Basilides
10-06-2003, 01:19 PM
Hello fellow sufferers! :)For almost 4 years I have suffered a once-per-year devastatingly painful attack in my lower left side, with the pain spreading to my entire abdomen. It takes a week to heal. In-between major episodes I have a cuple of moderate episodes and several minor ones.
I had a colonoscopy 3 years ago in which a very few diverticula were discovered, and one non-precancerous polyp was removed. Since that time, I have religiously taken psyllium husk fiber supplements, kept my weight down, taken acidophilus pills, and have tried to drink more water.
I have maybe once in my life had constipation. Diarrhea has always been a problem, however.
The pain with these major episodes is so dramatic, that every time it happens I feel like something very dramatic must be wrong. Debilitating, excruciating...they have certainly raised my pain threshold significantly.
Sometmes these attacks are triggered by spicy foods, sometimes by a virus, sometimes by nothing in particular. Sometimes they are accompanied by a fever, and sometimes not.
The diagnosis teeters between Diverticulitis and IBS, but I just don't know. The condition seems to improve in a week whether I take antibiotics or not.
How severe is your pain level for IBS? (on a scale from 1 to 10) I can't help thinking that the pain is too significant for IBS. Please correct me if I am wrong!
I had a colonoscopy 3 years ago in which a very few diverticula were discovered, and one non-precancerous polyp was removed. Since that time, I have religiously taken psyllium husk fiber supplements, kept my weight down, taken acidophilus pills, and have tried to drink more water.
I have maybe once in my life had constipation. Diarrhea has always been a problem, however.
The pain with these major episodes is so dramatic, that every time it happens I feel like something very dramatic must be wrong. Debilitating, excruciating...they have certainly raised my pain threshold significantly.
Sometmes these attacks are triggered by spicy foods, sometimes by a virus, sometimes by nothing in particular. Sometimes they are accompanied by a fever, and sometimes not.
The diagnosis teeters between Diverticulitis and IBS, but I just don't know. The condition seems to improve in a week whether I take antibiotics or not.
How severe is your pain level for IBS? (on a scale from 1 to 10) I can't help thinking that the pain is too significant for IBS. Please correct me if I am wrong!
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Mary McCormick
10-06-2003, 06:51 PM
I just had a very bad episode of pain in my entire stomach that lasted all night and I thought for sure it had to be more than just IBS. I went to the doctor and he found nothing serious. Did blood work, stool, and I already had Colonoscopy. He said to just have fluids, jello for a while and then add light foods. He believed it was just IBS or some kind of bug in stomach. No fever or nausea. The pain was a l0 and I was thinking about going to ER, but I went to the doctor instead. Stress has a lot to do with your digestive tract. Hope you are feeling better
Basilides
10-06-2003, 09:42 PM
Hi Mary. Yes, I understand your frustration. I have had several "stomach viruses" in my life and nothing comes even remotely close to the pain of this experience...it is a "10" on the pain scale for sure! Can you tell me if the pain you experienced was in the stomach area or in the abdomen?
VeganLady
10-07-2003, 01:46 AM
If you are asking if IBS can be extremely painful, the answer is a big "yes"! I've had IBS for several years and I often (every couple months) get these cramps that are just like labor pains! I've had all the test, so I know it's nothing more serious than IBS. I'm on Donnatal now and doing much better. But IBS can be very painful, a 20 in my opinion!
Basilides
10-07-2003, 09:17 PM
Wow, thank you Vegan lady! It is nice to know you understand, but I'd rather you didn't have to go through what I go through.
And... so THAT's what labor pains are like. Whoa!
I think I'd despair if I had these episodes every two months like you seem to. I have a big one mayne once per year...I just saw my MD today and he is very confident that this was a Diverticulitis attack, so I am on antibiotics and antispasmodics.
Do you ever have a fever to accompany your bouts of pain?
And... so THAT's what labor pains are like. Whoa!
I think I'd despair if I had these episodes every two months like you seem to. I have a big one mayne once per year...I just saw my MD today and he is very confident that this was a Diverticulitis attack, so I am on antibiotics and antispasmodics.
Do you ever have a fever to accompany your bouts of pain?
ryanandmaran
10-08-2003, 09:59 AM
I also am not sure if I have irritable bowel syndrome or diverticulitis, but reading your posting made me feel better about the amout of pain it puts me in.
My doctor just diagnosed me with irritable bowel, but I wasn't so sure, just because none of the symptoms seem to match, so I thought diverticulitis might be the true diagnosis.
But another reason I had doubts about it being IBS is because I didn't think IBS sufferers felt as much pain as I do whenever I get one of my attacks. Mine happen once a month, and if your pain is a 10, I'd say mine would be a 7. It's not quite as bad as labor pains, but much, much worse than menstrual cramps. I also get nauseated, chills/fever, achy and sick, for about 2 or 3 days, and then I'm fine again, for another month.
Now that I know that this is a bowel problem, I've been taking the proper steps to try and make sure it doesn't happen again, so hopefully, it won't!
My doctor just diagnosed me with irritable bowel, but I wasn't so sure, just because none of the symptoms seem to match, so I thought diverticulitis might be the true diagnosis.
But another reason I had doubts about it being IBS is because I didn't think IBS sufferers felt as much pain as I do whenever I get one of my attacks. Mine happen once a month, and if your pain is a 10, I'd say mine would be a 7. It's not quite as bad as labor pains, but much, much worse than menstrual cramps. I also get nauseated, chills/fever, achy and sick, for about 2 or 3 days, and then I'm fine again, for another month.
Now that I know that this is a bowel problem, I've been taking the proper steps to try and make sure it doesn't happen again, so hopefully, it won't!
Basilides
10-08-2003, 10:17 PM
Hm. I might look for a second opinion since you get a fever, but I've been hearing that the pain level of Irritable Bowell is pretty severe. As I understand it, Irritable Bowel Syndrome occurs when the normal contractions of the colon to move stuff along occur in a disorderly fashion. That explanation connects with me, since I remember reading in some ancient history courses that the Sumerians used to torture people by placing stones on their tummies to create just that occurance...apparently one of the most painful things a person can endure.
But I do know that fever is more closely associated with Diverticulitis. On the other hand, the "once a month" regularity of your episodes is pretty disturbing. I could not handle this once a month. Is your Doc a Gastroenterologist?
But I do know that fever is more closely associated with Diverticulitis. On the other hand, the "once a month" regularity of your episodes is pretty disturbing. I could not handle this once a month. Is your Doc a Gastroenterologist?
sroman127
10-14-2003, 01:04 AM
I have had IBS for years. I used to get pain so bad that I would almost pass out when I had to go to the bathroom. I would literally have to lie down on the bathroom floor. I know I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. I have had four children, have panic disorder, had surgery on my neck in Feb., which I am facing another surgery and am in constant pain. I don't know about having bouts once a month. I live with it everyday, when I am not in pain, bloated, sick to my stomach it is an odd day! I was just on Nexium which actually seemed to help the IBS, for about 2 months, now it seems to make it worse. The bloating is awful, today my stomach is ok and tomorrow or even later in the day, I can't even put clothes on! Anyway, I am rambling, if I ever find something that helps I will certainly let everyone suffering with IBS in on the secret!
susan99
10-14-2003, 11:01 AM
Wow! I finally found a thread I can relate to. I also have IBS, a diagnosis given as a result of all my other tests coming back normal. I get my pain in the upper part of my stomach, most significantly under my right rib. I wound up in the ER when it first started happening because the pain was so bad. I definately can relate my pain to labor pains, in fact, that is how I describe it to people. Does anyone else get their pain in the upper part of their stomach?