Wellness

[SnuggleBunny]

I have had IBS off and on for years but lately I've been experiencing some odd symptoms of severe lower abdomen spasms and lower back spasms. I had a complete hysterectomy several years ago. I still have my gall bladder which I think is iffy (big D off and on). The spasms awaken me but after I'm up a short while they go away but leave me feeling kind of beat up. I sleep well every night but awaken in pain. I'm looking for a new dr. but in the meantime has anyone experienced this?

Actually I've had these symptoms for one year.

[rac71]

Does the pain slowly shift? You need to find a doctor. GP and a gastro. A year is too long to let this go.

[Zcat]

Your gall bladder can cause on-and-off problems, especially after eating a fatty meal.

If you are having a problem finding an accurate diagnosis, I think you should check into the possibility that you may have intestinal parasites. People in this country don't think that we have those kinds of problems, but they truly are under-diagnosed. I'm not saying that's what you have, I'm just suggesting that you keep it in mind since it is almost always overlooked.

(If you research parasites, you will find that lots of people have them. If you own a pet, eat sushi, or walk outside barefoot -- you have parasites.)

[SnuggleBunny]

On 3/10/2014 rac71 said: Does the pain slowly shift? You need to find a doctor. GP and a gastro. A year is too long to let this go.

No - my entire lower back and abdomen. It goes away when I get up! Could it be as simple as the wrong mattress?

[hckynut]

If you are "over the age" have you had a Colonoscopy? If not, regardless of what is causing this pain, it would be a good idea to schedule one. Other than that there are so many things that can exhibit these same symptoms I won't even speculate, as that is about most anyone here can do.

[AnnMarie-1]

On 3/10/2014 SnuggleBunny said:

On 3/10/2014 rac71 said: Does the pain slowly shift? You need to find a doctor. GP and a gastro. A year is too long to let this go.

No - my entire lower back and abdomen. It goes away when I get up! Could it be as simple as the wrong mattress?

Does your mattress have a dip in it where you lay? Try laying on a flatter surface if you have one & see if that helps. I tried sleeping on a couch I have that is flat & firm for a couple days & my strange abdominal/back pain went away

[hckynut]

On 3/10/2014 SnuggleBunny said

No - my entire lower back and abdomen. It goes away when I get up! Could it be as simple as the wrong mattress?

Could be. I won't speculate, as I said in my previous post, I will tell you my issues with something similar to this.

I think you know about my 3 ruptured lumbar discs so I will go from there. One of my good friends is a Spinal Surgeon and he has done several MRI's of my spine. Once to remove the ruptured L-3 particles.

Mentioned here many times over the years that I have slept exclusively in a lounge chair for well over 20 years now. Why? Because after 2 hours my oblique muscles go into a spasm and this also draws all the muscles in my back as tight as a guitar string. My doctor friend has no answer other than "keep sleeping in a lounge chair".

I've tried about every type of mattress/adjustable bed/air bed/topper and on and on, and nothing helps. If I spend 3 hours in a bed a have to roll onto the floor and loosen the oblique muscles bit by bit by bit. That is starting on all 4's and slowly expanding these muscles by slowly getting my upper body in a vertical position. Then little by little getting each vertebrae in my spine, 1 by one by 1 into that same vertical position.

As soon as I get standing up completely I head to the shower and run very warm water over my body/both front and back, and that helps loosen up the muscles and also helps raise the blood temperature so the muscles and connecting tissues have more flexibility.

That is why I never sleep in a bed. The only time I've been in a bed for any length of time over the last 20+ years is with my 1st heart attack with Aspiration Pneumonia and I was in the ICU for 8 days. Didn't have any choice there as I had a "balloon pump" in my groin assisting my heart muscle to help get rid of all the fluid in my lungs and keep any more heart muscle from dying.

Just my story with kinda similar symptoms, but as I said I am only telling you my story and this is not in any way meant to be a diagnosis for your issues.

[rac71]

I still say you need to see a doctor. We don't, and can't know all your specific medial and health issues, your lifestyle, or family history. A general practitioner/Internist cam make an initial assessment and screen for a variety of causes. If necessary, you will then be sent to a specialist. But only the doctor who examines you can make those determinations.

[SnuggleBunny]

On 3/10/2014 hckynut said:

If you are "over the age" have you had a Colonoscopy? If not, regardless of what is causing this pain, it would be a good idea to schedule one. Other than that there are so many things that can exhibit these same symptoms I won't even speculate, as that is about most anyone here can do.

Hi John - long time no talk! I am 65 yrs. old (already)!! I've had 2 colonoscopies - last one 5 yrs. ago. I cannot tell if the pain is inside my abdomen or the muscles covering abdomen and back. Maybe I need a dr. and a new bed! It all started when my husband had his stroke. Stay well my friend.

[SnuggleBunny]

On 3/10/2014 AnnMarie-1 said:

On 3/10/2014 SnuggleBunny said:

On 3/10/2014 rac71 said: Does the pain slowly shift? You need to find a doctor. GP and a gastro. A year is too long to let this go.

No - my entire lower back and abdomen. It goes away when I get up! Could it be as simple as the wrong mattress?

Does your mattress have a dip in it where you lay? Try laying on a flatter surface if you have one & see if that helps. I tried sleeping on a couch I have that is flat & firm for a couple days & my strange abdominal/back pain went away

Yes I feel like the mattress is all wrong and it's rather new! I think maybe that's the first thing I'll do - get a new one!