Excruciating stomach cramps

[Fromwetome]

Hi so this is something I have had for years but it's taken up a lot of my Sunday morning and my partner says it's normal but I don't think so.

Every now and then I will eat (today it was leftovers from last night) and then for hours afterwards until I poop I will have the most excruciating stomach cramps. These aren't normal getting ready for a poo cramps, they have me sweating, breathless and I can't talk, breathe or even move whilst they are happening. They makes me see stars they are so bad. Hands down the most painful thing I have ever experienced in the short time they are happening. They come in waves and in between cramps I have no pain.

The food I ate was last nights dinner and didn't have that reaction last night (it was corn beef hash, I put some on toast for breakfast)

When these happen at work I have to go to the bathroom and wait it out because I can't stand, or do anything at all when one is happening. I'm not over reacting when I say for about the 20 seconds they happen for I'm debilitated.

Anyone else have them? I've been told I might have IBS and I do have endometriosis and GERD. I'm not allergic to anything or have a lactose intolerance.

Also I want to add, my nana had chrons disease and had an ileostomy. Obviously I'm not saying it's anything like that, but the pain I am in mimics that pain. It's agony.

It's so unpredictable and infrequent I'm not sure it's a severe bowel disease. When I finally poop it's normal movement. Not loose or anything.

Do you mean stomach or abdomen?
When do the cramps start after eating?
For example, stomach cramps 2 hours after eating could be gall bladder related.
Abdominal cramps 5 to 10 hours after eating could be gas or diverticulitis.
You need to be able to give a HCP a clear history so you can get a diagnosis, especially if you can only get a phone appt.
Either way, you do need to keep a food and symptom diary. You might be able to work it out from that, but if you are in severe pain you need to get proper medical advice.
I am sorry, it sounds horrendous. I hope you can figure it out.

Yes I get this but very infrequently. Once it was such severe pain that I actually passed out. I saw my GP and he said its "only" IBS. As I only get it maybe twice a year I just put up with it. If I got it daily or weekly I wouldn't be able to function!

@endofthelinefinally

It's definitely bowel, it's the same type of cramps one would get before they need a BM. But it's just like that mild discomfort turned to excruciating.

I think the food diary and symptom tracking is a good idea. Sometimes it's a cup of tea which I have every morning, sometimes it's a banana, it's so infrequent and not attached to certain foods. It does seem to be after the first meal of the morning so that might be related. Like I need to warm my gut up before I eat?

@SallyWD I have been told IBS too but the symptoms don't fit that well due to how infrequent it is? I think it's a umbrella term health care use when a)your a woman and b) they don't want to investigate.

Just ruined a whole morning in bed away from my partner because when they happen it's not pretty, I am a panting/ dizzy mess for 20 seconds every 10 minutes.

I hear you on the pass out, when they are at their most painful I think that must be coming next I get so dizzy.

I get these, almost exclusively at night but also infrequent. Have had it since being a kid. I totally agree about the pain - I didn't realise I was in labour once because I just thought it was my usual cramps!! I often end up rolling around the bed and biting the pillow it's so intense. I've never investigated it medically because it's just one of those things my body does!

@Frustratedmummy79 oh man, it's so bad isn't it. I'm glad that it's as infrequent as it is! Horrible at the time. I don't have kids and would hate to think what it would be like having them around a kid. I'd probably drop the baby in a panic!