Does this sound like IBS?

[Beelady]

Hi there, I am planning on seeing GP when I get back from my holiday but just wondered what the thoughts of people with on here with experience are. I've had a number of episodes, say around 6, over the past say 18 months - 2 years. I get extreme pain in lower abdomen where I feel I may pass out and then eventually this leads to an episode of really bad ,watery diarrhoea.

Once that has happened and the pain has settled I feel quite washed out and tired but that's it, no other d episodes or pain. Well maybe a bit of pain sometimes lingers for few hours but then it all stops. Am I right in thinking that if it was IBS then the flare ups tend to go on for days? So unlikely to be IBS?

[heartmatters1]

Hi. Sorry to hear you’re suffering. I have something similar, in that I quite often get overflow diarrhoea, which is caused by a blockage, which allows only the watery stuff to pass round it. This causes lots of cramping when bowels are trying to shift it. I had an episode recently & it was hours before I could go properly & was very painful. I have to be careful not to get constipated as I have severe diverticulosis, which can go to diverticulitis. I am in discomfort most of the time 😫. It is very debilitating & tiring and does leave me washed out - anyway that’s my story. I hope you can get help from your GP when you return .

Best wishes.

[BabsyWabsy]

Hi Beelady. Can you recall what you had eaten prior to these episodes? I ask because this happens to me if I eat too much sugar. I only recognised it after I was given a box of fudge and could not stop eating it. The feeling that you may pass out suggests that the vagus nerve is involved. My experience is very much like you describe.

[buggins55]

HI there IBS in my experience (IBSC for years) can last for hours or days the symptoms you describe sound pretty typical (I've had that myself) and certainly sounds like the vagus nerve being affected by the cramps It's so easy to get worried with IBS as the symptoms are so many and varied and can change but be aware that you are not alone in this

[Frasina]

The extreme pain could be spasms especially as you then get diarrhoea; it could well be related to a mini flare every now and then so it is possible you may have IBS. Best to see the GP and explain your symptoms...

[xjrs]

Probably best to wait for the outcome of your GP visit. It could be IBS and statistically this is more likely, but they will run tests to rule out other things to put your mind at rest. Always best to get checked out as you are doing.