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cramps after eating

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Posted 2/3/2011 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

has anyone experienced painful cramps after eating?

I normally get them about 2 hours after my evening meal and it's mainly across the transverse colon. It seems to end with some wind.

Has only started happening over the past few days?
Posted 2/3/2011 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
recently been having "bloating" after eating, Dr recommended ginger tea, apparently Trader Joes carries

might help?

could it be something in particular you ate?
Posted 2/3/2011 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Have you been eating anything different lately? Are you flaring?
Posted 2/3/2011 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
No I've been keeping to the same diet.

Was trying to think whether I've started eating anything different and the only thing I can think of is I added sea salt to the mashed potatoes. But I think that's over analysing it.

It's different to bloating which I have't had for a long time. Also, most symptoms of UC seem to have dissapeared over the past 3 weeks e.g. no urgency, no mucus, no blood & BM consistancy is quite firm.

Last week I noticed my BMs were a flatter shape than normal and also, just before anything exits (wind, BMs), I get a hot/burning sensation in the rectum area but the cramping is happening across the transverse colon.
Posted 2/3/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
On my last flare, I had horrendous cramping after eating. It might be that you are in an early stages of a flare.

Edited to add: Do you have any anti-spasmodics such as Bentyl?
Posted 2/3/2011 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
I don't take anti-spasmodics. Unless I'm in a very bad way, I try to stick to natural remedies.

To me, cramping that happens 2 hours after eating MUST be to do with food - but I have no idea what? I thought it might be to do with how I was sitting because I can get indigestion if I lay down after eating. But I've been sitting upright and also, I haven't done anything differently for the past couple of months.

I don't think it can be the start of a flare (or I hope it isn't) if the symptoms of UC have gradually improved over the past few weeks.

Could it be that different sections of my colon have improved but other parts haven't? Just ask because someone on here said that as UC clears up it goes backwards e.g. towards the rectum.

At the start of this flare, my sigmoid colon was terrible and I had a lot of urgency. Then it moved to my descending colon and the transverse colon. During the worst times I even had discomfort along the ascending colon.

Eventually parts of this have improved and now the transverse and rectum seem to be the sections that are causing problems.
Posted 2/3/2011 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
If the rectum is inflamed, it can cause cramping elsewhere...signals get all screwed up, etc.  After eating, it increases peristalsis, and when the colon (no matter how much involved with inflammation), throws hissy fits, normal rhythmic movement becomes chaotic.

As well, you might also have reflux...

I think you're overanalysing everything...take the Bentyl..and most definitely start the rectal meds.

I would never question symptoms like that and believe it wasn't a flare.
q

Posted 2/3/2011 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, when I flare I sometime have cramps after eating. Usually it starts within 30 minutes to an hour after eating but could be as long as two hours after. For me it is always associated with a flare and not with what I ate.
Posted 2/4/2011 10:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies everyone.

It's wrong I know, but it's nice to hear that other UC sufferers have had cramps!

Amazingly, last night, no cramps! I was almost sitting around waiting for it to happen! Now I'm trying to work out why it didn't!!!

Yesterday, I actually did some decorating because I felt ok - quite energetic. Could it be that a bit of exercise prevented the cramps? Or am I over analysing again?
Posted 2/4/2011 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
LOL...just note it. Maybe because you were focused on something else and not worrying had a positive result.

Could have been somewhat connected to what you ate (or didn't eat/ingest) the day before and how it's affected your digestive tract. Some days I feel good, others not. But most times, when I'm not flaring, I can connect it to food intake.

Decorating in your house or for work?
q
Posted 2/5/2011 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Another night without cramps!! Maybe something I ate a couple of days back has finally gone through or maybe the transverse colon is repairing itself or maybe I have no idea what's happening and colitis is just playing with me!

I was decorating my house - painting bathroom, putting a light in the loft. Got an electrician coming to put downlights in on monday so was forced into action!!
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