Cramping in gut for days now.

[MotherofBaggins]

Hi all, I've name changed cos this is a bit embarrassing tbh.For the past year I've been reacting to food. So after I eat something, I'll have diarrhoea and associated urgency for about 24 hrs afterwards.

This was only happening every month though, as I couldn't pinpoint a specific food (well it was Chinese food initially but then was peanuts and red wine and now just random things, like lamb!). So I just shrugged my shoulders and paid little heed.

But now it's a lot more often and it's going on longer. This current attack is going on now over a week, after I ate a lamb dinner Saturday week. I have daily lower gut cramping and spasming after eating, and urgency and diarrhoea. No bloating mind, its all very low down. Its embarrassing and difficult at work as I work in a place which is so busy bathroom breaks often have to wait.

Thinking of going to the doctor now. What could the doctor do though? I can't isolate a specific trigger. Is there anything I can take?

Just make an appointment with your GP - he or she will want to know about a sustained change in bowel habit.

Does one have to bring a stool sample?

No. You might get examined in your back passage or you might not at this stage. Unfortunately too many people suffer in silence due to squeamishness or embarrassment about that possibility. Anyway it is hugely important to share these concerns with a GP and put him or her in a position to get you some answers and a resolution of what sound like troubling symptoms.

Thanks, I'll set the ball rolling. I've been in the loo for lengthy periods about 5 times this evening with a lot of pain and diarrhoea and it's starting to become really problematic.

Might I ask your age? It sounds a bit like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's. Any bleeding?

Doctors asap. Could be lots of things which can be easily fixed so no point suffering needlesssly.

They will likely want a stool sample at some point to test for a c diff infection, so ask when you make the appointment if they want you to bring one.

I'm 43. There's no bleeding thank god. No bloating either. No weight loss. No loss of appetite. Even this morning I have constant cramps, quite sharp, bilaterally. Also have started to feel a sensation of pressure in my back passage even after voiding, when I know its empty. That is worrisome. I'm going to try to get an appointment for Thurs as I'm working tomorrow.

OP, have you done a course of antibiotics recently?

Not recently but probably within the past year. This has been going on since at least the start of the year, just not as chronic so I didn't pay much attention. I did have bad gastroenteritis last October but I can't remember if it started after that tbh or if its completely unrelated and started later than that. I haven't had any other illnesses (other than the flu) since.

I was on ADs for about 6 months from January on (for PND) but am not on any medication since whatsoever and take nothing other than the odd paracetamol. And that's only once a week, if that.

Definitely eating triggers spasms/cramps and it seems strongly connected to eating. But this morning I have had breakfast and had spasms immediately but no diarrhoea. Yet.

I have an appt with the GP on Thursday. I might take a sample pit from work (work in hospital) just in case I have a timely movement just before.

I haven't been in contact with any c diff patient recently (though can't be sure) , though we get the odd VRE and ESBL patient. I don't have to do any personal care but I do have patient contact.

Honestly I hope its bacterial, at least then it could be a quick fix!