IBS "single location" burning sensation.

[Lonelytraveller]

Hi All,

I had IBS-C type issues for 3 years now. Chronic constipation, gas, mucus, occasional diarrhea , I lost and regained 5-10 pounds two times and I have this burning sensation, which is my real concern.

Specifically, I have this specific pain for 3 years now: right side of the abdomen 2-3 inches right of the belly button. It is hard to define but it is mostly a burning sensation. My understanding is that it is either on the ascending colon or at the point it turns into the traverse colon. I can speculate it feels as if there is inflammation there. And among all the IBS symptoms the 'burning sensation" is the most disturbing and worrisome one for me.

After an ultrasound scan, I had a colonoscopy in late 2020. The colonoscopy report says, some parts of the ascending and the traverse colon were "dirty", yet the result was "normal colonoscopy". I assume they did not assess that the colon was unprepared for the colonoscopy then. You can imagine with this burning pain; it is hard to keep myself assured. I ask to myself if it is okay, why do I have this terrible pain as if an acid is dissolving my something in my abdomen. Somehow, I worry if they missed something during the colonoscopy now.

Two months ago, I had blood on stool, red blood mixed with mucus and sent the pic to my PCP. He said he was assured with my "normal colonoscopy a few years ago" and told me to keep an eye on the stool. I did not see blood on stool again after that. It looks like an isolated event. Yet the pain is very disturbing. I can not help thinking the worst and I know it is does not help at all.

Any advice on the "burning sensation", did anyone have such a symptom with IBS or IBD? You think I should push for a reexamination ? Or should I try to keep calmer?

[Hidden]

Hi Lonelytraveller. Firstly, I’m sorry to hear that you’re going through this. I know what a worrying, draining nightmare it can be.

I also have the burning sensation but in the same place in my lower left abdomen. I’ve had tests and all seems fine so I’m trying to just calm myself, eat better and keep stress to a minimum. I’ve recently started the Nerva IBS hypnotherapy programme and that seems to be helping too. Maybe try to really chill out and calm everything down for a few weeks and if it’s still troubling you, talk to your GP again.

I hope you can feel better soon.

Roo x

[Lonelytraveller in reply to Hidden]

Hi MrsRoo, I will take a look that. Thank you and I hope all feel better in time.

[Risita]

hi Lonely travel

I do have IBS C.

Constantly burns and I don’t eat spicy, why your colonoscopy was dirty?

Did you drink the preparation?

[Lonelytraveller in reply to Risita]

Hi Risita,

Actually, I think I follow a good diet, smoke-alcohol free, and exercising. Yet I have this burn almost constantly, does not keep me awake at night though and I think that is a good sign.

I do not know I did everything they asked me to do during the colonoscopy prep, yet it was...Someone said here, maybe I had diverticulitis, possibility making grains of food getting stuck and causing irritation and a dirty look of the colon I guess. That makes some sense.

It is good to hear some people with IBS-C and having burning sensation though. I understand at least it is within IBS. Thank you

[xjrs]

You may be suffering from visceral hypersensitivity (functional abdominal pain) - there is info about it here:

iffgd.org/lower-gi-disorder...

It is where the brain interprets the normal activity of the bowel as pain - this is due to a wearing down of neurons in pain control centres of the brain which can be caused by PTSD, neglect or abuse in childhood, extreme stressful events etc. The first line treatment is nerve pain agents such as low dose amitriptyline. There is a theory that being on something like amitriptyline for 6-12 months can help the pain control centre neurons to regenerate. Note that amitriptyline can cause constipation, but this can be helpful in people who are diarrhea dominant. Unfortunately I couldn't tolerate these. Linaclotide (for IBS-C only), which calms intestinal nerves & Alflorex probiotic have helped me with this intestinal pain.

The reason why Alflorex helped me is that my IBS started with a bout of holiday food poisoning. This led to a gut bacterial imbalance, which is true for many IBS sufferers. This imbalance can also be caused by other things such as restricted or unhealthy diets and stress. When bad bugs dominate the system, they can oversensitise the nerves in the gut too. When put together with visceral hypersensitivity, with the brain incorrectly interpreting signals and then the gut sending even more signals than it should, it ends up being a double whammy effect. If this is true in your case, something like Alflorex might help to bring things back in balance. When I took Linaclotide, it reduced my pain by 50%-60%. After taking Alflorex my pain reduced to zero and only comes back when I am challenging with new foods and before my body gets used to them (or I have to continue to give them up). Alflorex which has been scientifically studied for IBS has made me more tolerant to a much wider range of foods. Having a more diverse diet increases bacterial diversity in the gut. Bacterial diversity helps to additionally keep bad bugs away, in turn helping IBS symptoms. There is also the Nerva gut directed hypnotherapy app to consider. This helps to calm intestinal nerves.

I am not sure if your pain relates to this, but might be worth a 3 month trial of Alflorex if not tried already. Failing that ask for Linaclotide from your GP (or you may find a combination of the two useful).

[Lonelytraveller in reply to xjrs]

Thank you Xjrs,

Very interesting.

I will keep this in mind and will discuss with my PCP when possible. The thing is, I was never prescribed with medicine so far. They say, "Ohh you have IBS" and that is it. The treatment? Well it is functional...And I think this is "irritable" in itself. It almost gives a license for not digging deeper to understand the causes/treat the specific IBS. I think that has been a factor in what I have been suffering. Plus, it leads me to think for the worst with the absence of a simple treatment/explanation. Thx.

[xjrs in reply to Lonelytraveller]

It is up to your care provider to help you manage your symptoms. IBS can be very debilitating and your GP shouldn't be leaving you like this and they need to come up with options. If they are incapable of helping you, a gastro referral may be necessary. In fact my gastro prescribed Linaclotide - my GP had never heard of it. If you have had the tests then it is highly unlikely to be anything else. With IBS there is something wrong, it's just the science around it is not fully there yet. Often issues can be related to the gut/brain axis as I described.

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to xjrs]

That’s really interesting, thanks for posting this .

My doctor has just prescribed Amitriptyline for my gut pain , I also have IBS-C , you said you couldn’t tolerate it , was that’s because it increased the constipation?

[xjrs in reply to Gardenlover2020]

In my case it caused me heart palpitations about 18 hours after taking one pill, so my GP has included it on my record as something that I can't tolerate. Not everyone will get this reaction though and I know that I can be particularly sensitive to medications. So I didn't get as far as finding out whether it caused constipation or not.

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to xjrs]

Thanks anyway , I’ll have to be careful too as I’m on Sertraline

[Mutleyforever in reply to Gardenlover2020]

Hi, just read your query re could Amitryptiline cause constipation and wanted to give you my experience. I was given Imipramine ( similar type of drug to Amitryptiline). I have a slow transit problem, and tho the Imipramine helped with the pain I could not stand the resulting even worse constipation, I believe it is unsuitable for ibs c sufferers!

Best of luck Mutley

( I find a teaspoon of ground linseeds on cereal is very helpful )

[Gardenlover2020 in reply to Mutleyforever]

Thanks I’ve been apprehensive about trying it because of that , I’ll put up with the pain I can’t stand any more constipation 😂

[Leo70]

I should push for a re-examination as blood on the stool should never be ignored and your colonoscopy was a couple of years or so back.

[Lonelytraveller in reply to Leo70]

Thak you, I think I will do that if I can not get some relief in a week.

[Gold22]

Have you had your gallbladder checked for stones?

[Lonelytraveller in reply to Gold22]

Hi Gold22,

Indeed, my early thought was that it was gallbladder. At first the docs though that the pain was gallbladder related and detected a few gallbladder polyps with the ultrasound scan, yet no stone. For a long time, I have been thinking that the pain was gallbladder related. It turns out though that polyps would not cause such pain and bearing in mind all the other IBS-C/D symptoms I have it is most likely a bowel issue. I keep an eye on the polyps though. Thank you for bringing this up.

[Mutleyforever]

Hi, I’m no expert but maybe you have diverticulitis , pockets where food ie seeds/ grains are getting stuck and causing irritation . Blood testing for inflammatory markers would pick this up. Especially since your colon had not cleaned out sufficiently, it suggests it cold be stuck in these diverticula.

Best wishes Mutley

Hope this is helpful

[Lonelytraveller in reply to Mutleyforever]

Thank you Mutley, this sounds reasonable. I will consider and research on this. Best of health to you.

[Ella59]

I get this also, Lonelytraveller. Mine is a bit more central round the navel area. It first started about 6 years ago, I would get it for a day or less then it would go away for weeks on end. It is more frequent now and tends to last a bit longer but I still get long periods without it. I must admit I haven’t seen a doctor about it but I have noticed it seems to follow a period of stress. I also have IBS-C.