IBS & Back Pain
Hi, I'm fairly new to IBS and at the moment I'm self diagnosed (waiting for an app with my GP but waiting times are huge!) I've recently been struggling but a uti which lasted about 4 months and after 5 courses of anti biotics I got rid. However when I went back I still had the cramping pains in my stomach but the doc confirmed no bacteria in my urine so the infection had gone. The stomach pain is coming and going and I'm getting a gurgling sensation in my stomach, I've also had avid reflux in bouts too. Last night we were out and I had some fried cheese and the journey home was horrible, my stomach felt awful I felt as if it was going to explode and I couldn't wait to home. My bowel movements have been erratic and I'm pretty convinced after last night that it's IBS. There is one thing that is worrying me and it's a pain in my right side that seems to fluctuate from my back to my side (this is normally were I have pain when I have a uti but it usually comes with stomach pain but none right now) but I read that IBS can give you pain in your back and I'm just wondering if anyone could shed on personal light on this? Also if there is anyone who has IBS and it affects their bladder. Any advice anyone can give about things that are affected thay maybe they didn't expect? Like joint pain etc. Thank you.
This is horrible for you and you must feel dreadfully uncomfortable and very confused too. The best thing I can advise is to get an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can. But I do understand those long waits for an appointment, as if it's not classed as an 'emergency', that happens here too in the UK.
If you have a long wait, then maybe you can see which foods suit you in the meantime. Yes, maybe stay away from fried cheese. Just eat very plain healthy and simple foods. Like steamed fish, eggs, white meats, potatoes, rice, pasta (be careful of sauces!) vegetables, and any fruits you can tolerate. Keep your diet healthy and simple. Steam all veg, don't eat raw.
Or you could check out the low FODMAP diet online, and see if any of the foods on the low Fodmap list help?
I am not a doctor, and have no idea what might be going on. But it might help for you to have initial tests such as a full blood test, testing everything, another urine, and some stool analysis tests. One for Calprotectin (which measures inflammation in the gut) another for Lactoferrin, and the FIT test, which measures any blood -even traces -in the GI tract.
I am sure your doctor will sort this out and give you more info. If any 'red flags' are found, he or she may refer you for a CT or colonoscopy to be more sure what's happening.
Then there might be other things to consider, such as bile acid malabsorption, or SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) or dysbiosis (when your gut flora get messed up)
Actually, that makes me wonder! You had a long course of antibiotics for the UTI -right? Your microbiome could be disturbed. It's even possible a good quality probiotic will help! It might be worth a try.
Unfortunately IBS doesn't have any particular markers. There are some patterns which can point to IBS, yes. But only by knowing you don't have any other things, can you know you have IBS.
So far, my IBS doesn't affect my bladder noticeably, but I have heard some people do get that.
I apologize if you have already done this, but did you take probiotics after all those rounds of antibiotics? Our gut microbiomes are very sensitive.
I can get back pains when I have a large buildup of gas.
As for your bladder, I found this:
Large amounts of stool in the colon can put pressure on the bladder which can cause the bladder to not fill as much as it should, or cause the bladder to contract when the bladder is not supposed to contract
https://urology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/children/constipation
I didn't expect constant nausea. It's been non stop for me since 2011.
