Pls help... advice needed. Constant nausea and stomach cramps/ bloating?

Question

Hi,
I would appreciate any advice. Have been suffering with really painful stomach cramps and bloating since April last year. I was constipated for just over a week and don't seem to have been right since. In the last 6 months my lower abdomen has swollen and my clothes size has increased from a small 10 to a tight 12. The nausea is almost constantly there and is driving me insane. I feel like I want to belch all the time. My stools are also concerning me - I have had mucus within them, which has gradually increased. I have been to my GP several times and just recently I went in and asked to be referred. I had a consultation at my local hosp and he prodded my stomach asked a few Q's and then handed me leaflets on IBS. I really didn't feel like he had explored enough.
Does anyone have any idea what is wrong?
Thanks

Answer 1

Hiya-first of all don't worry.Your not alone.Loads of my family have IBS-it is bloody horrible.Your doctor sounds like he is totally unsupportive and needs a good kick up his butt!Irritable Bowel Syndrome is an unexplained illness that causes cramping,diarrhea,constipation,sickness,tiredness etc.It is often caused by certain foods u r allergic to but if ur a girl,PMS also effects it!If i were u i would make a chart of all the food u r eatin and when u get ill to try and find out what ur allergic to.Failing tht go to Holland+Barret and book a food sensitivity test and cut out all the food ur allegic too.My mum uses Colpermin tablets (Get from the docs) to relieve bloating and also cooks from a book, Barbara Cousin's 'Cooking Without'.It is really good.Peppermint tea is good for the stomach cramps and Ginger biscuits/tea relieve sickness.As do travel sickness bands.I hope i have helped u :) xxx

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You need a referral to a gastroenterologist. While the differential diagnosis of your symptoms might include IBS, you do not mention alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhoea. a hallmark of irritable bowel syndrome.

You sound more like IBD, inflammatory bowel disease. Not treated the same as IBS at all. IBD is a term that covers crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis, and some of these can present in ways that can kill you, or make yo want to die.

Answer 4

I would definately go see my gyn it is possible you may be pregnant but there are so many other things it could be for peace of mind and body let the doctor decide what test you may need don't fool around with your health there are serious conditions like pid that ruin your chances of ever getting pregers but dont worry I'm not a doctor just a woman who has gone through some of the same things and its always best to get checked

Answer 5

IBS (and yes I have it as one of my many medical problems) can cause a number of the symptoms that you have going on but I would recommend that you consult a gastroenterologist (a dr that treats diseases and conditions of the stomach and intestines). I don't know if this is the dr that your primary care dr is having you see at the local hospital but if not please request a consultation with a gastroenterologist to see if they can help you figure out what is going on.