Abdominal pain

[thegreylady]

I have had an intermittent abdominal pain for two days now. It is right across the front of my belly, low down and comes and goes in waves. It is accompanied by many visits to the loo for weeks and small bowel movements.My temp is 37.3 so not high. I rang 111 who told me to buy Buscopan (an antispasmodic) and ring back if it didn’t help. I’ve had two pills four hours apart and the pain is still coming. Any ideas anyone?

Maybe you've had a bit of a stomach bug or something. There's so many possible causes of abdominal pain and bowel issues, the vast majority of which are relatively harmless and easily managed.

How long have you been taking the Buscopan? Or do you mean you've literally only had two tablets so far? Give it a decent chance to work. A hot water bottle/wheat bag might help with the discomfort, though not exactly an appealing thought on a day like today.

How recent is the other change in bowel habits?

Unless you have any major symptoms (bleeding, severe pain, severe diarrhoea/constipation etc.) then it's unlikely to be anything serious. Obviously if it continues (usually they say three weeks for a change in bowel habit, assuming you don't have ongoing bowel/health issues) or worsens then it is worth making a routine GP appointment to discuss it.

You can also buy peppermint capsules and mebeverine over the counter, which some people find helpful for bowel spasms (check they're safe with any other conditions or medications, obviously).

Thanks Lesley. I have just taken the third pill. The ooh doc said if it wasn’t showing signs of improvement by dinner time to ring back. I am assuming he dines at posh o clock and was going to ring at 8.30 but if I should wait 24 hours I’ll do that. I know you understand these things more than most .

Well if you were told to phone back then, obviously you should. I'm not in any way medically qualified :) I've absolutely no first-hand experience of this type of scenario, to be perfectly honest!

Are you taking just one tablet at a time? The maximum OTC dose is two tablets four times a day so unless you were told to take only one then it might be worth trying two at a time. (By the way take no notice of the packaging, they sell it the same active ingredient under different names, but as long as it's hyoscine butylbromide 10mg tablets with no other ingredients then that's the maximum dose. So buy whichever is cheapest!)

I hope the pain eases up soon anyway

Thanks. He didn’t give me a dose so I was going off the packet. I’ll try 2 at 10 o clock.

Appendix?

Oh actually no - surely it’s a urine infection?! Go back and get them to dip test your wee.

Oh is it many loo visits for bladder? I assumed it was bowel movements. If you're seeing more frequently then UTI is a definite possibility, especially in this weather.

Hopefully they'll be able to put your mind at rest when you call back later.

All the best

It is both but wee seems normal, not stinging or cloudy. The Buscopan has settled it a bit now. It was a telephone consultation before, couldn’t get through later so either walk in clinic in the morning or GP on Monday.

Both times I’ve had a uti my wee has been normal and no stinging - I just felt tired and had lower back ache

Right GP in the morning just in case it is a uti. No temperature today and fewer pains but not completely normal at all.