Hi. For the last few months I've had worsening abdominal cramp, and now backache. I've been to my GP several times and after various tests the GP has diagnosed IBS and prescribed mebeverine. I haven't had a colonoscopy, scan or endoscopy.
I think I'm just looking to find out more from others - can my symptoms really be IBS? I haven't had problems with bowel movements other than a couple of loose ones recently which I think are down to the anxiety I'm feeling. I've had aching and cramps intermittently in my lower abdomen and groin for weeks now. Almost always slightly to my right of centre. The last couple of weeks have also brought back ache in my lower back. Last but not least I've been tired but we have a 6 month old and I'm blaming him.
I'm terrified that this is something more serious, and if not, I'm sick of the symptoms and wondering when to expect to feel better! Any advice very welcome 🙂
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Upsidedownhead
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Hi, I have been experiencing symptoms for coming up three years. I've had countless tests which have all come back clear. I was diagnosed with IBS just over a year ago. I have some good periods and then can be hit with a bad one and then mentally I really struggle. I've changed my job as a result of it. I was on mebeverine but that enhanced my constipation. I assume you've had your bloods done and have you met with a Gastroenterologist yet?
The fear of being something more serious is a really vicious cycle. I live with it most days and then that leads to episodes of depression as I crave to go back the time when I wasn't experiencing these symptoms and constantly fearing the worst. There is such a strong connection between the gut and brain that makes it all the more difficult. I find it difficult to do exercise due to the pain in my lower back and I'm nowhere near as active as I once was. Anyway, my point of replying was to say that the symptoms you're experiencing are common and you're not alone. Stress plays a massive factor too. I'm aged 43 and have an 8 and 11 year old which brings daily challenges. It's a very difficult balance.
Hi, thank you for responding to me. I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time. I think it helps to talk about these things and to know others understand and you're not alone - your comment has helped me.
I'm 40 with two young children and the possibility of cancer has taken my mind to all sorts of places I don't want it to go. I'm active and had been healthy so this has come at me from out of nowhere. Earlier in the year I was feeling a little stressed with various things and I wonder if that has contributed.
I'm trying to get my head round the likelihood that my symptoms are IBS, and really I just want to know what's wrong with me!
I've had blood, urine and FIT tests. Everything is normal it seems, which should make me feel better, but my symptoms are only worsening. I've not seen a gastroenterologist, it sounds like I need to. GP has said take mebeverine for a few weeks, monitor symptoms and go back in 4 weeks. Not feeling very hopeful I'm afraid...
Honestly, reading what you've just said in your last post is like reading my own thoughts. It's hard to fully accept that it is IBS and not something sinister. For me being a parent of two young boys has enabled me to experience a love I didn't know was possible so I think this only enhances those worries of it being something dreadful. We also now live in a time where we hear so many horror stories of what others have had to go through. My phone is fully aware that I have health anxiety and I'm petrified of the C word. So stories will regularly pop up on my feed and has the potential to set me off all over again.
My symptoms began in December 2020, and eased of for the first part of 2021 then I had Covid in August 2021 and it's never really gone away and unfortunately, I have never fully got to grasp with it. My advice to you would be to not take no for answer with the GP. I ended up going to the walk in centre one afternoon whilst at work as I was in a right state and ended up having a panic attack. This episode fast tracked me to have a colonoscopy. I have also had an MRI, 2 CT scans, numerous blood tests and stool samples. And it is probably only now that I am beginning to get my head around that it is IBS. I have moved countries and changed my job all because of it and the impact it was having on my mental health. I was a Deputy Head in my previous role and I think the stress of that job coupled with the bout of Covid have definitely played a key role in the development of my IBS.
All that being said, I think the power of talk is incredibly important. I have had CBT and recently started hypnotherapy. I noticed an improvement for a short period after the hypnotherapy. Unfortunately, the added costs that go with all of this doesn't help when you've a young family. Keep in touch.
Mebeverine absolutely made my IBS -C worse 30 years ago. I get severe back ache . Usually get relief from back ache after going to the loo so mine goes hand in hand with IBS . I saw back physio who said partially slipped disc. Paid out lots of money and it was no such thing.
Suggest getting your vitamin D and B vitamin levels tested. Research thiamine load testing. Magnesium is needed in the process for activation of vitamins D & B1 (thiamine). Search on " vitamins D & B1 deficiencies and IBS" as well as "SIBO Thiamine". Always consult your health care professional before using any supplement.
Hi I have had colonoscopy and endoscopy done which were clear,Iv last week had an mri scan on which I’m waiting on the results my gp has told me she thinks I have ibs as I suffer from all the symptoms ie cramping,bloating,constipation diarrhoea back pain,wind,my stomach is so distended I look as if I’m 6 months pregnant and it realy is affecting my life and more so my mobility as I feel extreme pressure on my stomach anytime I move which is realy worrying me,I just wonder if you know if that’s a common symptom of ibs,thank you
Having being diagnosed with IBS 7 years ago, I can certainly relate to the symptoms you have described. Even if you did have a colonoscopy etc. then I am pretty confident that the results would come back that everything is ok.
From experience of having to manage the IBS flare ups, the symptoms are constantly changing from day to day and I have experienced other symptoms as well. Whilst you haven't had any problems with bowl movements, this can change due to the amount of anxiety and stress you experience on a daily basis which will then in turn lead to an IBS flare up.
By the sounds of things, you are also experiencing both anxiety related to health, tiredness and probably stress with having a 6 month old child, which is probably the main contributor to the symptoms you describe. Therefore, if you want to get better then you will need to find ways of managing your anxiety and stress with self care. Get good quality sleep is also important but understandably may be a little challenging at present with having a small child. Be aware feeling better doesn't happen overnight and there will be a number of different things you will need to do to make you feel better!
It is very unlikely that your GP will send you for more tests as what you describe sounds like IBS. The GP can refer you to gastroenterology but waiting times in some places are around a year. If you can afford a one off appointment with a gastro consultant (find one that works at your local NHS hospital) they may decide you can have further testing (such as a colonoscopy) to alleviate your concerns. Plus, they may be more helpful with a treatment plan. As a rule of thumb, IBS gets used when all else is ruled out but due to the amount of people with the condition and NHS waiting times, people do not get offered further testing.
I have both IBS and IBD (patchy pancolitis). IBD for 25 years on and off and IBD 4 years. The latter diagnosed because I paid to see someone and they pushed through a colonoscopy back on the NHS as I had bad symptoms and lost 1 stone in 4 weeks. However, my FIT was normal from the GP and she refused to send me to see anyone from gastro so I did take matters in my own hands!
Sorry I cannot offer other advice - we are all different in terms of symptoms etc and IBS is a nasty condition that is little understood by those who do not have it!
Hi, I had similar symptoms to yourself, lost a stone in weight, night sweats, pain in stomach, feeling small nodules on my stomach and I convinced myself it was something sinister. This led to me having worse stomach pains and also pain in my back which I went to A and E about as I worked myself up so much I was at a loss.My mental health was shot and I did have a lot of stress at the time in hindsight with moving house, 3 kids, a poorly dog, work etc.
Ended up having urines, bloods, stools and a MRI scan all came back clear and was then diagnosed with IBS.
The anxiety of thinking it's something more sinister definitely affects symptoms and your mental health.
Try and take it for what it is and see if it improves your symptoms, ibuprofen helped me massively with the aches and pains which also made me realise they must be related to inflammation - a side effect of stress.
I also tried limiting certain foods but I'll be honest I struggled with it as I have such a sweet tooth, I think wheat and particularly white pasta causes my stomach to play up. I'll
I've recently been experiencing sore joints and constant aches and shooting pains in my bones which Im not sure are related to the IBS but am putting off calling the GP as I felt silly when they only told me it was IBS after everything I've just mentioned.
Funny you mention the aching joints and shooting pains, it's exactly what I'm currently suffering with aswell, from my arms down to my legs just at random intervals and only started in these past 2/3 weeks. I've also had a very stressful year. Seems some of it can be put down to stress, though mine did start from having gastroenteritis.
Just wanted to say thank you for the Ibuprofen suggestion. GP had suggested only Paracetamol but that seemed to do nothing. Taking Ibuprofen since I saw your post does seem to have taken some of the discomfort away.
I would have thought a colonoscopy should be done to cover everything, as your symptoms worsening. You mentioned the GP had done tests - did you have a FIT bowel test? Under the circumstances, a referral to a Gastroenterologist would be a good idea as clearly your symptoms are causing a lot of anxiety for you and you need a definitive diagnosis to put your mind at rest.
Assuming that all of these tests have been performed and come back clear, there is no need for further tests.
Unfortunately, IBS can feel serious, since it can adversely impact your day to day existence. However, from a medical perspective if it's not one of the 3 'Cs' (chrons, colitis, the big 'C'), they downgrade it - even though the symptoms can be very debilitating.
You may find my answer to this post helpful to help you manage it:
Hey, just want to let you know that your situation is tough and unfortunately only you will ever know what it's like you go through it. I will say though that you aren't alone in this, I started with gastroenteritis in December and after blood tests, stool tests and a FIT tests has now turned into IBS, and now awaiting the long referral time to see a gastroenterology specialist.I have a 4 year old, and those long nights with a baby can be a lot so I can't imagine how much harder it has been with IBS on top of it, but best advice I can offer with try to live for today. The more you try to live for tomorrow, and worry about what's next the more stress will keep exacerbating the issues too. Try and keep your mind busy the best way possible even if it's just reading a book on your phone for 5 minutes when you feel discomfort or anxiety just so your not putting your attention on the problem if that makes sense.
In the mean time also, as your doctor for any medication to try and aid you such as peppermint oils on prescription or alverine/simeticone as an example. May help shift the trapped feeling in areas like the right centre.
Only going off my experience up to now and health with mental issues with others and myself for over 14 years now so have a good understanding how mind affects the body too. Hope you manage to get your rest where you can and try your best to breath, it's the basic sometimes we forget (I know I got fed up of people telling me this)
Try to keep eating small and often, I've lost a lot of weight and hate for the same to happen to you because of your situation too.
Best of luck and hopefully you get some satisfaction soon from medical system.
Join the club. I am 79 and as life goes on, money is tighter than my wife and I have had before and so you worry more about things that you didn`t before covid etc. My IBS is worse now than I have known it, anxiety pains in the chest and on comes the runs. I have had most of the tests again and again with nothing serious showing up and I have to live with it and it`s not nice. One day the world will accept that IBS etc is one of the worse medical conditions we have to live with. Try to keep calm ( easier said than done) and accept that it will not go away any time soon and things my get slightly better. I feel for you and all others. It comes to something when I am glad I`m old and won`t have to deal with this much longer. Hope you feel better soon.
I am sorry to hear that it is having such an effect on you and I hope you're OK. It seems that Ibuprofen and getting to grips with my fears is helping me today! Hopefully that continues. Thought I would just say thank you for replying to me, and that reading your comment and others on here have genuinely helped me.
Thank you all for the responses, it seems like I've stumbled across a very friendly community here!
Thought I would add a bit more to what I put initially. I had a testicle lump that I got checked out in February, and a lot of worrying about that. It wasn't anything too sinister but that was when I started noticing a faint, dull ache in lower right abdomen. Since then it has gradually increased to the point that I now have uncomfortable cramps just below waist line, stiff lower back, occasionally achey groin and occasionally bloating/indigestion feeling in my stomach. I've had urine, stool, FIT and blood tests and all have come back normal. This sounds just the same as many other people.
Reading the responses my thinking is that the anxiety regarding the lump has kicked off an IBS flare up (which I've never had before), and that has worried me even more and that in turn has worsened the symptoms.
Getting all of that straight in my head has been helped massively by the comments I've had so far - thank you all so much. It has been more helpful than the advice from my GP, not that I blame them as they have a difficult, busy job.
I'm hoping if I can ease my mind a bit, the IBS will calm down. Stress at work and home won't help but that's par for the course for us all these days I think!
Just to add that you may have a kidney stone so ask to be checked for that to be eliminated. I was shocked to find I had one on top of IBS/Diverticular disease . I passed it and a lot of the crampy pains disappeared. Still have the IBS ache but massive difference.
Reading all of this does help in many ways. I have had IBS for about 5-6 years. I have had all the blood tests, plus a couple of FIT tests and a number of scans which all came back normal. I tried Mebeverine which didn’t help me much and now have a small dose of Amitriptyline. I have pain starting in my stomach and then moves down to the lower right side. The pain at times is unbearable and then I start worrying that it is something serious. It helps to hear that others feel the same so thank you all for the support this forum gives.
You may want to ask your GP for a referral to a Gastro provider so they can assess your symptoms more deeply and give you a definitive diagnosis. I had a colonoscopy in 2023, and nothing abnormal was found, which put my mind to rest about Celiac, Chrons', cancer, etc.
I've been having daily abdominal pain and will be seeing a third gastro provider today. Continue searching and finding answers until you feel satisfied. Let the healthcare system work for you and not the other way around.
I have had the same symptoms I have had colonoscopy and endoscopy and numerous scans etc
Which resulted in me even paying because the pain was in my lower right side and I thought it might be something gynaecological but that was all fine my doctor suggested going on anti depressants but I’m not sure about that I’m not depressed just fed up with ibs this has been going on for two years But I try to stay positive keep busy and I find walking helps. My pain is worse when sitting
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