How painful is your IBS?

[ThrowAwayOne]

I've had IBS for years, it stayed steady (pain wise) for about 10 years but the past 5/6 years it's gotten worse. I'm under investigation now for possible IBD but so far tests haven't showed anything. I'm just wondering if the level of pain I experience is normal. I'll get sudden cramps that within seconds turn into severe cramps which can last 10-15 mins before the urge to use the loo comes where it goes from severe cramps to having to crawl up the stairs as I'm in so much pain. The act of pooping itself doesn't hurt but I have to do birthing type breathing all during these cramps and am sweating throughout. Then for half an hour or so after it's still very crampy.

Is this normal? Does anyone suffer similar?

Absolutely not a poo troll, don't even need to speak about the actual poo just the pain!

I do! I have a general daily pain which does get worse sometimes after I've eaten but a big flare is excruciating. The last two times I've almost called an ambulance as I thought I genuinely might have a ruptured appendix! Also yes to the sweating, I have to strip off and I become very shaky. You have my sympathies, it's shit (no pun intended!)

@Pussywilloww very interesting as I didn't want to go into more detail as I have a friend calling over and rushed my OP but your post is exactly what I experience. I've daily pain in the appendix area which can erupt into severe pain where I've been sent to A&E as the GP thought appendix but now when it happens I know it's not appendix so just breath through it. Awful and it's made me so uneasy about having an attack in public as I honestly think someone would call an ambilance for me!

Sorry you're suffering too :(

Oh yes I’ve experienced this, the pain gets so bad I start being sick too. I tried working out what was causing my symptoms with FODMAP but couldn’t pin point anything.

I got really fed up and paid for a private blood test, turns out I have an allergy / intolerance to dairy, eggs and a few other things.

I have cut these out and it’s made a massive difference. I would recommend it to anyone with IBS symptoms! I still have loose bowel movements occasionally but hardly any pain now days.

Me. It’s debilitating at least 3/4 times a week.
I can kind of cope with the having to rush to the loo every time I eat something, but the pain takes my breath away and it can spasm and hurt like that for an hour before I finally get any kind of release. And also the flip side of eating something and getting no real pain, no warning and having to get to a bathroom before I can stop it.
I’ve had cameras etc, and nothing abnormal, just the way I am. But it rules my entire life, I can’t eat out, if I am going out in the day I don’t eat the whole
day until I’m home again, so it doesn’t happen. I’m not working atm due to caring for my asd dc, but when I do work, I don’t eat at all until I get home as I can’t risk the awful pain and sweating etc when I’m not at home.
It’s been my whole life and I can sometimes forget other people
don't live like this and just go about their day!
I’m sorry all that was way tmi, but I’m in my 40’s now and just want to be ‘normal’.
I am really interested in the private bloods though, as was always told they can’t truly show intolerances etc on bloods? At this point I’ll try anything!

It isn’t for me really. Just very inconvenient.

It usually just feels like mild period pain. More severe though if it’s… urgent! But never at the levels described here.

I have a low level stomach ache most of the time. Flare ups can vary, I had one recently which has DH reaching for the phone to dial 999 but I stopped him cos I'd rather be in agony in a comfy bed than a plastic chair in A&E. It was awful.
I've had a few flare ups which have me crying and foetal. I recently had a mini break ruined by IBS cos I was in so much pain I couldn't do anything.

Aww it's awful to know others are suffering aswell but reassures me that's it's nothing to worry about really. Lots of IBD history in my family so I thought no way could this be JUST IBS and had worked myself up into thinking I had IBD. Still a possibilty, I know, but feeling a little more reassured now.