Ab pain after eating

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2004
Ab pain after eating
4
Wed, 12-22-2004 - 10:35am
I just found this site and was hoping someone could give me some insight. After eating, especially "out", I will get serious stomach pains. The best way to describe it would be similar to contractions. It is as if I can feel the bm as it moves, then it will reach a "wall" where I will have extreme pain and finally pass the bm. This will continue for about 2 hours with bm developing from fairly normal consistency to watery. I do have bouts with constipation (sometimes going a week or so). I had a barium enema about 3 years ago, everything was said to be fine. Now, it seems my stomach just hurts all the time, burning and such, and I am having lower back pain. I went to the dr. recently after an episode where I also had some bleeding and was told it was probably IBS? I guess I am worried that what started years ago as chronic constipation could be turning into something more. Any advice would be helpful.
Community Leader
Registered: 10-01-2002
Wed, 12-22-2004 - 11:05am

Hi primarosa and Welcome to iVillage,

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 12-22-2004 - 8:54pm

Hi Primarosa!


Welcome to the board!

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-23-2004
Thu, 12-23-2004 - 8:18pm

Hi Primarosa,

I'm in the same boat as you are. For years (I guess about 7), I have been chronically tired and bent over from stomach pains. I've been to the doctor many times though I'm hardly a hypocondriac--in fact, I resent going to the doctor and avoid it at all costs. Still there have been times when the exhaustion and pain have gotten the best of me and off I would go for another opinion. Initially, I was too embarrassed to bring up the stomach problems and so the focus was the fact that I was always tired and had a terrible ability to fall asleep at the wheel. My first doctor told me I had EBV or chronic fatigue. A few others told me I was fine. For years I took every supplement for every condition under the sun--each time hoping that my hard earned mioney had just purchased me the miracle product that would cure me. Nothing worked, so again...another visit to anbother doctor. One particular one told me he had 10 symptoms to look for when diagnosing depression--apparently I was the first person he's ever met who possessed all 10. Whatever. I had a lot going on in my life and I was somewhat depressed but I found it hard to believe it was clinical. He put me on medication which helped a little with the tiredness but did nothing for the pain. I didn't mention the pain much because I was under a ton of stress at work and attributed the pain to this. I chalked it up as life. Eventually I went off the medication and back to another doctor who told me I was fine. I was not fine. I felt so frustrated because all of us on this board know the feeling of knowing there is something decidedly wrong with our bodies and it is a frightening thing to realize we're alone in recognizing it. Anyway, around this time, my twin came forward and admitted to me that she was having stomach pains that were unusually painful and that they were accompanied by gas or constipation. She went to get tested many times over the course of a couple years but it was always inconclusive (bare with me, I am getting to your question). Eventually, she was diagnosed with IBS. My symptoms seemed worse than hers--hers were occassional whereas mine seem to be all day long and everyday. It got to the point where I avoided going out with friends and could honestly state I was unable to remember a day when I had not had pain. The similarity with your situation is that I am always eating (I love to eat) but became petrified of eating because I noticed the pain seemed worse after I consumed food. At some point, the bouts of gas, diarrhea and constipation had me closing my office door at work just to collect myself and try to ignore the pain. I started bleeding rectally and this worsened until my rectum started to prolapse and I had to wear pantyliners everyday to protect my clothing from the blood. I finally decided it was time to visit a doctor again and scheduled an appointment. At the appointment, they basically stuck a camera up my backend (miserable experience) and I left with the diagnosis that I had IBS. They gave me medication but I noticed it contained those phenyl.....(can't spell it from memory) and I did not want to put them in my body. So, i visited a dietician who put me on a metabolic diet. I noticed a tiny improvement on certain days but nothing to write home about. However, it was through him that I was introduced to the bloodtype diet. I don't believe in it 100% as I thing every diet has room for error since no diet can address every individual and his/her unique situation. I am an O bloodtype and so all grains (I looooove bread), coffee (I am an avid java nut), sugar (cinnabons are heaven), dairy (cheese is divine), etc. are meant to be avoided at all costs. These are my favorite foods so this presented a problem but I figured a few days wouldn't hurt. I knew that once I realized it didn't work either, I could return to eating my favorite foods. But a strange thing happened--one day passed, then two...and three..then five...seven during which I had no pain. None. I got so excited, I went out with a friend and had a beer and was doubled over within minutes (alcohol was also to be avoided). I started watching what foods distressed me the most and the largest culprit was and remains--wheat and all its cousins. It is awful since wheat is in everything but it helps to know what to avoid. I still eat it (they say "crazy" is defined by people who consistently make the same mistake and expect different results) so I guess I am certifiably crazy and when I do, I pay for it. The tiredness hasn't improved much so I am currently on antibiotics to try and kill a "lowgrade infection" I might have been carrying around since 1995 when I had mono. That's when the exhaustion began. Anyway, the anitbiotic is supposed to kill the infection while the other med is supposed to regulate my sleep patterns. It's been a month but no luck. Still, as long as I don't eat wheat or other grains and stick to a predominantly plain diet of everything raw, grilled or broiled (no sauces since I'm not sure what's in them), my pain is minimal. I have a new infatuation with olive oil and salad and meat has always been a favorite (I'm German) and so I'm doing okay. I am interested in learning about Celiac disease since it could explain why I am always tired and falling asleep in the most bizarre places. So if anyone is reading this and has any info, I would love to hear your thoughts. As to you primarose, I think the best advice I can give you is to visit a dietician and see if he can help you isolate problem foods. You might want to visit another doctor as well. Second, third... opinions never hurt. Good luck and know that you are not alone. Big Hug and Merry Christmas :O)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Fri, 12-24-2004 - 10:54am

HI kitten_little!


I was reading your post and thinking Celiac when you were describing your symptoms.