Mid November I woke up with shooting pain to the left of my belly button and had aches in my lower back, I left it a week hoping it would pass but then went to the GP. I should add that I had lost over half a stone in weight.The GP did a prostate exam (nothing abnormal) as my father has prostate cancer 2 years ago and did say my stomach was bloated and tender, I was then booked in for blood tests later that week (came back clear) although my symptoms were getting worse with the abdomen pain and I had lost more weight (was always around 12st 2lbs and now weigh 11st 3lbs).
The GP arranged for stool tests to be done and I had 2 lots but both came back clear.
I have suffered with cramps over the last few months and don't go to the regularly where as most people I know say they go like clockwork.
During all of this I was constantly feeling my abdomen and noticed some lumps which I convinced myself were sinister lipomas, had them checked by a GP and they told me they were normal and said they would arrange for a FIT test (bowel screening) to be sent to me which I never received.
I started having panic attacks and night sweats and was convincing myself I had something sinister that was sweeping through my body, my GP did request an urgent CT scan for me and I had that last Friday which took 3 weeks which seemed to be a lifetime whilst waiting for it. I had requested a copy of my referral to go private as I was that anxious about what I was suffering with however didn't end up going private, I must say that on the referral the GP noted 'malignancy?' .. in hindsight I suppose that would be the obvious reason for the scan but seeing it in black and white it raised my anxiety and stress through the roof.
I had a GP appointment this morning and the CT scan came back clear which I was initially shocked with as I had been preparing myself for the worst for tbe past few weeks.
GP told me it is IBS that I have and has asked me to schedule another appointment in a month's time.
A few questions I have for anyone who has IBS:
Is back pain part of suffering with IBS?
I have bone pain throughout my body, does anyone else have this and is it likely to be related to IBS?
Are smal lumps across abdomen part of IBS swelling/bloating?
A couple of weeks after my initial symptoms I had 4 pints of Guinness, the pain in my back and chest the following day was the worst I'd ever had and does alcohol trigger IBS and back pain that much!?
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KCIEM
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Sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with IBS. I have had for 6 years and will have it for the rest of my life. The trouble with IBS is that everyone has different experiences, symptoms and sensations within their bodies which makes it difficult to treat.
I too experience lower back pain which has now lead me to have Sciatica for the first time which isn't fun. I am also experiencing different aches and pains around the hip area too but that could be down to the Sciatica!
Not sure if the lower back is directly related to having alcohol which I have from time to time. It could be stress, anxiety and poor posture too. However, I do try to limit my intake of alcohol, and I am currently considering abandoning alcohol altogether!
Haven't had any lumps across the abdomen so can't really comment, but I do experience occasional pain in that area but after hydrating myself with plenty of water, the pain soon goes away.
If you have any other questions please feel free to ask!
I would advise you to manage your mental health, eat healthy – avoid alcohol) and exercise regularly!
Oh my gosh! You have been through SO much recently, it must have been a nightmare for you. And I bet you felt quite alone with all the worry.
It's good that you had some decent tests and nothing really nasty was found. Not that IBS isn't really nasty because it is. But you know what I mean.
It seems IBS is designed to make everyone who has it anxious about things, because it feels so horrible at times.
Most people with IBS react badly to alcohol, or even if they don't should only have small amounts, and I personally have found there are so many drinks I just can't have any more or I pay the price with my gut usually in the morning. I can't drink beer, Guinness (I used to love that) or wine, champagne, sherry, port etc, The only drink I can have with no bad effect is vodka and I mix that with honey because honey suits me ok too (even though it's high Fodmap) and either sparkling water or Elderflower drink.
And yes, I get lower back pain, but my back pain started in 1997 and my IBS started in 2018...2020 so the back pain came first. But when my gut is bad, I also feel achey, wiped out, exhausted, get twinges and aches and pains in different places, sometimes my legs or feet.
I can never understand why my foot has to hurt when I get a flare up...but it sometimes does, but then so can my eyes, or ears or the muscles in my arm etc . Flare ups take a lot out of the energy and the body I think.
Guinness might not be the best drink for you, or you might be better staying away from alcohol altogether.
The lumps in the abdomen...I get some really spectacular ones, but I know exactly what it is and they happen in the morning before a bm. They move around and look like something out of "Alien" the movie, but they disappear when I pass wind.
I might be wrong and I'm not a doctor but I'd suggest to try to find some natural way, or diet way if possible to encourage a regular bowel movement (if it works for you) as maybe some of your symptoms could be caused by long standing constipation perhaps?
It's really a horrible time when you go through what you have gone through recently. Preparing yourself for the worst, absolutely convinced you have something horrid. I'd like to bet most of us on here have had similar episodes . I remember 16 years ago my abdomen was like yours, lumps right across. The doctor was examining me and I was waiting with baited breath for the horrible news and she told me it was impacted feaces through not going to the toilet properly. I too get lower back pain with every flare up and aches and pains in other parts of my body, awful tiredness, depression, terrible anxiety which makes it all worse. I let weight like you. Now you have been made aware of what you have, you should start making changes in your life, involving diet, exercise and general lifestyle. I gave up alcohol completely, it just doesn't do any good and not worth the suffering. You have to make some decisions for yourself. There's some good posts and tips to pick up on here, and everyone understands. Good Luck 🤞
Thanks for sharing, definitely going to make some changes and hope symptoms improve or disappear.I'm still suffering with night sweats however I'm not sure if that's due to the cold I picked up over Christmas or the IBS as I've been them for a few weeks now, they could be related to the anxiety also, hopefully the go too.
The sweats could be anxiety due to all the worrying you've been doing. They might stop when things settle down, it takes time to settle and to stop worrying. A probiotic might be an idea, I'd be lost without mine. Everyone's different and you have to find out what triggers things and what doesn't. It can take years and even then, it's never black and white.
I am awake early this morning as usual in back pain. I have had IBS-C since 1996 and the GPs hadn’t a clue in those days.
Turns out the bowel refers to the lumbar 3 disc in your spine . When the bowel is full the pressure on that disc then causes allsorts of weird feelings like numb toes, sometimes sharp shooting pains in the back mimicking sciatica. A physio told me in 2001.
A good clue is when you have a BM , if the pain resolves a lot then it is IBS related back pain. Nowadays my back ache is more significant than the tummy cramps. Peppermint tea with honey helps me and I have cut down on anything that dehydrates like coffee & tea.
Alcohol dehydrates us so I still enjoy a drink but I also make sure I have plenty of water too. Guiness contains iron which may aggravate constipation?
I have to use a glycerin suppository every morning just to get out of pain and get on with life.
Glad you have nothing serious . I remember spending 6 months worrying and being told by GPs it was all in my head and I needed a psychiatrist. The bowel can get infected and then it goes still. That is spastic colon and needs antibiotics.
Take care. Everyone on here knows what you are going through and the loss of weight is because you aren’t able to eat due to the pain but it is a vicious circle so try to eat light meals through the day rather than any heavy meals.
Do a food diary too. I found mushrooms & cauliflower were triggers. Nowadays it is red meat and chilli I have to avoid .
I've been taken iron vitamins on and off to help me feel better given the fatigue and thought I may have had a deficiency as I was vegetarian and my diet wasn't great but have resorted back to eating sustainable local meat again now. I will stop taking the iron now I know it's IBS as you mention this may cause the constipation, the constipation comes in bouts so not sure if it would be IBS-C.
I just want to the joint pain and aches to go so I can go back to the gym, haven't been for 7 weeks now, I was going 3 or 4 times a week. It's hard to tell how many of my symptoms are related to the IBS and how much is caused by the lack of exercise, muscle/weight loss, stress or anxiety.
My IBS is experienced as mid to lower back pain - particularly overnight and early hours of the morning.
I am not sure about the bone pain. If you have widespread pain, perhaps discuss the possibility fibromyalgia with your GP.
Pretty much any food/drink can trigger IBS, though some things are worse culprits than others. Intolerances are very individual.
When you say that you don't go to the loo regularly - have you been diagnosed with IBS-C (constipation dominant IBS)? If this is the case you may have IBS-C with visceral hypersensitivity. Both Alflorex probiotic and Linaclotide (on prescription) have helped me greatly with the pain related to this and have made me more tolerant to a wider range of foods.
So sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with ibs. Back pain is common with ibs , I get this along with headaches and nausea. But I do suffer with severe diverticular disease too, my bowel looks like Swiss cheese ,that's the only way I can describe it. I have cut out dairy, gluten lactose. Under more control than it was but if I cheat boy do I know about it. Everyone is different what affects one doesn't affect another . And the doctors don't really know how to treat it. Good luck
Yes yes and yes. IBS is often related to fibromyalgia causing aches and pains all over. Alcohol is a BIG no. I don't touch it. Its just not worth it. Anxiety makes it worse. It's a vicious circle.
Join the club, I have had IBS for years but just of late it`s out of control. I`m convinced that in this world the way it is anxiety has a lot to do with it.
Sorry to read about your IBS I to suffer with it first back in 1997 it was IBSd now its IBSc also diverticular disease i have a constant bloated belly ive tried everything over the years , The only thing that i have found helps me is fybogel twice pr day. All the best
I feel your pain too. I started with IBS in May and I am just getting to grips with it now. I also had an urgent ct and was terrified of pancreatic cancer as I have fatty stool, which is likely due to bile acid malabsorption (I learnt about this through these posts). It was massively relieved to get the all clear. For me I couldn't get my head around IBS co.ing from what felt like no where and being so painful, for so long. Despite being a nurse of 20 years, I naively thought it was altered bowel habit and a bit of colic every now and again (apologies to anyone for my blindness).
The CT you have had will show any lumps uan the abdomen. Cts look at densities, and radiologists look at your scan from multiple angles and know what lumps should be where and if anything is untoward then they would report it and recommend things.
Thanks for sharing, yes I thought any lumps would be picked up on the scan and they were also checked by the GP I'll maybe ask them again on my next appointment.I've been researching regarding the bone pain and I think it could be linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis which can correlate with IBS or similar conditions so I will also raise this as my joints/bones are very achy. I hope this isn't the case though, 33 with IBS and Arthritis from nowhere!
If you have any asthma, hay-fever or eczema in the family I think the rheumatoid prevalence is higher. Gp can check esr and rheumatoid factor which might give answers.Do you have any redness across your nose and checks?
Also, if you have fatigue as well as the other bits then vitamin d levels are a good punt
Yes I get lower back pain with my IBS , to be precise it's my left hip and back . I've had chronic pain half my life so I'm not sure if IBS is the cause of that. My GP has never been much help . I read that people have different tests, I have never been referred for anything. In my case you have IBS , you have chronic pain get on with it. Stress plays a big part with IBS , try not to stress . Easier said than done. I know. I'm glad your test results were all negative for anything more sinister.
Yes for some people alcohol can be a trigger. It is for me too
I had left sided hip and left sided lower tummy pain. I was told it was diverticulitis numerous times. Turns out it was a kidney stone. I questioned the GP and it turns out kidney pain and diverticular/ IBS pain can affect each other. Try to make sure the eliminate if you have a kidney stone.
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