Weird stomach thing

<!–more–>Hi team. So I’ll start this with I’m planning on making a doctors appointment, but I’m hoping to get my head round what this might be before going down the various roads.

I’ve long had IBS and I am someone who’s ibs kicks off with stress. It’s generally not affected by anything else (years of trial and error, not science). After getting Covid for the second time, for a few months after the initial ‘hit’ I would spend 2-4am on the bathroom floor with quite bad stomach cramps a couple of nights a week. Since then, every 3-4 months (not regular as such), I’ll go to bed with some stomach cramps, the kind where you get it cramping then a break for 20-40 minutes then starts again. I’ll then have to get up and be near the toilet from around 2am.

The last two times it’s happened (few months ago and last night)  I’ve been violently sick in the night, basically being sick every hour to the point where it’s just bile. Then things settle down fairly quickly. I’m sat now feeling pretty keen on lunch.

What should/could I be trying to do or be making sure is investigated? It’s really weird. It it’s definitely escalated over the last few years.

Colitis ?   BIL has developed Ulcerative Colitis recently, and SIL has another type –

Anything you’ve eaten that’s brought it on ?

Gallstones?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallstones/symptoms/

Thanks st66. Hadn’t thought of that. Could match.

cheers fossy, I think that’s probably at the omg scale of things. Hope BIL and SIL are ok

IBS is one of many conditions where it is thought there could be a neuroplastic element, where structural cause has been ruled out. An association with stress may be one indicator of this being the case, also if symptoms are intermittent. The Curable app is a useful starting place if you wanted to explore this possibility.

Thanks stick_man. Will download and start it.

Have you had a diagnosis of IBS or seen anyone about it recently?  Have you been scanned/tested for IBD. inflammation markers etc.

There are treatments for UC & Chron’s so it isnt the end of the world.  There are horror stories but there are many who are well managed and treatments are getting better all the time.

plus you’re being treated.  which it seems like you need some help with

Hi joefm, yes got tested and they did the inflammation markers, probably 5 years ago. I think it’s time for a repeat, I’ve submitted the doc request just now. As you say, better off knowing. I tend to think if the thought of knowing and sorting it, however awkward is less off putting than living with it then it’s time to get it sorted!

What should/could I be trying to do or be making sure is investigated? It’s really weird. It it’s definitely escalated over the last few years.

Diverticulitis?

How much caffeine do you consume? Had similar symptoms, ultrasound showed no gallstones. Cut out coffee and symptoms cured. Haven’t had an attack in over 6 years.

So caffeine, flat white in the morning and probably three cups of tea in the afternoon.  That removal of coffee has sent me in to cold shudders 😂

Covid is a potentially body-wide inflammatory illness, it wouldn’t surprise me that it could cause a worsening of pre-existing inflammatory symptoms (eg IBS), and that this additional inflammation can hang around for quite a while after the covid infection has cleared up.

But you’re doing the right thing getting it checked out as soon as you can. Any new digestive symptoms, along with the worsening of your existing stuff, needs to be investigated swiftly and thoroughly.

Diverticulitis – that’s what my SIL’s suspected Ulcerative Colitis turned out to be after tests. She’d been out on a bike ride, but ended up doubled up in pain, being sick etc (local few mile ride – she’s not a cyclist). I’d gone out in the car to get her home. She’s not one for doctors so left it a long time until eventually getting tests. She generally has to watch her diet as stuff triggers it.

BIL recently diagnosed, but as he’s on holiday currently, he’s been eating stuff he shouldn’t, he has had a big pain flare up that got him bundled off to a hospital in Italy for a night.

Alot of these things are manageable, but need investigating.

Also, the stress. Body and mind are so interconnected, which you’ve already noted as a trigger for your IBS. Is there anything that can be done about removing the stressors? Anything that can be done to help cope with the stress – eg talking therapy. Perhaps something you could discuss with GP or friends/partners or random blokes on a bike forum. Whatever fits 🙂

Randomers on a bike forum win 😂 it’s a great point goldfish, think I might access the EAP through work in parallel.

I knew someone who thought they had IBS, and was convinced it was brought on by certain foods and ingredients. This was very much a self-diagnosis / Dr Google, alternative healing type of person, they read all manner of books such as ‘The Gut Diet’ etc etc. They did also see an NHS Dr or two for the issue, who were pretty useless. This went on for around 10 – 12 years. Turned out they had bowel cancer and by the time it was diagnosed they had 4 months left.

Anything stomach related can take months to diagnose, especially if someone thinks it might be in the IBS area.

I was ‘lucky’ and went jaundice almost immediately. (after months of similar issue to yours I mean, it would come and go, had various inconclusive tests and endoscopies)

The jaundice was a give a way that it was likely gall stones. Sadly it turned out to be cancer instead, but it meant there was that trigger for an ultrasound and the a CT scan that had never previously been offered.

If it’s been a recurrent issue, really push for a scan as well as the endless blood tests etc.

Apologies in advance if I’ve misread any of the thread. Cheers

Cheers Jim, sorry to hear about the C diagnosis.

Yep see the doc. As a long term colitis sufferer your symptoms don’t make me think it’s that. In my experience colitis doesn’t cause vomiting and flare ups don’t usually pass untreated quickly, mine can last weeks/months not hours/days. I am not up on crohns symptoms though. Don’t get IBS and IBD mixed up, they are very different things, many people think they are similar and related which they are not. Talk through with your doc and get whatever tests/scopes needed to rule things in or out.

Yeah – what you are describing sounds like gallstones, specifically gall bladder inflamation as they move about and block the bile duct.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/cholecystitis#:~:text=Cholecystitis%20(pronounced%20ko%2Dluh%2D,is%20made%20in%20the%20liver.

Your gall bladder is particularly active at night, and the 40 minute gaps between attacks fits too, as does retching until there is nothing but bile left.

Had it myself a a couple of months ago – exactly the symptoms you describe, and am now booked to have my gall bladder out in a couple of weeks, after an ultrasound revealed two “moderately sized, mobile gallstones”.  Apparently having the thing taken out is really the only way to deal with it.  Smaller stones (or fragments) can pass out of the bladder and cause horrific pain and complications – so the consultant has told me to just get it done.

There is a randomness to the attacks, but you can reduce the chance of an attack by cutting back on fatty foods (anything deep fried, for example), particularly later in the evening, and by keeping regular mealtimes (according to the nurse).

Go and see your GP, but he will refer you to a gastroenterologist most likely.  Dunno what the wait time for a gall bladder removal in the UK is?

@batfink – my Mum’s been going through this for the last 6+ months. The NHS in her part of the UK aren’t moving very fast so the lap chole isn’t until June, made worse by having to have surgery for a macular hole in between.

But, what I wanted to share was that she’s recently been drinking Stonebreaker tea (Phyllanthus niruri) and said it’s completely cleared the symptoms*. She still has to have surgery or she can’t get travel insurance (!) but is pretty relieved.

*Despite everything written, she’s actually found the problem for her is sweet food not fatty (ie – a boiled sweet will set it off).

Interesting about the tea!

Yes, the consultant said that it’s also sugary foods that can set it off – but fatty foods for sure.

I’ve only had a couple of attacks (overnight, as the OP has also experienced) and so having my gallbladder removed seemed a bit over-the-top….. asked the consultant this, and he said that they will just keep happening until you have it out.  Apparently it’s a minor op, and there is no real lasting effects of living without it.

I’m suffering from weird stomach thing myself, now seemingly healthy and waiting for specialist’s comment on follow up CT scan after 26 days stay as patient at wars.
The most troubling thing is that multiple doctors have said that root cause of my issues might not be found as intestinal issues can be very complex. I’m  happy that any intestinal surgeries were not done  as they might be difficult to recover from.

I’ve only had a couple of attacks (overnight, as the OP has also experienced) and so having my gallbladder removed seemed a bit over-the-top

Yeah….. No it’s not!

I had it about 18 years ago but the final straw was a stone getting impacted at the junction of the common bile and pancreatic ducts.

This caused pancreatitis which I can guarantee is extremely painful and can be life-threatening (I spent 10 days in hospital with it).

Get your GB removed, it’s fine without it – I still eat fatty foods with zero to minimal effects.

(Everyone is different so you may react differently)

Mmannerr I hope you get your weird stomach thing sorted. Sounds like a nightmare.
To those who have suggested gallstones thank you, I’d never have thought of this but it looks (superficially) like it could be a contender so I will make sure it’s checked off. It would never have occurred to me!

Thanks northernremedy, I hope some specialist will tell me some calming words in addition to some indecipherable Latin phrases.

Good luck to everyone else suffering too, seems that stomach issues can be related just about anything.

Grey, greasy, clay like poo is also a common gall stone/bladder sign, if the bike duct is impacted… So don’t be shy!