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What causes cramping?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/24/2008 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Is it the intestine spasming?  I am doing fairly ok - meaning I haven't seen blood in quite a while which I am tickled pink over but I still have sporadic days of going only once a day with semi-formed bm's and the next going 4x's or more with D.  I have yo-yo'ing like this for a while.  Yesterday was a good day - until I started eating dinner.  I was eating and then all of a sudden I started getting this massive cramp.  It sort of felt like a menstrual cramp (but minus the periods).  It was so odd, it sort of made me nauseas as well.  I don't want to call my GI for an anti-spasmodic because the cramping doesn't last very long.  Sometimes I will have it in the morning but it lasts for maybe 15 minutes after going to the bathroom and then it's gone.
Posted 9/24/2008 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
I thought most intestinal cramping was in fact gas blockage. But since I have had UC, nothing that made sense before does now.

I feel bad for you, because you and others have givin alot of answers to us for things - but I have none for you :/
Posted 9/24/2008 2:05 PM (GMT 0)

I believe it is the bowel going into spasm due to inflammation.  When I am really in a flare I have a lot of pain followed by bm's which are the only thing that relieves the pain.  But even when I am pretty much well I still have the odd cramp, sometimes it just goes away on it's own but other times I have to pay a visit to the bathroom.  I like you have good days and bad days.

I did get an anti spasmodic from the doctor when I was in a bad flare but to be honest I really didn't see any difference when taking it.

Posted 9/24/2008 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard that some cramping is caused by inflammation. But that doesn't sound like the cramping you are describing.

Maybe it's just the perstalis? I've been having issues with cramping as I'm eating lately too.

I hate cramps!
Posted 9/24/2008 2:25 PM (GMT 0)

Sherry, I am having the same thing.  My doctor never mentioned antispasmatic drugs to me.  I was wondering if they would help.  Years ago I had spasms of the stomach.  This was when I was 15 yrs old and I am now 62.  I was hospitalized when 15 because they thought I had a stomach blockage.  Everything I ate seemed to lodge in the upper portion of my stomach and I was always constipated.  They diagnosed stomach spasms and sent me home with some horrible tasting medicine.  It didn't help and my mother took me to a chiropractor.  Believe it or not..he helped me!!  I am reluctant to go to a chiropractor for UC because I have osteoporosis and already suffered a compressed fracture of the lumbar spine four years ago.  I'm afraid he will crack a bone and I will be in worse shape.

Yesterday I had a tiny bowel movement and today I went five times already.  The first was formed but after that I started with the cramping and it has been looser.  I only saw a tad of blood streaked through the first movement but nothing after that.  I still am having the cramping though  and pressure in the rectum.  I inserted Canasa last night but didn't take the Cort enema today because I knew I would be unable to hold it.   I am also on 9 pills of Colazal daily, 50 mgm of 6MP, probiotic, multivitamin (no iron), and flaxseed oil capsule.  Wonder if any of those is causing this?

 

 

Posted 9/24/2008 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
With the nausea thrown in, it sounds like it could be vagal response, Sherry. The vagus nerve goes vertically through the body. It's part of the autonomic nervous system, which control all of those "non-voluntary" things like blood pressure, heart rate, peristalsis, etc. It can get over-stimulated and cause problems with the GI system pretty easily. Inflamed, swollen, or over-filled organs (like the uterus, stomach or colon) can irritate the vagus nerve and give you cramping, diarrhea, nausea and faintness.

You might try eating more slowly, taking your fluids after your meal (I'm bad about eating a couple of bites of food, then taking a drink.) Also check to see if it happens with the same foods every time. If you're already doing all this, talk to your GI about it.
Posted 9/24/2008 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I've been getting a lot of cramps/spasms my dr gave me some domperidone tabs today to take 3xdaily when bad so i will see how they go also good for nausea
Posted 9/24/2008 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
get on the antispasmodics.... its not a big deal, they prescribe them to me 100s at a time. I take them in flare and in maintenance...dicyclomine(bentyl) i can tell when i dont take them....and they are CHEAP def worth a shot
Posted 9/24/2008 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies everyone :)

Judy, thanks for that info. Makes sense. And yes, I am horrible too when it comes to drinking my water when I eat. I didn't know that had anything to do with it.

The Bentyl, does that make you sleepy?
Posted 9/25/2008 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
For many, when inflammed they feel the contractions (cramping) usually due to the inflammation, not everyone with inflammation is prone to feeling cramps, everyone is different.

:)
Posted 9/25/2008 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Im new to this crap. this lady that i know has helped me a lot.First of all , i tookexcedrin a lot for my migrains  that pms has set off. and the dr. said i had colitis infection from it. from the asa i took foe years.  i been off my antibotic for 5 days now. i get the cramps some. and can not have a bm. back to the lady i know. she has diverticulitis. and takes PRIMAL DEFENCE HSO PROBITIC. It replinishes the enzymes. Look up Garden of life. then go to that.it calms every thing down so every thing comes out easy. it has helped me a lot.  hope you are better
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