What is your GI pain like?

[mle_ii]

After wondering about this for Cristi, I wondered what others felt with regards to GI pain, where, how, etc.

If you were to describe where the pain occurs how would you describe it?
Relative to other anatomy, left, right, deep, shallow

Also describe how the pain feels, what it feels like?
Sharp, dull, continuous, fluctuates, amount of time

What if anything aleviates that pain?
Movement of body, BM, meds, laying down, etc.

[Polly]

Hi Mike,

I must be very lucky - I have never experienced actual pain with MC. Other than once or twice when I had bad gas pains.

I would describe my problem more as a discomfort or an "ache". Of course, bloating was always uncomfortable. And I used to have the feeling that my entire gut was being "squeezed" if that makes any sense. It felt like it was tied up in knots, and as a result, it felt "achy". Even during periods of very rapid transient time, when I could see and hear all of the "action" just by observing my abdomen, I did not have any pain.

I should note that I have never had abdominal surgery or any problem so far with gall bladder, pancreas, reflux, "female" issues, thyroid, adrenals etc.

Hope this helps,

Polly

[JJ]

Hi....same with me, but had two bouts of gas pains that were doozies, but that's it. I consider myself lucky. JJ

[starfire]

I know a lot of people do have pain but I'm another that didn't really have MC pain other than what has already been described. The gas was very unpleasant and always felt as if I had to "go" and just generally felt lousy. The nausea was much worse than any pain I had.

Love, Shirley

[thedell19]

No pain really but a mad discomfort of nausea, always having to go especially when in nervous situations, usually more left sided discomfort- so my main symptoms were nausea, d, stress, depression, etc-

What helps: imodium with the D, promethazime for the nausea and general discomfort, ativan and wellbutrin for stress and depression- A gluten free, casein free diet should help- have you considered Enterolab testing by Dr Fine? Oh yeah try a probiotic- might cause more gas at first but later it is ok.

[Dee]

Hi Mike!
I have the collagenous type of MC.
I have never had any pain or nausea either! The only symptom was major D..
And when it all started I could only describe a feeling of aliens running from one side of my large intestime to the other.. Really weird feeling, but knew it was the intestine spasming and gas..
Now!! When I stopped taking the Asacol because of the dairy in it and then getting real brave and trying to eliminate the Entocort that caused me to have alot of cramping and definitely back to having the D.

Lov

[mle_ii]

Interesting, perhaps the pain I experience isn't MC related. But then again perhaps MC is a symptom of something else, as I've thought elsewhere.

The pain I feel, when I have the worst episodes is a very intense sharp pain a few inches or so directly below my belly button. It feels as if someone is taking a knife and turning it and twisting it in my gut. (not that I know what that feels like, but to give you an idication of what it might feel like). It's so intense that I feel as if I'm going to collapse, I'm doubled over (even on the toilet), just wishing I could remove the pain.

Luckily for me this doesn't happen as often as it used to. I still get some sharp pains around that area every once in a while, normally before a BM. What's odd is when I've diarrhea lately it's been absolutely painless unlike before where I'd feel the sharp pain above.

For me now the symptoms I have now are only every once in a long while, say once every week or couple of weeks, where I have what I'd call dumping syndrome, where I have to go and go and go, not diarrhea, but long BMs, some pencil thin at times. Then I wouldn't feel like going anywhere at all, as I'd feel tired, achey, etc.

Perhaps it's not the MC anymore, who knows, but something else is effecting me.

Mike

[thedell19]

I have heard that happening to people with Ulcerative Colitis- another form of inflamatory bowel disease. I would keep a close eye on if the pain becomes worse or more frequent- if it happens every so often then a pain killer will take care of it (maybe your GI will give you a few)

[tex]

Mike,

I often experienced pain exactly as you described, but in my case, it could have been connected with diverticulitis, so I can't honestly say that it was MC related. The guys in the while coats insist that MC is virtually painless, and that seems to be the case for some people, but I think there are many people who experience severe pain with MC, (myself included).

My worst pain episodes always came when I was severely bloated. Once the gas started leaving, the pain would come in waves, rather than being constant, and would eventually disappear, as I deflated over the time span of a day or two. Whenever a wave of severe pain struck, whether I was standing, walking, sitting, or whatever, it would literally cause me to double up , and if I was standing, it would sometimes bring me to my knees.

I haven't had the problem, however, since my gut healed, several years ago. My diverticulitis issue wasn't addressed until about a year ago, so that's why I feel that the pain was due to MC.

Tex

[mle_ii]

Mike,

I often experienced pain exactly as you described, but in my case, it could have been connected with diverticulitis, so I can't honestly say that it was MC related. The guys in the while coats insist that MC is virtually painless, and that seems to be the case for some people, but I think there are many people who experience severe pain with MC, (myself included).

My worst pain episodes always came when I was severely bloated. Once the gas started leaving, the pain would come in waves, rather than being constant, and would eventually disappear, as I deflated over the time span of a day or two. Whenever a wave of severe pain struck, whether I was standing, walking, sitting, or whatever, it would literally cause me to double up , and if I was standing, it would sometimes bring me to my knees.

I haven't had the problem, however, since my gut healed, several years ago. My diverticulitis issue wasn't addressed until about a year ago, so that's why I feel that the pain was due to MC.

Tex

Interesting Tex, one Dr did see some small divirticuli (sp) in my upper part of my small intestine, but other than that he didn't see anything in the lower part where my pain is. Was the pain in the same location that I indicated? Where did the Dr see your divirticuli?

As you mention I see it less lately than what I used to. I could pretty much guarantee it happening if I ate anything with grains, tomatoes and cheese. Must be why I loved Italian food eh? Pizza, lasagna, spaghetti could cause it to occur back when I was able to eat those foods. Very high in fructose, acidic, and gluten, probably did wonders to my GI tract.

Mike

[mle_ii]

I have heard that happening to people with Ulcerative Colitis- another form of inflamatory bowel disease. I would keep a close eye on if the pain becomes worse or more frequent- if it happens every so often then a pain killer will take care of it (maybe your GI will give you a few)

None of the testing thus far as indicated UC or Crohn's for that matter. Though I will bring it up the next time I talk to the Dr as I found out one of my uncles had some for of colitis and another has Crohn's disease.

[tex]

Mike,

The pain was the worst just below the belly button.

The diverticulli were primarily in the sigmoid colon, (IOW, lower left quadrant).

Tex

[Mars]

Hi Mike,

I have various types, locations and intensity of pain with my gut. Nausea is an almost constant at times too.

Stabbing pains in my colon - usually don't last long and/or diminish after a bowel movement.

Cramping - during my colonoscopy(s), the doctor documented extreme spasms. At one, the procedure was impossible to complete due to the spasms - they couldn't give me enough anti-spasmatics or relaxing meds due to my rising blood pressure. I have almost daily episodes with the cramping.

Gassiness is another issue - this can be extreme at times too. I was diagnosed with chronic gastritis at about 12 years old if I remember right.

And then there is always the burning hemmies after acidic D!!!!!!!! Now THAT's PAIN!!!!!!!!

Ok, now I'm depressed! LOL

Love,
Mars

[mle_ii]

Mars, where would you say the most intense GI pain is located? If you were to point to it on your body where would it be?

Oh and acidic D is usually related to malabsorption of sugar. Malabsorb it then the bacteria convert it to many things, a lot of which are acidic substances. This is why D burns.

[Mars]

Mike,

The most intense pain (not the cramping which is located in the ovarian area, which have been removed) is located in the upper area of the colon - directly under the ribcage and slightly to the center of my stomach. If I were to place my hands on my waist with my fingers pointing forward, the pain is near the fingertips.

Love,
Mars