Lower Bowel Distress

I haven't posted much in this forum as my main dx is lupus - but my current rheumy has diagnosed me with fibromyalgia as well. I've been having a lot of severe and very painful cramping in my lower bowels - colon - below the belly button, followed by an almost instant need to empty my bowels. This seems to occur 15-20 minutes after eating, but is *not* tied to any specific foods or habits. The urgent need to empty doesn't hardly give me time to get to the bathroom, even if I'm at home - and the volume is *huge* - like a few days worth, yet I'm not constipated. The rheumy is saying that this kind of "irritable bowel syndrome" is part of fibro and that nothing can be done about it -- that no diets will help, and that medications are merely palliative. I've looked thru this forum and not seen any reference to similar issues -- have any of you had this, read about it, heard about it, etc? I would love to know if this is actually a common part of fibro or if it's just this drs opinion. Thanks for any comments or pointers ya'll come up with,

I'm sorry Lynn that you are going through this. I don't have any comments to make on the subject unfortunately, but I do know that bowel upsets are very uncomfortable and inconvenient. I used to suffer from ibs before my back surgery some thirty years ago and I had terrible stomach distress similar to what you are describing, so I think I know how you feel and once again, you have my sympathies.

Let us know how things turn out and feel better Lynn.

Gentle Hugs,

Lindaloo

lynwood,

unfortunately, i know exactly what you are going through. I have been diagnosed with IBS, as I started at my Gastroenterologist before he referred me to a rhuemy where I received my fibro diagnosis. I will just tell you a little bit...then we'll get back to you...it started when i went to the emergency room because i was kealed over in pain, gave me antibiotics and vicodin and sent me home. I was back 4 days later because i was out of pain meds and it still hurt. turns out, i had a cyst on my tube and endometriosis...however, the IBS set in (so now, i am skeptical of how much was due to the cyst and endo, but whatever). So, having had GERD before (i had surgery) i called up my gastro doc and we tested EVERYTHING from Chrones to celiac to allergies. Over the course of 2008, I had exploratory Laporscopic for female stuff, then an upper endoscopy, a colonoscopy, an abdominal catscan and another test...all to find out that i have IBS. with that said, my gastro doc was amazing and thorough and sent me to a rheumy who diagnosed me with fibro on DAY ONE. It was because i had kept a 9 day journal of ALL symptoms even down to how soft the stool was and how i felt pains and where i felt them and how urgent it was. I also wrote how anxious i felt and how often i would use the restroom. I couldnt believe how correlated the fibro and IBS were. It was amazing. SO...yes, i believe that the pain you feel can be caused by fibro. HOWEVER, i do want to mention that i have greatly improved my symptoms and regularity by paying attention to my diet. I had always thought i had an intollerance to milk or the fat content in dairy. i mean, i had tested negative via blood tests that it wasnt really allergies...so i didnt know what it could be. SO, anyway...i started noticing that i just didnt feel good all around. I, like you, could not pin point any one food or anything...so i decided to take it upon myself to figure out what it was...so i went to a health foods store and got some "experiments." I ate a gluten free muffin and i didnt have any sort of stomach ache or feel ill. turns out, i have been gluten free for some months and have made sure to increase my fiber intake and MOST of the IBS has subsided. My bad days are typically because my schedule is out of whack. I might have had a messed up sleep schedule, or i didn't eat enough fruits and veggies the day before. 

Sorry for my soapbox, but I feel for you. I can also say that the URGE never goes away. I can tell that i will have a bowel movement typically within 20 minutes. That is typical for nearly ALL of them. Oh, i also started eliminating some chemicals that i put in my body and i don't know if that has helped, but i know it hasnt hurt. I feel lots better overall. oh (after reading over your post again) I can usually tell if i have ingested gluten within 20 minutes after i eat and i start cramping and have to wait it out til it passes. I am not saying that is what you have, but you can have a sensitivity to something without testing positive and there are other things that can help the IBS over all. thats the point to all that.

Please let me know if you have any direct questions regarding this issue. I will try to help!

Aimee 

ps-i also had the volume issue.

Just a quick comment.....Have any of you been tested for Crhone's? Your symptoms sound so much like my husband's who does have Crhone's. Our son also has it. ~Sande~

Ugh, gastro problems. I have been run through the gamet of EVERY tests. I too finally got an IBS dx. My problem isn't like yours. I usually don't have a bowel movement for a week or more. I'm not technically constipated by the definitions that I've found, but I have stomach pains every day. Just on Tuesday I was grasping my desk in class because I was having such bad stomach cramps.

I'm sorry I can't be more help, but I found this thread helpful because it lets us know we're not alone! Hopefully you feel better!

Lynnwood I too have the samething and had it before fibro. I have had colon problems most of my life. It sure keeps you from enjoying going out to eat etc. I need to have a colonoscopy and sonogram of my small bowel cause the cramping has been getting worse to the point I almost pass out sometimes. I also have gastroparesis (stomach muscles don't work well) before I was dxd with that I took fiber everyday and it helped the diarrhea a lot but I can't take it now. So you might want to add fiber to your diet and see if that helps. Amodium also helps but you have to figure out how much to take or you end up constipated.

 

Have you had your gallbladder removed???

 

luv and hugs

Marlee