Is this normal for IBS?

[MapleSyrupIsBetterThanGoldenSyrup]

I’m a bit clueless with ibs so not sure if this is normal or not. It’s still relatively new to me and I would appreciate any help

Tonight I was eating dinner and my friends wanted to get fish and chips. I knew it was a bad idea for me as it’s oily, but usually I just get some diarrhoea and cramps- it would be bearable, albeit very unpleasant. And I don’t want to be the one who always has to be difficult so I decided to have it tonight and expect some IBS and discomfort. I haven’t had IBS symptoms for the last couple of days so i thought I might get away with it and I’ve had oily food before and it definitely makes things a little worse, but it doesn’t trigger my symptoms like other things.

about 4 minutes into eating the fish and chips, I suddenly felt a horrific pain in the bottom of my stomach- round about my belly button I think. It was in the middle and on both sides and it felt like I was being stabbed in different places. I’ve NEVER had pain like that before- I tried to ignore it because I thought it was trapped wind pains, but eventually it got so bad that I couldn’t and I actually had to crawl upstairs to the bathroom crying. I couldn’t even stand up it was so painful and I thought I was dying at one point. I’ve never experienced pain like that in my life

I went to the toilet and it was normal and wasn’t diarrhoea and since then the pain has got better. it still feels a little bit sore but it’s not even 10% of what it was before.

i have recently had an ultrasound of my gallbladder to check for stones and it was clear so I know I don’t have gallstones. I also had my blood tested for everything and there’s no inflammation or pancreas or gallbladder problems.

is this normal for IBS? I’ve had the nausea and cramping and the diarrhoea and constipation but I’ve never had extreme pain like this before

Unfortunately I don't think there is a normal for IBS, just normal for you. I get pain sometimes, was initially diagnosed when I thought I had appendicitis! It's better if I avoid my triggers.

I’ve had IBS for over twenty years so I can’t say I’ve experienced this, but someone else might come along with more knowledge.

However, can I suggest that it’s possibly the chips contributing to the IBS symptoms? The reason I suggest this is that I have discovered that when I reduce or cut out carbs my symptoms clear up. If I eat sandwiches, pasta, rice etc I’m running for the toilet within a couple of hours. There was a thread in Chat the other day and others were saying the same. Just a thought to consider.

Unfortunately after posting the first message, I had the most horrific episode of diarrhoea I’ve ever had in my life. The pain is starting again (it keeps coming and going) it feels like I’m being stabbed repeatedly. It’s around my bellybutton- below it in the middle, above it to the right, in my life abdomen side. I feel like I’m being stabbed. I didn’t even eat that much of the food, I was only eating for 4 minutes when the pain got so unbearable. I’ve had nausea and cramps but never extreme pain like this. IBS is such a PITA.

For me that pain with IBS is normal. Followed by extreme diarrhea. It's so strong that I often faint whilst on the toilet. I faint on the way to the toilet. I sweat. I groan. It's worse than child birth for me. I'm sorry you're suffering.

Yes I agree with @livingthegoodlife mine can be so bad it's as if I'm in labour. You are not being difficult or awkward by sticking to an ibs friendly diet, you are managing a medical condition.

I would make an appointment with GP to discuss as this is a change to what you have experienced before.

I don't think just passing it off as ibs is sensible. Could it be IBD, which is much more serious as a long term condition? Have they done a feacal calprotectin sample? If not, might be sensible to request one?

Yes I have INS and it can be that bad. The pain can be so intense I vomit.

however this is new for you and if it occurs again go see gp. Changes to bowels should still be investigated even if you have IBS.

I had an ultrasound on my gallbladder on a Thursday evening and it was clear. The following Wednesday night I ended up in a+e with horrific pain. A MRI was done the following morning which showed my gallbladder was chock full of stones. Doctor told me that a lot of the time the stones don't show up on ultrasound. The short time you were eating before you got I'll would lead me to say its gallbladder. Ask for a mri

I think you should see a doctor op and get appendicitis ruled out. Hope you feel better soon!

Too many people are diagnosed with IBS when there is something else going on. The carb problem could indicate coeliac disease

My son had that terrible stabbing pain and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.

Can be normal, Used to happen to me alot when I would eat any trigger food. Spent may nights on the bathroom floor praying I would die so the pain would go away. Best thing I did? Got a hot water bottle for my belly

Do you take buscopan?

That is where your appendix is.
is the pain is that bad I would get it checked out

Also have IBS for a long time and recently had a few odd and similar episodes, which have been after eating potatoes or chips. One sounds very much the same as yours but with incredibly smelly wind in huge volumes. I'm in the process of getting it checked out. Any chance it started after a recent Covid infection?

Agree that Buscopan is a lifesaver.

I mean, I've had cramps so bad before after eating I had to crawl to the bathroom, and was genuinely frightened, called 111 and then it erm, resolved itself, while I was in the bathroom. I have IBS, so possibly it was the IBS or could've been food poisoning?

But please OP stop eating to please people. Just say guys I have a medical condition so have to be careful, go ahead and enjoy, I've got my own (bring food with you) or I'll order from elsewhere. Whenever you eat something that causes bad symptoms it's causing damage and inflammation in your body.

I've had very bad cramps with IBS before, sometimes I am groaning and sweating with pain, and feel very close to throwing up. It's normal for me, I've had it for years and I go through flare ups where it's really bad for a few weeks and then better times (like now) with no symptoms. Mine is not linked to food though, it is made worse from stress.

So it can be normal. If you've had tests to rule out other conditions and the doctor has diagnosed you with IBS, then maybe you are unlucky to have severe IBS. But obviously everyone is different, and if you're worried or not sure see your GP again.

That sounds like ibs to me. Still talk your GP though. Be warned they can be very hit and miss with IBS. It's such a tricky and varied condition. I have had a lot of success with the low fodmap elimination diet. My GP suggested it but got all of basics wrong and it wouldn't have worked if I'd followed their advice. I saw another GP who referred me to a dietician but they didn't really add anything as I'd managed with monash and Facebook groups. Good luck.

Mine used to be like labour- waves of pain building up and up. I would go pale and clammy and almost pass out from the pain. It was awful. It wasn’t a stabby pain for me though. I don’t get ibs any more- not sure why it only plagued me in my twenties. i feel for you- it’s awful. I do think that drs are quick to use IBS as the reason for everything. For me it was IBS so fair enough but I think for many it can be a diagnosis that covers up something else that is actually wrong

POSSIBLY TMI- don’t read if you don’t want to

thanks everyone it’s a reassurance other people have had this with IBS too.

similar to @Ship , my cramps are usually like contractions type waves but not usually stabby pain. Last night was excruciating and it felt like I had knifes being stabbed into my abdomen and sides. As dramatic as it sounds, I actually thought I was dying for a few seconds, it was horrific. It started SO quickly after eating- 4 minutes- and at first it was sore but bearable and after 20 seconds it was so bad I was screaming and crawling / doubled over. I hadn’t realised IBS could be this bad

at first when I went to the toilet, it was normal. Then it was awful diarrhoea all night afterwards. Once my stomach was empty the stabbing pain got a lot better but it was still there (just really faint) and I knew if I ate something it would start again so I didn’t.

This morning was the same- very faint but I could tell it would start again if I ate. I had to eat a very light breakfast today as I was going to a lecture and didn’t want to feel sick from not eating. As soon as I ate breakfast, I had to go to the toilet and I definitely passed something, but when I looked in the toilet there was just lumps of mucus and deep red blood. It looked like my period- but that stopped several days ago and I haven’t had any bleeding in days. I can’t say confidently where the blood has come from but I’m a bit freaked out by it. I have long cycles and I NEVER have bleeding inbetween periods or after my period has stopped. Not sure if that’s related to last nights pain in anyway but it’s freaked me out a bit and I’m really not sure where I’ve passed that blood from.

All this because of fish and chips. I wish I had never eaten it, I just didn’t want to make a fuss but I wish I’d refused it now.

My son has IBS (confirmed by Professor Peter Whorwell after extensive blood tests, stool sampling, colonoscopy, endoscopy and duodenal flush before I get told it could be x,y or z). Unfortunately what you experienced is pretty typical for him. If he eats anything with garlic or onions, he is doubled up in pain and rushing to the toilet before his meal is complete. He then continues to suffer for a few days afterwards. It leaves him exhausted.

Please say you have seen a Dr today!

Op please see your GP! I don't want to be alarmist but as Deborah James reminded us, younger women do get bowel cancer. You need to get checked out so they can eliminate anything more sinister than IBS (although IBS itself is really awful and plenty to deal with).

Have had IBS for nearly 40 years. the first indication that I had bowel issues was due to a blocked bowel. the pain came in waves in my lower abdomen. Was advised to eat more roughage, starting small, like a teaspoon of bran with each meal washed down with lots of water. Build up the bran intake slowly.
I am at a stage where my food intake is heavily veg & pulse based with olive oil daily and have minimal problems now. I no longer need the bran!
When I eat junk food or too much processed food, my digestive system goes into painful spasms as the food works its way through the body. The spasms are the worst as they continue long after passing a stool. Roughage and healthier eating stopped that from happening for me

Just to add that when I saw my doctor about the pain, he pressed on the lower left abdomen and I nearly hit the roof with the pain this brought on. He told me that there was a build-up of golf ball shaped lumps in my bowel. Basically golf-ball size lumps of sh*t. I was also experiencing a numbness in my upper leg that he said was unrelated pain associated with my blocked bowel. It's weird how the body responds to pain.