abdominal muscles pain

[McTastibobble]

im new here and desperate. I've suffered from random stomach symptoms for over 10 years now which the Dr's diagnosed as IBS. I've been relatively stable for a good few years now, with only the odd short flare up. But I'm now suffering the worst episode in years.It started after taking Azathioprine for another autoimmune condition, so I'm not sure if that kicked it off. I'm suffering awful bloating and weird feelings in my lower abdomen that feels like my muscles tensing and a a crawling sensation and I am struggling walk far. Dr can't find anything else wrong, no infection markers in blood and clear urine test, only found tenderness in lower stomach, so has attributed it to IBS attack. but I'm worried as this feels different to my usual symptoms. I've never had muscle involvement like this to point I can't walk. So my question is, can anyone else relate to this at all from your experiences. I'm looking for some reassurance that this is definitely IBS.

[SingC]

Hey, McTastibobble! I’ve not had the difficulty walking, but the rest of it sounds pretty familiar, sadly. Would be good to get rid of the awful bloating. Once that’s gone, it may be easier to work out if there is anything else wrong. Peppermint capsules may help. Or you could look at the low fodmap diet. If full fodmap elimination feels too extreme for you, you could try eliminating just one food group for two weeks, and gradually work through until you find any triggers. For me, eliminating lactose made an enormous difference.

Could you ask your doctor for a stools test (known as a FIT test)? That can rule out bowel cancer, which would be good to know, right? And you collect the sample yourself at home, so it’s not too bad as these things go.

Wishing you luck in finding a solution!

[McTastibobble in reply to SingC]

thanks for your reply. I just did a low fodmap food shop to try and see if that will help. Includes lactose free milk, cheese etc. Trying everything just now to see what helps. It's so odd because I'm fine for months then bam the symptoms hit. Will see how I get on. I was also given amitriptyline for tension headaches previously and heard that can also be good for IBS. Started taking again last night and it released some of the muscle tension in my stomach and I got first good nights sleep in weeks. So that's something.

[Rollo47]

Hi, I have been an IBs sufferer for about 20 years and have been on Azathioprine and Pentassa for a number of years now. It suits me and l have no side effects. November 21, I was admitted to A&E where they did an MRI scan ,it was discovered that I had a dormant cyst on my kidney and a small L inguinal hernia . By February this year I started having abdominal cramp lasting 2-3 hrs which stopped me from doing any activity eg walking or cycling. I am recovering for the hernia repair op now . So far no abdo pain or cramp I hope that was my problem, it is now solved. If I did not have the MRI I would not have know I had a hernia which happened to be a double hernia. I am not saying we have got the same problem but thing has to be ruled out.

[debbiejayn]

Hi.What you are suffering sounds similar to me..I feel that my lower gut muscles are tight ,and can almost feel my intestines working!..Also get the bloating feeling..I wake up with it in the mornings and its not improved/worsened by eating or bowel movement..Just constant pain. Its driving me mad.Ive heard Amtriptyline are good but cant take it as I have glaucoma and it is contraindicated.. The pain happened on and off but been constant for nearly a week.Hoping it goes soon or its off to the GP...D.xx

[Pericello]

I was on Azathioprine for several years for Crohn's and had no adverse abdominal effects from it. However, some time after I was taken off Azathioprine, I had started to feel pretty unwell which went on for some time. I was prescribed Prednisone for a suspected flare up. It had worked well in the past, but on this occasion it inexplicably caused the most distressing abdominal episode that I have ever had to endure. After some further investigation it turned out that I had developed Lactose intolerance. Many tablets contain lactose as a bulking agent and to counter the bitterness. Prednisone tablets are very small but the quantity in addition to what I may already have been ingesting as apart of my diet appeared to be sufficient to escalate my already uncomfortable abdominal symptoms into sheer distress. Thankfully things went back from distressing to "just" uncomfortable and poorly when I stopped taking them with the agreement of the GP.

A hydrogen breath test subsequently ordered by the gastroenterology clinic determined intolerance to both Lactose and Glucose and possbile SIBO.

BTW, if you are considering undertaking the Low Fodmap diet, this should be done with the guidance of a dietitian. It needs to be adhered to strictly otherwise the indications are blurred and benefits limited. I have been on it for some months and have learned quite a bit. There are support groups available online. For example, I myself am a member of Low Fodmap UK on Facebook. There maybe similar groups in your part of the world.

If your doctor cannot determine the problem, then they presumably should be able to refer you to a gastroenterology clinic/specialist for further investigation.

The effects you are experiencing may or may not be co-incidental to the Azathioprine. One way to be sure would be to stop taking it and see whether the problem eases and dis-appears. However, you are taking Azathioprine for another medical condition and this is one of those medications that needs to be taken over time for the benefits to be realised. It is also generally monitored by your doctor (blood tests). For this reason you should not change anything until you discuss that with your doctor. Perhaps there is an alternative they can prescribe instead? I reacted badly to Pentasa/mesalazine and had to be taken off it. Azathioprine was the prescribed alternative. Auto-immune diseases can be unpredictable and difficult to diagnose. I hope you get to the bottom of this soon.

[Blue_81]

i have had abdominal pain for years it usually went away. Three years ago it hasn’t stopped. Doctors said it was my GB but it wasnt. The pain is right in the middle. Sometimes I can eat other times I cant. I have not found a way to fix it.