Hello all and thank you for taking the time to review my posting and help me out. There must be others that are in my situation and have the same problems i have. I am in dire need of some help.
Basically, the story goes. I have been sick for about 3 years with consistent pain in my lower abdomin. I have been tested for EVERYTHING! I have had colonoscopy, endoscopy, hydrastat testing (I think that is how it is spelled), blood work, cat scan, X-Rays, I even swallowed a camera!! Every test comes back NEGATIVE!!! It is very frustrating. At least I know it isn't a tumor or anything serious, but this is getting ridiculous! I am nauseaus, tired, sore and in pain ALL the time. I have tried practially every medicine out there and nothing helps. I take fiber supplements, take vitamins, and anything else I can get my hands on that may help...lol
I am tired of being in pain and feeling horrible. This is effecting my relationship with my husband and my relationship with work. I don't ever want to go for I don't want to sit at a desk for 9 hours a day, but obviously I have to go. My co-workers are sympathetic but I know they are getting fed up with me contantly working form home or looking and feeling like crap while on the job.
I go to a GI docter, my GP, my gyno, and no one can figure out what is wrong with me. They even took out my Gall bladder, but that didn't help! Granted that did take away the stabbing pain I had but not the contant dull ache I always have. Basically, after they have doen all those tests, they are now saying IBS...which seems to me that it is the catch all diagnosis. If they don't know what it is, it is IBS.
It is so hard to verbalize this feeling. I use to say it is like gas pains times 100 but it is not always like that. Sometimes the pain feels like it is right under my skin, other times it is deep inside and does get relief (a bit) after a bowel movement. Not all the times though. The mornings seem to be the worst. I wake up or am woken up from the pain. I am doubled over in the fetal position until the painkillers kick in. Then I go on with my day. For the last 5 months I have been consistently taking painkillers about 3 - 4 times day and am now afraid that I am going to get / or already are addicted to them. My GI doctoer doesn't want me to take the painkillers for they can cause constipation, but they are the ONLY thing that gets rid of the pain and lets me get to work. I don't want to take painkillers all the time and would absolutely LOVE an option, but none has been suggested to me that work.
Please please please help me. I live in the CT area and currently do not have insurance. If you know anyone in the tri-state area that may specialize in this problem, please send me their info. My health insurance just expired for I was on Cobra. I am a project management consultant by day looking for a full time job with benefits. So I would need to work with the doctor, but at this point I am willing to put a second morgage on the house if someone can get rid of this pain....lol
Thank you for your help. I greatly appreciate any advice you can offer.
Lainie 33, I totally understand were you are coming from been there done that, I could go on and on with you all day but it would only be a repetition of your problems. It may sound strange but it some what helped me with the presistant agony in the gut. "Pepermint oil" I got it at the health food store and began taking it during those days when its just unbearable, Sore gut, cramping, the no relief after a bowl movement. Its not very expensive and may help till something else "break through" comes along. Sorry, I do feel you pain. Hope this may help a little.
HI, first off, Let me say that I am sorry to hear of your symptoms. This is all new to me, I have just joined this board. But I noted your posting right off due to the name ...
I too have been plagued with stomach/bowel symptoms for some time. I am recovering from a huge brain tumor, subsequent surgery and treatment afterward. Due to all the drastic medications I have had to take for the last two years, my stomach / bowel is feeling the effect. While it was great they saved my life, I wish I felt better too. You don't mention that you have diarrhea. Unfortunately that is one of my problems too. I sometimes have to take six imodium in the AM just to get going in the morning. I finally went back to the doctor and he prescribed tests plus something called Welchol. I took it and laid down and an hour later I am thinking, "Well, another medication with no relief" . Then I fell asleep for several hours.. I woke up, and right away I said to myself, "OMG, this is the first time in FOREVER that I can remember my stomach/bowels not bothering me or causing me pain' .. I hadn't even realized how badly my stomach was hurting me until it was taken entirely away! I feel like I have found the magic cure.
So, after feeling that way for an hour or so, I -= of course -- have to take my medication regime again (A total of 15 medications!, including PHENERGAN to fight my nausea frm so many of them), and I eat half a dozen Saltines to help them go down a little betrter. Within a couple of minutes, comes back the old pain and feeling.... Reading up on Bile Salt Diarrhea, this makes since, I have put something back in my stomach and since I cannot take the Welchol at the same time as my other medications, I don't have the help from it. And since I have had only one dose of it, i haven't built up any in my system.
But glory.... I see relief for me. I am lookng forward to being able to take the medication in an hour... and think I have found somthing to help me....
A moral to my looong note... Sometimes you just have to try this drug or that drug until they figure out what works for you. You know...your system isn't like anybody elses, and what is a cure for someone else, may not work for you. Don't lose hope, it can and will get better.
And something I kept saying to myself over the last two years of my (what I call) trials and tribulations, DON'T BE DISCOURAGED, IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE>.... LOL..... At times that I thought I couldn't go on, my wonderfully sweet hubby would remind me, well, considering the alternative baby (my gi ving up and dying ) , we should consider us lucky...
I know that sounds trite and condescending, but it does help to keep a good humor about the bad things that happen to us....
Thank you very much for your posts and your suggestions. I will try the peppermint oil and the Colocynthis 30c. I assume I can get both at a health foods store. Thank you for the suggestions and the empathy.
BrainTumrSvr - Thank you for your post as well. Your story has touched me. That is wonderful that you survived a brain tumor and keep going with a sense of humor and the support of your husband. You definitely have to have that, and I haven't lost that yet. I do realize my situation could be worse, but it just soooooooo frustrating not knowing what is wrong and always feeling horrible. But you do inspire me to not give up and keep searching. Thank you again for telling me your story and I wish you the best of luck with your recovery. Hopefully we all will find that "miracle" cure...lol
Lainie33: I’m not sure how much personal research you have done on IBS, but maybe I can save you some footsteps (Don’t every stop checking into new ideas) You know that IBS is a neurological disorder and that the research is limited towards it and even more so with the new administration, so WE are kind of on our own, not trying to depress you just the facts. I’ve spent countless hours surfing the net and talking fellow students, nurse practitioners, and a few Dr’s that would listen, and still nothing but dead ends. I have cornered ever employ at the local health food store to the point that they run and hide when they see me come in, but they have been more help than anyone else. Another “homeopathic” help that impressed me was “clostrium” this seems to help with the regeneration of intestinal cell along with some of the probiotics, (activia) has been a good one for me. Yea I know “I said that it is neurological” but this disorder triggers the intestinal cells into confusion and everything seems to get out of balance. I personally think when it gets to this point “these are the days it is unbearable”. Hang in there its going to get better, in other words you will learn to control “it” not it controlling you!! Beware there are a lot of gimmicks on the market and all they will do is steal your money. Think about it if these advertised “quote cures” were for real the Dr’s would scoop them up before they hit the market.
BrainTumrSvr: Impressive post, my wife is a nurse and I am a nursing student she works in ER and see’s lots of bad things every day and I hear about then on a daily basis. You don’t know how good it makes us feel to hear a survivor story this is why we perused this field in the first place, to help people. The reason that I am responding to you is, I am curious did your IBS begin after you tumor operation? Since IBS is neuro I wonder if there is some sort of link? You hang in there it makes me tingle to hear a story like this.
googlefreak1 - Thank you for the info and the suggestion. I actually was not aware that this is a neurological disorder. None of my doctors told me that... I was even going to a neurologist for migraines and he didn't say anything about the problems I was having.
Thanx for your suggestions. I will hit the health food store this week and try some of your suggestions.
Is there any homeopathic remedies that help with energy? I know that if I started to work out again, I would probably start to feel a little better, but I have absolutely no energy to get up and work out. Any suggestions for that would be greatly appreciated as well.
Lainie 33 Hi hope your having a good day “minimal pain” the best thing to do is get to the health food store, find someone who will listen probably a “Nutritionist” there is usually one around and bend their ear!! that’s what they are there for, and they can probably suggest something for you energy needs.(I just take a multivitamin seems to help a lot) Exercise will dramatically help you situation, I will try to explain the reason for your condition “IBS’. You probably know how your gut works but if not, what happens is as your food is propelled through your digestive system through Peristalsis (the rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract.) your food is moved with a combination of segmentation and Peristalsis. when the food gets to a non specific place in the bowel the sync gets thrown off and instead of a one way direction it start going back the other way “back and forth” this is were the cramping comes in. With the back and forth movement the food “chyme” can go either way hard or soft, (due to many different factors this can get very in-depth so I’ll make it brief). This can explain for the hard stools that are sticky, ribbon or pencil shaped, well you getting the picture……… So fiber does help there are two types water soluble and water insoluble, the jury is still out on which is the best, so you will need to determine that for yourself through trill and era (everyone is different). Whatever you do or try, give it a reasonable amount of time to see if it’s going to work for you. Keep a diary of what you eat and your pain status “Everyday” and you will soon figure out your trigger foods. Mine are chocolate, caffeine, milk, beans and did I say CHOCOLATE my favorite. Oh well pain or pleasure what will it be? Please keep me posted and if you hear of a real cure that works 100% of the time YOU BETTER LET ME KNOW. Oh yea try to get away from the pain killers they make the constipation worse. Take care and good Luck!!
My wish would be to be able to answer FINE when someone asks me how I am. To wake up in the morning and feel good...not nauseous or crampy or just bleh. To have something other than the toilet as my best friend....
I too suffer from intense pain in my lower abdomen. It feels like labor pains and I actually do lamaze breathing thru it. My doc told me that most likely my intestines are twisting when I feel that pain. When I had a colonoscopy done, I damn near jumped off the table from the pain when he hit a twist.
I found that avoiding most raw fruits and veggies has helped but I think the best thing I ever did was start taking acacia fiber daily. I have IBS-D so the fiber absorbs a lot of the liquid but most importantly, gives my intestines something to squeeze upon. Mind you, I've tried almost every other brand of fiber out there with no success, most of them made my D worse.
Doctors are no help, its boards like these that you get info and most importantly, someone that listens and understands your problem, not only what its doing to you physically, but emotionally.
I hope you find something that starts easing the pain.
SB
p.s. the next time a big wall of pain just cripples you, try 'blowing up your tummy'....meaning inhale deeply so your abdomen rises/inflates and hold it a few seconds. I find that sometimes helps.
Any of you try a probotic? It helps to calm the intestines and equalize the good and bad bacteria. I use Align which you can purchase at a drug store.
I was going through the same symptoms but thanks to align it has gooten a hundred percent better. Good luck to all and I can only wish Align can work this good for you too. Linda
Googlefreak - Thanx for the information. I didn't really know what was going on. Actually I am not sure if it is actually IBS, because my understanding is that there is not a definitive test that says "you have IBS". My doctor said it is most likely IBS bbecause I was tested for everything else and they all came back negative.
I know I need to write everything down, but it is so hard to do so. I always forget for I get so busy at work, then I am trying to remember what I ate during the whole day... and sometimes the next day. I did try it before but it didn't work out very well. I am trying to take the fiber supplements like benefiber to see if that helps. I wasn't able to get to the health food store this weekend, for I was sick with the stomache bug that is going around. On top of everything else I am dealing with I get sick with the stomache bug...lol Just put me in the HOME!! I tell you..
As for the painkillers, I know they cause more constipation, but right now the cons outweigh the pros of stopping them. I don't have insurance right now and instead of taking 5 other meds I am just taking the one painkiller to help until I get more insurance. Once I get insurance, I will be weaning myself off the painkillers.
Seabell - Thank you for your advice about the fiber and the breathing technique. I will try that next time. I feel the same way. I actually jave to force myself to be happy and cheerful while at work so people don't get a bad impression of me. I will not be the one that is always sick. Sometimes that is much harder than you would think. Dealing with this pain and smiling and participating in meetings is not fun. It is helpful though to have boards like this. Knowing I am not the only one dealing with this is reassuring. I was getting worried when they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me.
Linda in NJ - I actually have been taking Align for the last few months and it hasn't really helped. Don't know why I am still taking it...lol. I guess I am afraid that if I stop it will get worse. lol. I have taken so many things that I don't even know anymore what works.
Thanx again everyone for your advice. Anyone else that has any advice, please feel free to comment.
I am now going through the same thing you’re going through and have been for two years now. They have also taken my gallbladder out and it helped a little too, but I still have pain. I did realize that the pain med I was on was not helping. I was taking Hydrocodone. It helped with the pain but it also made it worse. I stop taking it and switched over to ultram. The pain wasn’t so severe after the switch. I still have pain and nausea a lot. The GI said I have IBS and Crohn’s. The stupid thing is they can’t find where the Crohn’s is. So is it really Crohn’s. The GI said my blood was consistent with other Crohn’s patient’s blood. I have times where I can’t work for two days because I get so sick and in so much pain. I haven’t done that camera thing because my insurance will not pay for it. Are you taking a pain med that could be to strong for your stomach to handle? And every time I get a stomach bug on top of what I have, I end up at the ER. The doctors and nurses know me up there now lol.
Hi - It's amazing and kinda reassuring that I am not the only one dealing with these issues. It's frustrating though that they can't figure out what is wrong with us. I have been taking oxycodone (which is a little stonger than Hydrocodone and doesn't have the aspirin in it). I know this doesn't help with the constipation, but it helps with the pain so for now I have to continue. If I take alot of aspirin I know that effects my stomache. For a while I was taking Ultrasept and/or Ultram, but those have now stopped helping. And without insurance, I am left to only the painkillers and holistic treatments. They tested me for Crohn's as well but they say that came back negative. It is just so frustrating not knowing and feeling this way all the time.
Thanx for your comment and good luck with your pain!
Lainie33 Have you tried a colon cleanse? If you haven't its probably not the horrible picture you have in your mind. When I got to this point I thought "I don't have anything to lose" Whats going to change? My relationship with the toilet! When I tried the colon cleanse this is where I finally got some control of my IBS. Most of the cleanses suggest that you eat only organic during the cleanse. I know its more EXPENSIVE, but its probably cheaper than 1 Dr visit, and for me it was worth the $26 for the cleanse and $75 of organic food. I probably sound like a "PAID customer" but this really made me feel better and more energy too. Good luck and give it some serious thought.
When you go in for a colonoscopy you drink this stuff that clears out your whole digestive system, so they can see it clearly. If she had this done then she has been cleansed out.
Hi Google Freak - I have had colonoscopys and endoscopys but I haven't tried the "colon cleanse" you do on your own. They did make me drink that icky stuff and of course the day before the procedure is the worst... Maybe I will think about the colon cleanse. Is it the same type of activities as the day before the colonscopy? I don't know much about it, don't you need to be near a toilet and fast when you do one of these? or I guess eat organically as you suggested...
Hey Lainie 33
There are many different brands of “colon cleanse” out there and they are all just a little bit different from each other but for the most part the same. The only place that I found one that I was comfortable with is at the health food store, I guess because that the Nutritionist was there to answer any questions that I had. As far as hanging out with the toilet for days in my case it wasn’t at all like that and for other people that I discussed the cleanse with they seemed to have the same story. Like I said before “it’s not what you are thinking it is”. You can talk to someone at a Health food store and they can get into detail with you and explain it better. Trust me you won’t be asking any questions they haven’t heard before. Also it isn’t harsh like the “icky stuff” you had to take for the colonoscopy. As far as the organic goes that is your own choice “not mandatory” for the cleanse. Just purges your system better. Also have you been keeping a diary of what you eat to narrow down the enemy, I know it’s a pain in the *#@ but do it doesn’t have to be perfect just so you know and can pinpoint the problem foods.
“Good Luck” and keep me posted.
Lainie,
First, "colon cleanse" is a complete rip off. They charge you a fortune for something that is basically a laxative. You would do just as well with a few senna tablets or a $1.25 bottle of magnesium citrate. However, if you wanted to have a colonic done by a professional, that would definitely be an option for C. As another poster already stated, if you took the pre-colonoscopy prep meds, you've already been cleaned out.
You haven't stated which you suffer with - D or C? There is a huge difference in treatment for each. It's hard to make any recommendations without this info.
Regarding pain killers: I can't begin to imagine HOW a pain killer would even work on IBS pain. To be honest, most pain killers are not effective at directly targeting isolated pain, which is how IBS operates - pain focused in and around the abdomen. At the risk of sounding completely out of line, I would suggest that your use of pain killers may be mostly psychological or neurological; that is, they are suppressing the anxiety and stress with an anesthetic. Maybe they quiet the part of the brain that stimulates the gut - don't know but in 35 years of dealing with severe IBS, I have NEVER had a doc prescribe oxycodone for my gut. In fact, 98 percent of them would advise against taking such a strong med due to the gastro effects it will have. IF the pain killers are actually working on the pain, you may be correct in your suspicion that you don't have IBS. Perhaps there is something else going on that has yet to be diagnosed.
In any event, taking pain killers for an extended length of time is going to do much more harm than good. Anyone dealing with IBS for a period of time knows that the frustration gets us to the point where we just don't care; we are doing whatever we must just to survive. For me, my severe C DRIVES me to take laxatives periodically, despite the fact that I KNOW they are not going to further my progress in getting and feeling better. It's a temporary solution that makes me feel better for the moment - but a long term solution it ain't. With pain killers, you have an even bigger issue in that not only are you screwing with your digestive system but you run the risk of developing a serious addiction. It is not going to be possible for you to find any natural resolution for your problem if you continue complicating the issue with these meds.
Hope that doesn't sound harsh but I can't emphasize enough how counter-productive narcotic use is. You will not have success with anything else you try if you continue suppressing natural digestive function with painkillers.
Hi Bellyblues, thank you for the information and the advice, and no you are not being harsh, just realistic. I understand why.
I am not sure what kind I have C or D... They never definitively diagnosed me with that, just said that it most likely is IBS because they have tested me for everything else under the sun and they all came back negative. All the IBS meds they gave didn't help the pain. Nothing they have given has helped with the pain so I am at a loss and take the painkillers to help. I know that I shouldn't be taking the painkillers and really don't want to for the reasons you have stated. My drs have suggested I stay away from them but they have not given a solution that will take the pain away so I don't have to take them. I know they cause constipation and could cause more problems than good but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place for they help me get out of bed, not be in pain and go to work. Without them, I don't think I could move. On top of the pain, I feel run down and crappy ALL the time. The painkillers help me feel better and get me moving. I am sure by now I am physically addicted to them and I am sure they are helping with anxiety and stress. My GI doctor has had me try everything to no avail. My GP has referred me to this specialist and that specialist to no avail, so in the meantime, he gives me the painkillers. My GI doctor knows but again until I have a solution, this is what I have to do. An added wrench into this whole thing is that my insurance stopped in January (I am a consultant and was paying cobra), I am looking for a full time job with benefits, but until I get one (and in this eceonomy who knows how long that will take), I have resigned to keep taking the painkillers and trying holistic approaches. I can't afford to keep trying different meds until I get insurance. The last time I went to my GP, he suggested I see a Gynocological Urologist for it may be an issue with my plumbing or something. I don't know if it is IBS or not, and kinda think it is not, But what it it?? I can't see the urologist until I get insurance so I am back to square one and the painkillers. It is a vicious circle that I really want to stop, but I don't know how to right now.
Maybe you can advise on what it may be based on my symptoms... I feel run down and just plain icky (medical term y-know) all the time. I get nauseous sometimes, my appetite is off where I am starving one minute and couldn't think of eating anything the very next minute. Or I have to eat sooo much to get satisfied then next time I eat, I only eat a few bites then I get full. I get dizzy, have headaches and/or migraines, body aches, muscle spasms, and then of course there is the pain. I have a constant dull pain in my lower abdomen all the time, with the occassional shooting/stabbing pain in my sides (both sides, but not at the same time). I am very gassy (which is just so very attractive) but I am not constipated (only occassionally). The pain sometimes subsides a bit after a bowel movement, but never after I urinate. The wierdest thing about the pain is that sometimes it also feels like it is just underneath my skin across my lower abdomen. Like if my internal organs were a balloon that had a towel covering it, something is scraping all over the balloon underneath the towel. LOL It is so hard to describe the pain I have... lovely visual image I have there I know...LOL Sometimes it is a gas pain times a 1000, other times I can't describe it...like the balloon pain...LOL
The last test I had was when I swallowed a camera. I was in there first thing in the morning, which is when my pain in at it's worst. I swallowed the camera, but I think by the time the camera passed through my system and made it to my lower abdomen, whatever caused the intense morning pain dissipated. Plus after a certain time in the day, I was able to eat and take my painkillers which I don't know if that would have affected what they have seen on the camera at the end of the day.
It has been going on 4 years I have been dealing with this. It came on very suddenly too. I woke up one morning and had the stabbing pain all the time over the constant ache. They took my gallbladder and the constant stabbing pain went away but the constant ache did not. I am at a loss and I am just frustrated!
Thank you again for your advice and suggestions. I greatly appreciate your help. This board has been helpful in the fact that I am not alone and other people have these pain issues that doctors can't figure out. I just wish you guys had a miracle cure as well. LOL
I'm still fairly new to the IBS thing so I can't help a lot.
It looks from your latest post that you aren't sure about IBS C or D. That leads me to believe that you aren't sure what they are. If that is the case, maybe I can help a bit. IBS C is IBS with constipation. IBS D is IBS with diarrhea. IBS A is IBS that alternates between C and D.
I have IBS A right now. Started as IBS D for about the first 4 months. My doctor defines constipation for me as going less than normal for you. I used to go regularly twice a day for most of my adult life. I'm now down to once a day or less. He defines that as constipation for me. He defined diarrhea as going more than normal, not just the loose watery stuff. I've had days when I was averaging between 7 and 20 times per day going.
The gas, pain, spasms, bloating all sound like they could be IBS.
Have you taken any anti-spasmotics for this? My spasms got bad around last January. I took an anti-spasmotic as needed for a while. It helped some, but not greatly. I then started taking it every night before bed. I have had fewer nights where I wake up with the spasms. I have also had fewer really bad spasms when I wake in the a.m. When I do have a.m. problems, I take a second morning dose. It doesn't keep all the pain away, but it has really helped with the severity of the gut pain. I use Hyoscyamine (brand name Levsinex) at a higher dosage, extended release version. For me, getting the spasms under better control has helped with the pain.
The other thing that I've done is eliminate a bunch of stuff from my diet. I've tried to stick with that pretty much for now. I figure I can try adding stuff back in after I have some control back.
Mountain Reader has already explained the difference between IBS C and D. Your doc doesn't have to tell you that - you can diagnose it yourself. Either you CAN'T go or you CAN'T STOP going. Alternately, you may go but never feel like you've gone enough. You may go and still feel like you have to go all day long. You might go 10 times on Tuesday and not at all on Wednesday. But through all of this, there is almost constant bloating, gas, pain, and cramping. With IBS, the issue of defecation and pain are inseparable. As gross and embarrassing as it sometimes may feel, this info is really important. Your posts describe the pain but they don't talk much about the bowel issues.
You said you're not constipated. Are you experiencing Diarrhea? Are you going normally, with no irregular or odd BM's? Is the pain unrelated to your bowel habits? Here are the criteria which docs use to determine IBS:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be diagnosed based on at least 12 weeks (which need not be consecutive) in the preceding 12 months, of abdominal discomfort or pain that has two out of three of these features:
1. Relieved with defecation; and/or
2. Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; and/or
3. Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool.
Symptoms that Cumulatively Support the Diagnosis of IBS:
1. Abnormal stool frequency (may be defined as greater than 3 bowel movements per day and less than 3 bowel movements per week);
2. Abnormal stool form (lumpy/hard or loose/watery stool);
3. Abnormal stool passage (straining, urgency, or feeling of incomplete evacuation);
4. Passage of mucus;
5. Bloating or feeling of abdominal distension.
Supportive Symptoms of IBS:
1. Fewer than three bowel movements a week
2. More than three bowel movements a day
3. Hard or lumpy stools
4. Loose (mushy) or watery stools
5. Straining during a bowel movement
6. Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement)
7. Feeling of incomplete bowel movement
8. Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement
9. Abdominal fullness, bloating, or swelling
As you can see, the emphasis is on how the colon works. There is very little focus on pain. In fact, there are quite a few folks who have been dx with IBS who have little or no pain at all related to this condition.
If the pain you experience is that debilitating and not related to your colon function, then you may have some other physical conditions yet to be diagnosed.
Symptoms such as:
Quote:
I feel run down and just plain icky (medical term y-know) all the time. I get nauseous sometimes, my appetite is off where I am starving one minute and couldn't think of eating anything the very next minute. Or I have to eat sooo much to get satisfied then next time I eat, I only eat a few bites then I get full. I get dizzy, have headaches and/or migraines, body aches, muscle spasms, and then of course there is the pain. I have a constant dull pain in my lower abdomen all the time, with the occassional shooting/stabbing pain in my sides (both sides, but not at the same time). I am very gassy (which is just so very attractive) but I am not constipated (only occassionally). The pain sometimes subsides a bit after a bowel movement, but never after I urinate. The wierdest thing about the pain is that sometimes it also feels like it is just underneath my skin across my lower abdomen. Like if my internal organs were a balloon that had a towel covering it, something is scraping all over the balloon underneath the towel. LOL It is so hard to describe the pain I have... lovely visual image I have there I know...LOL Sometimes it is a gas pain times a 1000, other times I can't describe it...like the balloon pain...LOL
... 
Yea I know “I said that it is neurological” but this disorder triggers the intestinal cells into confusion and everything seems to get out of balance. I personally think when it gets to this point “these are the days it is unbearable”. Hang in there its going to get better, in other words you will learn to control “it” not it controlling you!! Beware there are a lot of gimmicks on the market and all they will do is steal your money. Think about it if these advertised “quote cures” were for real the Dr’s would scoop them up before they hit the market.
