Stomach cramping on waking

[Rob1959]

I'm wondering if my abdomen (not sure if stomach or bowels) cramping on waking is due to a lack of food?

[Rob1959]

Update; I've had some breakfast and been to the loo but abdomen is still cramping and gurgling away. Time for some Buscopan I guess!

[Blearyeyed]

I found food or water didn't make any difference to the strong cramps in the morning , except for occasionally making it worse.I think the longer duration without my Buscopan or other relaxant medication plus the need to go to the toilet , and probably the position we generally like in with our stomach area more curved up was the reason it was worse in the morning.

[Rob1959 in reply to Blearyeyed]

I appreciate your reply Blearyeyed, my first post! Interesting idea though I tend to sleep relatively "straight" and take Buscopan when needed not preventatively. 2hours since posting I've taken 2x Buscopan, still getting cramps, gurgling abdomen and now a headache coming on (unusual for me). What are the other relaxant meds please?

[Blearyeyed in reply to Rob1959]

They are generally on prescription , unless you try an OTC probiotic daily and antacid as well as Buscopan preventatively.Have you been diagnosed with IBS or another stomach issue like gastric reflux or GERD yet?

Is this something new?

What did you have for breakfast?

Are you drinking enough water at the moment in this warm weather , as the heat and internal dehydration caused by it can make the symptoms worse and cause headaches.

If it hasn't been checked by a GP yet and your symptoms are persisting or getting worse or getting headaches you haven't had before you should contact them to discuss it and get an appointment for an examination. From there you will hopefully get more advice or an alternative to Buscopan which would help.

[Rob1959 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks Blearyeyed

Yes I was diagnosed with IBS in March, possible EPI pending. Suspect it is the IBS in play though feel a bit lousy too, not really nauseas.

I had meal replacement/nutritional powdered food drink for breakfast today as it is quick to prep and mainly as it balanced. I continue to reintroduce food groups to my FODMAP diet.

Water intake noted and GP consult thanks.

I was taking Probiotic complex (30B cfu) but stopped as no noticeable difference, would be happy to restart.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Rob1959]

If the probiotics are going to help they can take a couple of months to have an effect but you may need to check if they are appropriate with the EPI before you continue them. I also take one capsule 500mg pure turmeric ( without the black pepper ) per day , as I found the two capsules recommended could cause different symptoms. After six weeks on that I found I noticed the symptoms increased when I tried a week without it so it proved it was helping in some way so I continue with that.I'm still waiting for the GP to get around to organising metabolic tests , as even before my gall bladder was removed I have had difficulty digesting and metabolising various nutrients . I have to have vitamin B 12 injections and infusions of Folates.

If you haven't had your tests for EPI yet and are still under Gastroenterology, I would contact them to chase up the appointment , ask if it's been sent out or how much longer you will have to wait and mention the fact that your symptoms are getting worse despite following a FODMAP diet.

If you are just waiting for a decision on test results and it's been more than a month , ring up the department to chase them up , and request a copy of the letter that they are going to send the GP.

Ask if you will be getting a follow up appointment or if the Specialist will just be including recommended treatment advice on the GP letter.

If they are planning an appointment either face to face or a video call ask if you can arrange it on that phone call, or if you can have a call with the specialist to discuss the fact that your symptoms are worse because you would like to try the treatment they want you to have as soon as possible.

Sometimes it's only by calling after a reasonable amount of time that you get things done at a speed that you need.

Have you had blood tests for full blood count , kidney function/ electrolytes, iron /Ferritin. Vitamin B 12, Folates, Magnesium and Vitamin D in the last three months. If not , you can ask your GP to do them to give you a nutrient baseline to work with , and , most importantly, to check that you're not borderline low or deficient in any of them which can make you symptoms worse, as well as show if you aren't metabolising things that well.

If there is an issue with any of these , or even if they are at the low end of the range and you have EPI you may need to have injections or infusions to help keep your levels in range either long term or until the enzyme treatment improves the problem.

Good luck with it , it can take time and there are always ups and downs but you can get to a point that things are manageable , and you know which things to alter when the symptoms crank up a gear.

[Rob1959 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks Blearyeyed for your time on the reply very helpful. I am very fortunate in that I have some "rainy day money" set aside and able to go private for the EPI diagnosis. I should get results next week.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Rob1959]

Good luck , is the private consultant you are seeing also part of the NHS?If so , and the test is positive , you can ask them if they will put you on to their NHS list for further treatments and consultations as well as contacting your GP via the NHS route with advice for any prescriptions.

This doesn't just mean it will cost you less , but it also prevents any need for you to pay much higher private prescription charges , and prevents any delays that can happen when you try to get the treatment the private doctor advises done by your NHS surgery.

It's ridiculous, but it is very common , for GPs to say they have to have a private diagnosis confirmed by a NHS consultant before they will begin prescribing treatments recommended by a private doctor , especially if the treatment is a costly one.

If you have already seen the consultant privately but they do add you to their NHS book it also means that you will get any surgery or other tests done for free and the treatment is usually fast tracked because of the initial private consultation.

[Rob1959 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Many thanks again Blearyeyed for explaining. All very complicated. I guess it's learnt experience of interaction between the private and NHS systems to which I am very much a newbie.

Yes my private Consultant also works for the NHS according to their website.

[Krisbetty in reply to Rob1959]

I was like you when waking in the morning. I was finally after 2 years was diagnosed with IBS by A gastroenterologist and he agreed to put me on linaclotide a game changer for me no more pains in the morning. Your GP can't prescribe it only a gastroenterologist can .

[Rob1959 in reply to Krisbetty]

Thankyou Krisbetty most helpful. I see Linaclotide is used mainly for IBS-C, I am IBS-normal, occasionally D, still if it eases the cramps no matter! I will raise with my Gastro.

Sorry you had to wait 2 years for a diagnosis. Unfortunately there seem to be a lot of gaps when it comes to IBS diagnosis and treatment.

[Krisbetty in reply to Rob1959]

My NHS gastro was brilliant, I have a SIBO breath test in 3 weeks time and an anorectal manometry and a biofeedback therapy appointment in 2 weeks. We had a new GP.this year and she was determined to get me better.

[PanYan]

Hi. I get upper belly cramping quire often on waking. I too would like any clues.

[eyeofthetiger123]

it seems like you can answer this question by trying some food this morning, but from reading other comments slippery elm maybe like this. I would say that fixing things like ibs happens over a longer period than a day so use these days to obtain more information.