Abdominal pain following bout of diarrhea would really appreciate advice.

[Owlelf]

I had severe diarrhea last Wednesday to Saturday. TMI alert- it started with aches and pains (assumed was getting a cold), then out of the blue had terrible diarrhea. Basically just like water, all food and liquid went straight through me. Weirdly I didn't have much in the way of stomach cramps but completely lost my appetite and ate almost nothing for four days.

I think I was pretty dehydrated as urine was dark orange / brown.

Anyway diarrhea has now gone, appetite is ok. However I have a horrible pain in my left side, just below my ribs (sort of in line with my hip bone). It is there constantly, not too bad if I am stationary but hurts if I move or bend. If I press even gently it really hurts.

I really must work tomorrow and Friday, I will cause major issues if I take more time off to see GP. I am kicking myself for not seeing GP today- I think I was trying to ignore it but have now really started worrying.

Can anyone give me any advice and help me to stop panicking that this is something to worry about?

Have had my appendix out already by the way. So that rules out appendicitis .

Hopeful bump!!

I'm not sure but I just had a bad time before Christmas after left side cramps were he starting point, I think you should try and see your GP just in case, it's an obstruction or something, mine was something rare but I put it off for a while too and wish I hadn't now. They may want to refer you for more tests, take bloods etc. Could you just get an emergency appt, work but just pop out for that perhaps? Might put your mind at rest too.

Thanks for replying pink. I hope that you are feeling better now. May I ask what you were diagnosed with? I realise you might prefer not to say......

I am going to go to the doctors tomorrow, despite bring unpopular for taking more time off.

Trying not to worry. I am usually more calm when I feel unwell I think the fact that I can't fathom what it might be is troubling me.....

Thanks again for replying

I had something really rare a lipoma (benign tumour) had got caught up in being expelled through the colon and was causing cramps...it's very unusual though and they didn't pick it up for ages but to start with they thought I had inflammatory bowel disease. I had bleeding and mucus from the bowel though so doesn't sound the same. I'd just wondering with the tenderness yo mentioned, they seem to ask about that a lot so wondered if you better get that checked.

Inflamed/spasming large intestine?

That sounds really tough, I do hope you are on the road to recovery.

Luckily for me I have had no bleeding.

Tenderness I'd bothering me, it feels 'wrong' if that makes sense!! I have a feeling that I might get an "it's probably IBS" reaction from my GP, despite the fact that I usually have a cast iron unstressed stomach!!

I have IBS and had a god damn awful bout the 2nd week in December. Probably my worse loose stools attack of 2011. It went on for 4 days with the usual blaoting, cramps, runs etc. I was passing water for 3 days of the attack. Bloody awful.

I too have a pain in the same place you describe except for me it on MY right. It feels bruised and tender to touch but aches away. Its not excruciating but does seem to get worse then ease a little from time to time.

I am on the verge of going to my GP too but because I have been over indulging over the Xmas period I was going to see how I am after a 5 to 7 days of normal eating.

Please do let me know what your GP says if you go before me. Likewise I will do the same.

I will let you know titsup (love the name). Do you mind me asking how you found out that your problems are caused by IBS? I am concerned that my GP will decide that I have suddenly developed IBS I will be left with a nagging feeling that it is something else.

Apologies if I sound a bit mistrustful of GP. He sometimes seems a bit dismissive......

My IBS started 20 years ago. Long periods of constipation followed by long bouts of diarrhea. Initially the diarrhea would seem to hit on Friday evening as I relaxed after a week at work.

Over the years it has got better and worse. GP initially said oh yeah its IBS but then after we moved house a new GP referred to specialist you did a barium enema about 8 years ago now. He diagnosed a very lazy and sluggish bowel and said not IBS.

Moved house several times since and seen more specialists although no more investigations and have been told it is IBS - because I am in a cycle of slow, sluggish lazy bowel making me constipated followed by my body working overtime to emoty the bowel resulting in the runs.

Since we moved house last year my new GP referred me again and my specialist has transformed my life my prescribing me Movicol - I take it as & when I feel I need it which is atm 1 sachet per day. This has transformed my life. I no longer get regular "ill bouts" and can lead a normal life, going out without worrying where the nearest loo is etc. I do still get the odd bout though, like the one I had in early December.

With IBS - they try associate it to either stress or food groups. Common IBS triggers are bread and dairy.

Good luck with the DR - it is very easy for a Dr to just say oh yeah IBS because the symptoms are so general, but they can also be many other things. I do worry that as I am labelled as an IBS sufferer that anything sinister may be missed. My symptoms have changed over 20 years. They used to be molre about cramps and specific bouts. Now I have low back pain and can physically feel spasms. Now I have this new pain much higher up and dont know what it is.

Sorry to waffle on!!!

You are not waffling- it sounds very stressful. Until now I had rather taken by bowel for granted- not anymore!! Good to hear that the movicol had helped keep things under control.

GP thinks the diarrhea was most likley some type of infection that I caught off someone (didn't pass it on to anyone else at home though, so can't be sure that this is right). He thinks that the pain that I have now is probably just inflammation of my bowel due to that diarrhea and infection.

He said the other thing that it could be is diverticulitis, but he thinks I would most likely feel worse than I do if I had this.

He thinks it may improve in a week and said to go back if this is not the case or if i see blood in my stool (funny word that ). So fingers crossed.

I hope you dont get another bad bout anytime soon.

Sounds promising owlelf. Hopefully it was an infection and with good hygiene the rest of your family have avoided it.

Definately go back and even keep a log (pardon the pun) of your bowels behaviour/activity and any associated pain, if things dont settle down.

My DC are still home from school until next week, if my discomfort has not eased by then i think I may go and see my GP and will report back.

Hopefully you are now on the road to recovery and it will all settle down quickly for you.

Try a mug of peppermint tea. Try and buy it loose if possible and steep a couple of teaspoons for 5 mins.

The other thing you could try is an infusion of meadowsweet which you can buy from a herbalists. 1 teaspoon steeped for 15 mins.

Hope this helps and your problem settles down quickly.