Severe pain even when bowel symptoms not present? (On meds) - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

krismark · 12-29-2005, 02:29 PM

Hi everyone,

I am 28 years old and I have had IBS symptoms since I was a kid. In High School I skipped first hour almost every day so I could use the bathroom. Going anywhere in a car terrified me and being around people who didn't understand my bowel habits always made things worse. I have even had a couple "accidents" when I wasn't close enough to a bathroom.

In the last few years my IBS symptoms have seemed to lessen and I have been able to control when I have to go to some extent. However, about 3 years ago I started having pain in my lower left pelvic region. I got an ultrasound and it turned out I had ovarian cysts (even though I am on birth control which is used to help prevent cysts). I had another ultrasound 3 months later and the cysts were gone but the pain was still there.

Over the last 3 years I have had lower abdominal pain (on both sides) on and off, and in the last year it has been pretty constant and severe. I went to a GI Doc about 6 months ago who put me on Robinul Forte which has made my bowel movements solid and non-urgerent, and besides having more gas than a normal person, I feel like my bowel movements are pretty normal now. I don't get that "sick" feeling in the pit of my stomach and the rumbling that I used to have when a BM was imminent. Still, I have severe pain in my abdomen.

My pain is getting worse every month. I have migraines, nausea, low back pain, painful sex, hip pain that radiates into my legs, bladder pain when my symptoms are bad and especially when I wake up or do exercise, and I feel tired from dealing with it all the time. I have had a CT scan done, an IVP, blood tests, etc. and the GI doc sent me away with a diagnosis of IBS, but said I needed to go back to my regular doctor for the pain.

It seemed as if he was saying that if the bowel movement symptoms are better with the Robinul, then the pain isn't IBS. I am going to get checked for Endometriosis, but one of my doctors said he didn't think I had Endo because I have pain all month and because I have pain in different spots on different days.

Does anyone else have severe pain even when they don't have the (bowel) symptoms of IBS present?

Perry2 · 01-02-2006, 10:52 AM

I have never had the D or C symptoms that most people get with IBS but the pain is frequent, and USUALLY either tied to stress or what I have been eating. I experience bladder pain and pain in the groin area but not far down my legs although I have heard of some that do. I am on Apo Chlorax which I don't find particlarly effective but I haven't given it much time yet. Even though stress is a big trigger for me, it was actually only after a very stressful period in my life rather than during it that the symptoms came on and they have not gone away.

I was going to try hypnotherapy but the psychologist I chose seems to be more interested in conventional psychoanalysis and it appears that the effective hypnotherapists have an IBS specific program they use. I am now going to try "cognitive therapy" through another psychologist and has a good reputation for success. Since the IBS does not seem to be tied to an actual injury or inflammation problem like colitis, and since so many of us have a stress link to the discomforts I am hoping for success without medication.

I honestly don't see myself as in need of "therapy" but I accept that I now have a mental link with my digestive tract that wasn't there before. I think that if one can sever or interfere with this link the spastic colon problems might subside.
I have IBS type symptoms but also Gastritis so I have two distinct probems to deal with that make for an interesting diet. Your case, given you also have migraines and fatigue, sounds something like IBS and Fibromyalgia(altho Fibro people usually have sleep problems) and if that is the case you might not be able to get relief from all your symptoms by treating only the IBS. FYI Psychotherapy is also on the treatment list for Fibro but is costly. I am only going to try it because I have coverage through my employer. I have nothing to lose.

Please let us know how your treatments progress.

gel2005 · 01-03-2006, 11:01 AM

I would diffinately look into Endo. I went to the Dr with severe pain in my left side too. They found a 7&1/2 cm cyst on my left overie. I too was on bcp pill when it happened. They pain never went away. They did a Lap on me to check for endo and I did not have it. My OBGYN suggested IBS and a couple weeks ago a gp suggested the same thing. The Strange thing is that while I was pregnant I had less symptoms then I do now. Just hemroids, but not near as much as I do now or did before. No pain in my left side. Hope you find your answers! Best luck to you!

cl51630 · 01-10-2006, 07:46 PM

i also have very painful ibs-d, i get lower back pain and hip,leg pain too. i tought it was a cyst on my overy also was checked by us. came back clear. i also suffer from severe migraines. i take elevil for ibs and relpax for migraines. ive had a bad week had major pains in upper ab area under rib cage and really bad cramping on left side. im in pain everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it stinks.

threethings · 01-11-2006, 07:18 PM

i've definitely had similar pain. i get the pain that is in the groin / folds of the legs and that pain also shoots down my legs. i haven't been checked for an ovarian cyst (i've had an internal but not an ultrasound) but i have been diagnosed with IBS but now they say i might have crohns! it's very difficult to deal with because it takes the doctors a while to figure out what causes all this pain. i feel for anyone that is in the kind of pain that i experience from time to time. keep your head up everybody! things will get better!