Pain/flare up

[Poshy]

Although I have probably had IBS symptoms for years and years it has escalated for the past 3 months into something more permanent and painful. Is it usual to have constant pain, or maybe its cramps or spasms, a lot of the time or during a flare up? Although I am on low dose amitriptyline, mebeverine and take buscopan for this pain it can still penetrate this shield which worries me as to its might. Am I just covering up stuff or is this how it is please?

[edwangy]

You may have diverticular disease

[Reymondo]

Hi Poshy, I'm a bit like you. I have had what I would call a 'bad stomach' for almost 8 weeks now. I've never had a medical diagnosis for IBS but symptoms are very similar to those listed on the NHS website. I suffer terribly with health anxiety so this doesn't help ( I am on medication for my anxiety disorder) I had a colonoscopy approx 2 years ago which was as a result of abdominal discomfort and horrendous gurgling noises and this resulted in the removal of 2 benign polyps and a diagnosis of diverticula disease (not sure if this is the correct spelling) Following the colonoscopy I have been perfectly fine for over 2 years until January of this year. I now have constant abdominal discomfort and again this horrendous gurgling, with sporadic constipation. I went to the doctor approx 4 weeks ago and he gave me a 3 day course of antibiotics for a water infection - which surprisingly did absolutely nothing. I then bought myself some over the counter peppermint oil capsules which lasted about 5-6 days which didn't help either. I went back to my surgery to see a different gp and she said it was possibly a diverticulosis flare up so gave me a 5 day course of antibiotics, which again unfortunately have not helped. She also arranged for me to do a FIT test which has come back normal and I have blood tests booked for later this month. I have been taking some milk of magnesia to see if this helps relieve my symptoms and to hopefully help to keep things moving in the bowel department - albeit slowly. This morning however I had a bout of the worse diarrhea I have ever had in my life - and possibly the first to be honest as it's not something I've ever really suffered with, but even since this episode the discomfort and gurgling is still hanging around. I don't know what is going on and what if anything I should be taking.

I am going away for a weeks holiday tomorrow and at the moment am not looking forward to it, fortunately the holiday is in the UK.

I would just like a medical expert to put a name to what I'm feeling as it's making me so miserable and anxious.

I admire your staying power for seeing my post through to the end! Good luck to you and hope you start feeling better soon.

[Sharz1705 in reply to Reymondo]

Hi Reymondo,

sorry to hear what you have been going through. I too am due to have a FIT test and have a blood test booked for next week. My IBS manifests mostly as diarrhea rather than constipation. I recently started a dose of Mebeverine, which is working to some extent, but not completely. Also, like you, my stomach has a habit of making noises throughout the day, which others find mildly amusing, but make me very self-conscious. As already mentioned, maybe start a food diary to see if you can spot anything. And relaxation techniques can't do any harm. Good luck.

[Kelill]

sorry to hear that. As others have said it could be diverticulitis or something else. I’d recommend going back to your GP for referral to gastroenterology.

In the meantime might be worth reviewing and eliminating anything you think might have triggered /be contributing to flare up.

Guided meditation or gentle yoga/breathing might help you relax as constant pain is so stressful.

Good luck