Bloating, sore stomach - help

[Charcoalcharline]

Hive mind of mumsnet, please help!

For the past 10 days I have had stomach cramps, trapped wind, bloating etc. Non stop. I don’t usually suffer from problems like this. What could it be? How do I get rid of it? I am considering resorting to full-on food elimination diet thinking it must be come sort of allergy. Do allergies / intolerance’s suddenly kick in mid life out of the blue? I’m 44 (and desperate!). Any ideas welcome!

Have you been eating more carbs than usual, fibre such as beans, bananas??

No change in diet whatsoever.

Sounds like an IBS attack.

It could be anything - food intolerance, constipation, IBS, coeliac disease. It probably isn’t anything serious but these can also be symptoms of ovarian cancer, so if it carries on, book in to see your GP to be on the safe side. That would be more common post menopause but better to check whatever your age.

We are a similar age and I have suffered with this for the past 3 years. I've had a baby in that time. I keep being told by health professionals that it's my age (hormones perimenopause pending) I wouldn't say I get cramps but the bloating and trapped wind is an issue. I will follow this thread for any advice. Feel your pain OP

Same symptoms at the same age after I had a Mirena fitted. Could it be some hormonal change?

Yes. Something to consider. Mine started after this was fitted and again now I have an implant in my arm and it's really bad again 😔

At 44 it could also be symptoms of perimenopause.

If it doesn't let up soon-ish, I'd also see a GP. It's most likely not serious. Perimenopause, random attack of IBS, an otherwise asymptomatic virus or a slight change in diet that you weren't really conscious of are way more likely. But better safe than sorry, those symptoms can be associated with certain cancers. Again - benign causes are WAY more likely.

How are you now OP? I have been in the same boat for weeks.

Just as bad. A few good days but mainly terrible. I’m trying to get a Drs appointment to start HRT as it sometimes helps. A drop in Oestrogen and your guts give up work.

I cannot go on like this that’s for sure. I did an IBS food elimination diets and gluten is esp bad. Sourdough is kinder so I’ve been eating that if I have bread. Onions also terrible. I dread becoming one of those awful middle aged women with endless intolerances that no one wants to invite for dinner.

Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
feeling constantly bloated
a swollen tummy
discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area
feeling full quickly when eating
needing to pee more often than usual

The symptoms are not always easy to recognise because they're similar to those of some more common conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Copied from nhs site. Worth getting checked.

I'm loathe to give advice that may not help you, or unhappily makes you worse.

I'll just tell you my experience.

I eat healthy (in my opinion) and out of the blue last May, I had acute pain in my upper abdomen and it wasn't going away...
I had a scan, and it showed a build up (of what, I'm not entirely sure, it wasn't explained to me), and Dr recommended a camera tube down my throat to investigate.
That appt had to be waited for, so in the meantime I started a supplement called Slippery Elm. You can buy it in capsule and/or powder form.
The powder I mixed in with my porridge (you can mix it with anything "saucy" without it spoiling the recipe), or if you have the capsule, then take it after food.
I did this twice a day for nine days, after which, I felt a "shift", and then after another week I reduced the SE to once a day, and now, I only take it if I feel a threat of what I had in May.
Do your research, make your own assessment, but it definitely worked for me, and I was able to cancel the tube down the throat investigation.
When the Dr re examined me several weeks later, there was no pain at all!
Note, if you decide to get the powder, (I got mine from an eBay seller) get the one that's the extract from the inner bark. Because then, you'll only need three grams, whereas the others recommend ten grams.
Good luck, I hope that works for you, it's bloomin horrible to be in that pain or discomfort.... I couldn't even stand for more than 15 mins when I had it 😩

@Charcoalcharline i know exactly what you mean. I returned to the doctors today, they’re trialling Omeprazole now in case some of it is gastritis but after many tests they’re saying IBS, but if I’m concerned I can have a colonoscopy. Trying to avoid for obvious reasons.

im starting a massive elimination diet today. I always worse in the evenings which is when I eat the majority of my vegetables. Really
Hope it’s not veg (I love veg!) but I’m already gluten free and been dairy free for 5 days.