What is wrong with my stomach?!

What is wrong with my stomach?

It is very bloated and sore. Also I find is a lot weaker than before, I find I am nearly throwing up when eating occasionally or when cleaning things up....? Really strange... I am not pregnant before you suggest it as having periods as normal.

4 weeks ago
I eat bran flakes every morning and have fruit for lunch and go to the toilet every day.

4 weeks ago
It has been going on for a while now - months rather than weeks...

It sounds like it could be IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Common characteristics are bloating, gas and abdo pain. The bloating could be a result of constipation. Some IBS sufferers experience diarrhoea first thing in the morning, which has been my experience. This condition is often affected by stress. My doctor told me that I must reduce the stress levels. Through research of my own I learnt that when we don't deal with our issues and let things out our bodies (intestines particularly) take on the burden(s). Things got so bad with me that I was bleeding rectally and was woken up every morning for five weeks with horrendous stomach pains and diarrhoea.

After seeing my doctor, I was refered to the hospital to see a gastrointerolergist. He sent me in for an endoscopy. This is where they insert a camera rectally and have a look just into the lower part of your intestine. They found a small lump (a polyp) in my intestine which they scheduled to be removed the following month. This was done via colonoscopy which is the same procedure but instead they looked around the whole of the intestine just to make sure there was nothing else there, and there wasn't, thank God! Since the colonoscopy, the pains have subsided quite alot and I've been put on medication. They've told me it's something that can't be cured but will ease the older I get. The medication just eases the pains and diarrhoea.

I know that you don't have most of these symptoms, and I hope you never do but if you do have IBS or something similar you may not show all the symptoms.

I was also refered to a dietician. She asked me to keep a diary of all the foods I ate and to write down the times a had flare-ups of any bleeding or diarrhoea. I was surprised to learn that fruit, pasta, bread, oily and spicy foods triggered my flare-ups. This is due to the fibre, some IBS sufferers don't do well with it. It may be worth having a food intolerance test done to make sure. Other foods that can have an effect are chocolate, milk, caffine and alcohol.

Lastly, some wome have periods during their pregnancy so maybe you should have a pregnancy test anyway! :)

I know it's alot but I'm speaking from experience . Hope it was of some benefit! Hope all goes well!