Nightime pain

[bourne62]

I had pain last night with my ibs and it has freaked me out as they say with ibs you dnot get pain at night. It was around 4 a.m. does anyone else experience waves of moderate pain at night.

I really would appreciate your replies as everything you read says it is a red flag sign

[Hidden]

Hi,

Yes, I sometimes get waves of pain in the early hours of the morning. My dietitian says it's actually gas passing through my system. I find the best thing to do is to force myself out of bed and walk around for a few minutes which usually shifts it.

[bourne62]

Thank you so much for your reply, I was finding it hard to understand when everyone says you don't get it with ibs. I do not get d or c just low left pelvic pain and pain in groin and thigh. Whereabouts do you experience your pain.

I am going to look up fodmap diet as yesterday I ate too much bread which I think made it worse

[Hidden in reply to bourne62]

I have pain in my lower abdomen particularly in the left hand side. Apparently this is the spot where the colon descends and where everything thats due to come out at some point, i.e. gas and/or wind, passes through.

As there are a lot of very misleading and just plain wrong items on the web about FODMAPs, my advice is to firstly follow this link: med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/... which takes you to Monash Uni in Australia where the diet was (and still is being) developed. If you have an iPhone there is an app you can download from there which is really useful for when you're out shopping or in a restaurant. Secondly, treat yourself to Patsy Catsos's book 'IBS - Free At Last' which gives excellent guidance and a plan to follow.

In brief, the diet cuts out 5 food groups initially for 2 weeks. If you've got a huge improvement at the end of that period, you know that most, if not all, of your triggers are in one, some, or all of those groups. You then 'challenge' each group in turn by reintroducing it into your diet and, hopefully, reaching some accurate conclusions. This worked for me, and, apart from a restricted diet, I now lead a normal life. I have found other triggers outside of the FODMAPs group, but these are easily identifiable once you've solved the initial problem. Hope this is useful, if you need more help let me know.

[rowantree]

Hi,

I often get pain during the night, and sometimes have to get up during the night to sit on the loo for awhile. So I guess there are exceptions to the rule!

[picturegoer]

I'm getting a lot of pain at night at the moment due to gas. I'm having a couple of nights a week where I'm awake for hours and hours and feel full of gas much of the day as well. I've tried all the usual stuff which is all my GP can suggest. I do get up and walk around. I don't have D or C most of the time. I've had ibs for more than 40 years, though the symptoms have varied. I did an elimination diet which suggested some improvement gluten free but it didn't last. So sorry not much help, except you are not alone!

[Nicia]

I get a lot of pain at night, Some of my worse moments,

[bourne62]

Thank you everyone, you have all really made me feel better. Had a good night last night so thanks again. It was just reading all the stuff about it does not happen.

Nicia, I too started with a gastrointestinal virus in August, violent diarrhoea passed out. Since then my lower digestive system has not been right. It is now centred quite specifically in one spot lower left and in groin, thigh, hip. Lots of gas. Have had ibs all my life but this I am sure was the results of the infection.

[kiwimiwi]

I was constantly waking up about 4 hours after going to sleep with horrific waves of pain so I told my doctor and she gave me amitriptyline to take before bed. I have had maybe six night attacks in the last 12 months. It takes a while to figure out the best dose to work, mine is 60mg and it works by relaxing the gut muscles.

[Yorkie1902]

My pain is mainly at night but I have assumed that it's because the anti-spasmodics have stopped working by then. I get mine from left to right, low down and it's so uncomfortable that it often keeps me awake from 2 until 5am. It's still there in the mornings and doesn't ease off until I have had a tablet and eaten breakfast. I'm still waiting to see a consultant, I've had no formal diagnosis yet but suspected ibs.

[zoelinaa]

Im awake every night around 4 am with pain I try and sit it out take some buscopan and half an hour later its gone