Extreme Intestinal Cramping

[Amburmist 55]

Hi bypassers. I'm currently a year out and things have been going fine for the most part. However, I have recently had 2 separate bouts of the most awful and sever intestinal cramping I've ever experienced in my life. I don't quite know what I ate or why it happened but it was horrendous. Here's what happened:

I could feel like I was going to have to poop soon, but not yet, like normal, and then the pain started. It hit with sharp pains, I start to sweat (i think from the pain), so I start walking around bcos sitting is worse. The poo continues to move further down and the pain just increases the lower it goes. There's lots of noise in my lower intestines, almost like the bubble sounds of diarrhea. The pain is sharp, then it fades, then sharp, and fades and this happens over and over until I'm hunched over each time it hits, legs almost giving out. I run to the potty and just pray for the pain to stop. The pain stopped once the poo came out, but no diarrhea. The second time this happened there was a lot of poop (in 2 trips), solid at first, then extremely putrid diarrhea. (Sorry so graphic.) Once it ALL was out (i could barely even push it out bcos the pain was so bad), the pain subsided eventually. I was sore intestionally for the remainder of the night.

That last one was on Nov 28th. I haven't had a BM since, and I'm afraid to eat anything so I'm kind of back to my basics, not eating anything new or various. In fact, the only new thing I ate the night of the 28th was some stuffing and gravy. Never had the gravy before. The stuffing I had 3 days prior with no issues. The first time this happened, about a week prior, the new food I was eating were apples. I don't think I'd had apples in months, or maybe at all since surgery a year ago (I'm a very picky eater and don't eat much variety). I don't know if this issue is bcos of apples and gravy...in other words, food my body didn't like...or something more nefarious.

Anyway, my question to u all is if this has happened to anyone before? I'm petrified it's going to happen again; it was almost as painful as when my lumbar disc exploded in my back before I had fusion. Almost. I'm just nervous if it's an obstruction or intestional twist or something crazy that may require surgery. Or was it was just that new food I ate? Is it a food thing? Any thoughts u have are welcomed. Please help me brainstorm this out. I'm so scared to have another BM, or eat anything new.

Thank you.

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[toodlerue 433]

Almost sounds like kidney stones. But you really should see a doctor. If it is an obstruction in your intestines & they rupture it will be a whole lot worse!!!!!

[Jazzy1125 1,010]

I am only just about a month out.. so do not have the expertise for this, but I surely hope you do feel better!

[Frustr8 7,886]

if you try to walk, does it improve or worsen? If it gets better, maybe excessive gas? If worse, do bring your Bariatric Team into the loop, yeah a lot of us have had similar due to multiple things, but they are Your Best Resource, on Bariatric Pal we only practice lay medicine and Hope. Very few have licenses and degrees, but we all support each other on the Journey!

[FluffyChix 17,413]

Yep, it happens any time I get semi backed up. Personally, I know the pain is from hard and large poo going through my colon like Sherman through Georgia. But that's just me. It could be so many many many things! Only your doc will know for sure. One of the things could be diverticulitis or diverticulosis...or just a food sensitivity. Apple peel can be hard on some. As can gravy!

I make sure I don't go longer than 2 days without a visit from Mr. Hanky. If the schedule on the #2 tracks is more deranged than 2 days out, I call for MOM or for the glycerin suppositories. Cuz homie will not play those games any more. It's tooooooo difficult! LOL.

I take daily Miralax, generally keep dairy and cheese to the low side, eat lots of Fiber from veggies and psyllium husks and take 2 Colace per day + drink 120+ oz of liquids. And I exercise every day too...

Edited December 2, 2018 by FluffyChix

[Biddy zz 🏳️🌈 1,003]

Sounds horribly like my gallstones... a known side effect of bypass surgery (well, rapid weight loss really). Mine hit me in Hong Kong Airport! 3 hours of waves of intense pain, bad diarrhoea, feel like vomiting until after a bowel motion, then it settled to milder pain, less sweating, but 1/2 hour later started all over again.

See your doc. It isn’t normal - and if it is gallstones, the surgery is quick and simple...

[Amburmist 55]

Sounds horribly like my gallstones... a known side effect of bypass surgery (well, rapid weight loss really). Mine hit me in Hong Kong Airport! 3 hours of waves of intense pain, bad diarrhoea, feel like vomiting until after a bowel motion, then it settled to milder pain, less sweating, but 1/2 hour later started all over again.
See your doc. It isn’t normal - and if it is gallstones, the surgery is quick and simple...

Gallstones can cause so much pain in the intestinal tract? I thought the pain would be relegated to the gallbladder area...? No?

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[Amburmist 55]

Yep, it happens any time I get semi backed up. Personally, I know the pain is from hard and large poo going through my colon like Sherman through Georgia. But that's just me. It could be so many many many things! Only your doc will know for sure. One of the things could be diverticulitis or diverticulosis...or just a food sensitivity. Apple peel can be hard on some. As can gravy!
I make sure I don't go longer than 2 days without a visit from Mr. Hanky. If the schedule on the #2 tracks is more deranged than 2 days out, I call for MOM or for the glycerin suppositories. Cuz homie will not play those games any more. It's tooooooo difficult! LOL.
I take daily Miralax, generally keep dairy and cheese to the low side, eat lots of fiber from veggies and psyllium husks and take 2 Colace per day + drink 120+ oz of liquids. And I exercise every day too...

Hey Fluff! Long time!
I was wondering about this too. My poo routine has always been slow, between 3-5 days between trips so it was no oddity that it was that long between trips even after surgery. The difference after surgery, tho, is that my #2s are - most of the time - oily rabbit turd little things, sometimes bigger and drier. I had been thinking about starting on a Miralax habit as well prior to this.
Ps. I guess I expunged so much on the 28th, I still haven't gone since. And I don't even feel anything coming. I feel very empty, really. My food intake has been super, super low bcos I'm afraid of pooping again...the pain was THAT bad. And I don't wanna go back to the doctor...so no food, no poo, no pain. I know, I know...[emoji53]

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[Amburmist 55]

I am only just about a month out.. so do not have the expertise for this, but I surely hope you do feel better!

Thank you. Me too!

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[FluffyChix 17,413]

2 minutes ago, Amburmist said:

Hey Fluff! Long time!
I was wondering about this too. My poo routine has always been slow, between 3-5 days between trips so it was no oddity that it was that long between trips even after surgery. The difference after surgery, tho, is that my #2s are - most of the time - oily rabbit turd little things, sometimes bigger and drier. I had been thinking about starting on a Miralax habit as well prior to this.
Ps. I guess I expunged so much on the 28th, I still haven't gone since. And I don't even feel anything coming. I feel very empty, really. My food intake has been super, super low bcos I'm afraid of pooping again...the pain was THAT bad. And I don't wanna go back to the doctor...so no food, no poo, no pain. I know, I know...

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Oh hon! ((hugs)) I'm betting that is part of the issue. Swearsies! Don't wait for Miralax to work. If it were me, I'd go ahead and get it and Colace on board, but I'd hit it hard with MOM. And a crap ton of liquids! But I'm not a doc and definitely not qualified to dx and treat. LOL. Hope you feel better soon!!!!

[Amburmist 55]

Oh hon! ((hugs)) I'm betting that is part of the issue. Swearsies! Don't wait for Miralax to work. If it were me, I'd go ahead and get it and Colace on board, but I'd hit it hard with MOM. And a crap ton of liquids! But I'm not a doc and definitely not qualified to dx and treat. LOL. Hope you feel better soon!!!!

Understood. Thank u much for ur feedback!

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[FluffyChix 17,413]

2 minutes ago, Amburmist said:

Understood. Thank u much for ur feedback!

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Rabbit pellets are never good to see, no matter who you are!

Good to see you btw, you should stick around and play with us for awhile!

[Biddy zz 🏳️🌈 1,003]

52 minutes ago, Amburmist said:

Gallstones can cause so much pain in the intestinal tract? I thought the pain would be relegated to the gallbladder area...? No?

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The gallstone pain was - well, entire abdominal would be the best explanation. It certainly wasn’t in any way localized.

I have heard it said it is one of the more significant pain events one can experience. I’d attest to that!