying different food groups you may find certain foods make it worse , stop eating those. If you have constipation, reducing red meat and having less meat each week can help

If it continues, or you feel you had IBS before the antibiotics, go and see your GP. Write down all your symptoms so you don't forget what to tell them and get your diagnosis. They will possibly try not give you any medication at first , but also very little help with diet advice. Ask if you can try Buscopan with your history and get a prescription for it or get it at the chemist. It can work well for most people , try to take it through the day as you get your symptoms under control then reduce it to morning doses or not at all.