Question about swelling
#23959 - 10/20/03 06:10 AM
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Saralou
Reged: 10/18/03
Posts: 62
Loc: Maryland
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I know that one of the symptoms of IBS is/can be swelling. But I was wondering what kind of swelling is "normal" for the syndrome. To be more precise, I have swelling on the lower right side of my abdomen (right above the pubic bone--where, in anatomy terms, I think the colon would be). It was actually one of the first "symptoms" I had when I first discovered there was something wrong. It is almost like a gradual bump right there (but not a lump) and it is more prominent the fuller I am (from either having eaten too much  or from having not have gone to the bathroom for an extended period of time-- and yes, I have IBS-C). It is not visible to the naked eye, only to the touch. Even my mom and some doctors could not feel it until recently, if I had a full stomach. Some even thought it had always been there and that I had only realized it when dealing with the IBS, but it seems a bit coincidental that the swelling would be right over the spot where I have all the pain and spasms associated with IBS.
I was wondering if anyone had a similar symptom or had heard of this?
Txs
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Hello, that sounds a little odd to me. I have IBS C and often(like eveyday!) swell and bloat up but its all over my belly, not just one spot. Have you had an ultrasound or xray to rule out any sort of growth or other abnormalaties?
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Michele-
Thanks for replying. Although I have not ruled out all possibilities, the likely ones with those symptoms definitely were: ovarian cysts, cancer, etc...I have had multiple pelvic ultrasounds, an abdominal unltrasound, a flexible sigmoidoscopy and many blood tests. Any other recommendations? I mean, how far does one have to go to finalize the diagnosis? Should I also have a colonoscopy?
Thanks
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A colonoscopy isn't a bad idea but if you have had the flexible sigmoidoscopy your probably ok there. I'm assuming you have had a pelvic and pap recently? Other than that I really can't think of much else. Sorry I'm not more help. Do you have any other IBS symptoms?
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Michele-I have had so may pap tests and pelvic exams I can't even count that high! I'm not trying to say that all doctors are incompetent, but they seem to dismiss too easily that it's hard to know if it is nothing serious to worry about or if they just don't know. And since I have not had every single thing in the world ruled out...My other symptoms are constipation, bloating, gas and the bad pain in that lower right part of my abdomen that ranges from knife like to feeling like a blown up balloon and is active sometimes all day and other times not for days.
Thanks again for replying.
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Well it sounds like you have had most of the tests. It does sound like IBS, I often have pains like you mentioned, I was just a little concerned when you mentioned a permenant bump, but we all bloat and have pain differently. I know its so frustrating when the drs don't really give you any answers or take you seriously. Do have have the constipation under control or do you need some help there? I can live with the pain most of the time but the bloating is what really gets to me!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Hi Michele--Thanks so much for your concern. For the first time in three years, I feel some reassurance that I am not the only one in this and that others understand (I went through this in college and I often felt alone among my pizza-eating, beer-guzzling peers...God bless 'em!)
My other problem is that I cannot seem to manage both the pain and the constipation, jointly. When I have the constipation fairly under control (by eating lots of fruits and veggies and whole grains), the bloating, pain and spasms in my lower abdomen go crazy. But when I get the pain in check by eating the list of foods allowed and not eating all of the triggered ones (dairy, fried, etc...) the constipation is ridiculous. I have gone only twice in the past week (and I sit every morning for 15 mins!) Eating all the white bread and white rice really constipates me. Ugh. I feel it is a Catch-22 and I have to choose between one or the other.
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Hi Saralou: I'm Mary and I was wondering if you could get an abdominal cat scan done-it is not normal to swell up in one place, even for us! have you read Heather's books??
They give good info on how to eat insoluble vs soluble fiber. how to eat fruits and veggies without as many problems! Good Luck! mary 
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Whatever doesn't kill me will make me stronger!
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hi maryh-
i have wanted to do tons of tests but every doctor I have seen says they do not notice anything, so...i do not get any tests. The one doc (specialist) who did say that he might feel a slight swelling in that area just sent me home with instructions to eat about half a box of high fiber cereal a day. Bottom line: still constipated, annoyed tastebuds and not happy!
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I feel for you, I have very similar problems! When I first started Heathers diet I was a little confused and only ate bread, rice and pasta. The bloating and pain was better, but I didn't go poop either for weekes on end! I added a lot more insoluble fiber into my diet and the constipation eases but I'm gassey and bloated! I hear ya sister, what I wouldn't do for a happy medium! I take Mira-Lax for the constipation but even with that I have to be careful not too eat too much soluble fiber. I exercise, drink a ton of water and take 6-8 fibercon a day. I don't have any good answers for you but you are NOT alone! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Txs for your kind words, Michele.
It certainly is a never-ending cycle. I know this sounds bad, but sometimes I wish I had a little bit of D!  I know that I have had a bit of weight gain because things are going in and they are not coming out. Do you sometimes also have abdominal pain/spasms in one particular area? The kind that can be there, underlying for a while but then sometimes be so knife-like you can't even stand to move, tighten your jeans or be touched?
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YEP! Not so much the knife pains that only happens once in a while, more from gas I think! My entire lower belly is where my pain is! In the am its not as bad, I'll exercise and have oatmeal and my meds. I'll have a "safe" lunch and the swelling begins, my pants are almost always unbuttoned after luch. Doesn't matter if I just have a few graham crackers. By the time I get home from work I can't wait to get my clothes off and put on a night shirt(no panties-even that little pressure is too much!) Forget about touching me! The terrible thing is I don't know why this is! Even when I'm having more or less regular BMs I still have this pain and bloating. I'll go to bed like that, usually with the heating pad on my tummy and by morning I feel OK, not great but better, than start the cycle all over. If your still having a lot of C, have you tried switching or uping your fiber supplement? Be sure you are drinking a ton of water! There a lot of others who have complained of the "stabbibg pains" take some time and read through the old posts.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I understand what you are talking about when you say you have a swollen spot. I have the same thing on my right side. (It makes my pants fit funny) I have had a colonoscopy done. I have severe IBS and a twisted colon. They had to keep rolling me in order to get the scope around the bends and I ended up waking up in the middle of the proceedure. The doctors I have seen don't seem to know how to handle my colon or IBS. They think since my colon is full (of poo) and twice as long as a normal colon, that's why I can see and feel it sticking out. Just hang in there. I don't know of anyone else around me who has IBS. So my family, work or other people just don't understand. Sometimes I get frustrated cause I hurt so bad and there is noone I can talk to about it. But, if you keep positive, I think you will be fine. Isn't it nice to know you aren't the only one with a weird bump?
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This is my first time on this board. I am surprised at finding all of you with the same problems. My family have always laughed at me when I said I start having swelling and pain within minutes of eating. I can't wait to get home and get into comfortable clothes. Everyone thinks I am just lazy and unkempt I think. No one knows what this amount of pain can do to you. How draining it is physically and emotionally. The heating pad over night works. I take lots of Darvocet for the pain. I know meds can cause bloating and pain too. But, it seems the lesser of the evils for me.
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Oh, Skeeter!
I don't want to say that I am pleased to hear that you have a "bump" as well, but as anything else in this world and as you put it yourself, it is indeed very comforting to know that I am not alone. I think that is the one thing about IBS that I have the most difficulty with, the feeling that no one understands what it is like to deal with this chronic condition. I have been seen by a handful of doctors and although I have not had all the possible tests done, you would think that my flexible sigmoidoscopy would have shown something or that the specialist would have made some reference to it. Instead, they like to think that it is in my head and sometimes, I wonder if it all is.
That colonoscopy sounded horrid; I'm so sorry.
Is this a "malformation" that they said you were born with?
Anyway, thank you very much for taking the time to respond. I was indeed feeling very lonely in that aspect. Might I ask if you feel most of your discomfort, pain and spasms at this location?
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Welcome to the board! I fully understand what you are going through and IBS is indeed both physically and emotionally draining. It makes every day, normal things so complicated and painful in many ways. Sometimes, I wonder why this is happening to me, what I did to deserve this but then I remember that everyone has something to deal with and this is just mine. Know that you are not alone. My thoughts are with you! 
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Hey swelling buddy. Good to hear from you. I always thought I was the only one with that problem. The doctors always seem to "give up" on me. They tell me all they can do is put me on different pills and let them know how they work. I don't want to be their lab rat. I understand when you say you can't relate to anyone. That's what I have problems with. I am left with no friends since I refuse to run out and get drunk everynight. Therefore, I also have no one to talk to. Anyhow, enough of that. I had seizures for quite a while and they always told me they were in my head also. But then, years later, they figured out I really did have a problem. So don't let them make you think you are nuts! Keep faith and do the best you can to make yourself happy. Stress triggers my colon to do a lot of bad things. If you can be stress-free it is amazing the difference it can make. Also, a diet helps (but I am far from figuring that out yet). I work all the time, so don't eat healthy. When my stomach acts up (which is all the time) I don't like to eat at all, so doctors say to eat anytime I can. I'll get that figured out one day. I used to go to the gym and do kickboxing a lot, but am working 2 jobs and don't have time right now. For my colon, they said it was something I was probably born with. They said they could go in and cut half my colon out, so it is the normal length and then try to straighten it, but they think that will be harder on my body than to just "learn to live with it". My pain normally hits around that area. I feel like there is a midget with a dagger stagging me on the inside. It hurts so bad it makes me want to vomit. There have been numerous times the pain so sharp my legs gave out from under me. Normally, after the pain gets so intense, it spreads across my stomach and up my back. But, to answer your question, yes, the pain does circulate around that area. The doc told me that was because it was swollen, inflamed and full of poo and that is such a tight spot in the body that it hurts cause it is sort of "smooshed". There's not enough room for it to swell the way it wants to. I have had it swell so bad it pops my hips or back out of place as well. Sorry, I'm not trying to tell you horror stories, just sharing and maybe you can relate. Take care of yourself o)
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Thanks Saralou,
I wish I had an answer for everyone. It seems that when you need to talk to some one in your family about your condition, they always want to revert it to their problem. So you never feel like anyone is listening. I've been married 30 years, I'm a young, dispite my problems, 54 year old. My husband never understood how I felt about my back problems until he hurt his back. I don't want him to ever have IBS, so he will understand. But, it seems like that is what it takes sometimes. He is a very stressful person and is having I think the beginnings of this problem. He is an A type time three. I call him my triple AAA. His stress just trickles down, and irritates what I already have going on. I'm thinking of taking up meditation, and making the spare room a meditation room.
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Jolley: Go for it girlfriend!!! We are need a place to relax and retreat-especially with IBS! Mary
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Whatever doesn't kill me will make me stronger!
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Good morning Skeeter!
I think there is nothing worse than a doctor (and particularly, a specialist) telling you to just try different things and "live with it". You go home, alone, unaware and probably feeling even worse than when you went in!
If that is the case, that it is all sort of squished in there and does not have enough room, why do they think that it wouldn't help to remove some? How swollen are you (shape, size)? Does the swelling change? When did you notice it?
When did this problem begin with you? In that I mean to say that if they think that you were probably born with it, why wouldn't it have been a problem your whole life? Or has it been?
What are your typical trigger foods? Has Heather's diet helped you at all? If IBS is supposed to be related more to your emotions and levels of stress (brain-gut theory) and particularly in those instances, exacerbated by the trigger foods, are the doctors (or you) thinking that for you, it is more a problem of anatomy which has all the IBS symptoms? Did that at all make any sense? I'm sorry to ask so many questions (I'm the daughter of a reformed journalist!)
I hope this email is finding you well (within the "normal" limits of IBS, of course). 
2 jobs? You poor thing...been there, done that. ugh!
Saralou
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Hi Jolley.
I read your words as though they were my own! No one ever seems to be listening, as you say, it always just seems as though people are waiting for their turn to talk. 
And I understand when you say that you do not wish your husband to have IBS, but would merely like him to "understand" what it feels like to be in so much pain, to have a chronic condition. There truly is nothing like it. Sometimes, I'd like to be able to squeeze someone's hand and pass the pain through both our energies, just for a minute or so, so that I can finally be taken seriously; so that I can finally have someone empathize. I'd like to think that in my lifetime, there will be a "cure". In the meantime, I do what I can to make it through the day.
Do you find that there are certain foods that make your symptoms worse? What is a typical day for you? Do you have pain/discomfort pretty much all the time? Where do you have most of your pain and what does it feel like for you? Do you feel as though outside influences worsen your symptoms (daily activitites and things that you have no control over--like your husband's stress!)?
Hang in there--i'll be thinking of you.
Saralou
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I haven't noticed swelling but I know my stomach is bigger than usual. My stomach is usually flat...but lately I look 5 months pregnant, but I"m not....I might add that sweelign of my stomach happens when I eat....I just get instant bloating....its terrible!
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Hey Saralou. I'm just an old fashioned farm girl, so bear with me. I'll try to answer your questions for you and hopefully won't confuse you too bad ) I am at the point right now where I really don't want to go to another doctor. Since they act like its in my head or that I'm a lab rat, I would rather not see them. I have had several bad encounters with doctors and would rather try to live a life where I'm not in their office every week. It really does make you feel alone. Since I have been on several different pills (for my seizures and stomach) I don't have much left of an immune system. They don't know how well my body will recover from the procedure of reducing my colon, or if it would really help. They think it's not worth taking the chance. They talk more about doing it until they saw how my body responded during the colonoscopy. They also had to take a biopsy inside of my stomach and found out I had an infection in the bottom of my stomach. Ok. I am around 5' 1 1/2" feet tall. I weigh around 110 pounds. So, I'm kinda a small girl. I would normally wear a size 6, but with my swelling I normally have to buy 9-10 size jeans. Unfortunately, if I get my swelling to go down, those jeans fall off of me. It's a real inconvenience. My swelling flucuates. Some times it will stay swollen nonstop for several days or weeks. Sometimes it changes day to day. That really depends on my diet and stress. I have always noticed a problem with my stomach. It just became more severe with time. It seems like the pain gains strength as each day passes. For trigger foods, I'm an oddball. Normally, anything sets it off. I have the best luck drinking a pepsi with rice or crackers. Pizza, greasy foods or red meat tears me up pretty bad. I haven't been to good at following heather's diet. I work sun up to sun down. I work through the day as a Marketing Assistant and I build houses during the evenings and weekends. I normally sacrifice eating well to get an extra hour of sleep. As for my IBS being related to stress. My guts either have spasms or they don't move at all. I stay constipated until I get stressed out. Then my intestines go into spasms and I get the runs. They had been treating me for severe IBS for several years before they discovered my colon. They never tested me since I was told I had no family history of colon problems. Then, four years later and several doctors later, my slipped and told me my grandma died of colon cancer when she was thirty. That's when they tested me and found out the colon is twisted. The doctors have told me I do have intestinal problems. It is just just in my anatomy. I'm not sure if I have answered all of your questions or not. I'm not sure I have all the answers. I don't understand how IBS is such a commom problem, but no one seems to know anything about it. I want someone to tell me what is going on with my body and how to fix it. I want to know what to expect before it hits me. I hate wondering if it is related to the IBS or if it is something totally different. By the way, my real name is Sarah and it has been a please chatting with you. It has really helped to have someone to talk to. Hope to hear from you soon. Take Care.
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Hi Sarah!  As you might have suspected from my screen name, we have the same name (how cool is that)! But I spell mine: s-a-r-a. As I read your email, my heart goes out to you. My mother wonders why I do not rush to the doctor's office to run more tests, and you explained it perfectly. I am also tired of being a guinea pig and I am tired of so-called "specialists" not being able to tell me how to "fix" this. I feel as though I am on my own doing trial and error with food, activities, etc. and am constantly frustrated when I do not see any progress or change when I have followed all the possible rules. There are times when I just want to give it all up and I feel that nothing and no one will alleviate my pain. I'm afraid to get into a relationship (it's hard enough dealing with myself and IBS, let alone having to deal with someone else in an intimate capacity). And to top it all off, we are supposed to be happy and stress-free to deal with IBS but life is stressful and so is the syndrome--it's like a cycle that never ends.
There have been times where I have been tempted to hurt myself so that they would have to treat me in the E.R. and do every possible test and finally take me seriously. And yes, like you, often I get worried wondering if it is not something else, something more serious that requires meds, etc...and no one has found it, which of course just makes my symptoms worse!
So, soda and crackers, eh? Maybe I'll try that. I'll be sure to keep you posted if I find anything. So far, I only feel better when I do cardio at the gym or when I take a hot shower (I stand with the nozzle placed on the "spot"). So, to make sure, they found out about your colon when you had a colonoscopy? And they only performed one years after you had the initial pain because you mentioned your grandma having died from colon cancer (sorry to hear that)?
Thinking of you Sarah!
Sara
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Isn't that crazy. We are too peas in a bod. Same name and same bump. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? Don't you really get tired of doctors. I always wished I could live a "normal" life. I figure everyone has their problems and I've got to learn to live with mine the best I can. I just wish someone could give me some answers. I have been to the point of giving up several times. I have also thought of hurting myself. But, the more I think about it, they would probably try to examine me mentally, rather than get to the root of the problem. Isn't that our luck? I was scared to get into a relationship. I dated several guys who were abusive and downright mean to me. I decided I was going to give up on relationships and take care of myself. Then, I accidentally ran into someone who caught my eye. He has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. He tries hard to help me with any problems. It's hard because he really doesn't understand, but he tries hard to be good to me. He has accepted me and all of my problems with it. So, don't let the IBS control your life. Don't let it stop you from being happy, obtaining goals or just meeting someone. You want someone who will be there for you and willing to help you. This will really put them to the test and show their true colors. Being with Chris has improved my health. He makes me laugh and cheers me up when I have the blues. He just can't do everything for me. He can't cure me and he can't take the pain away. You will find someone who is true to you and loves you for who you are - both good and bad. Never sit with a frown cause you never know who might be falling in love with your smile I worry a lot about what is really making my health this way. I was told it might be hard for me to have kids, due to all of my problems. That has always been a dream of mine. I always think Chris doesn't deserve to have to put up with all of this. He should be withone someone normal, who he can spend time with without them getting sick. But then, I remember it is his choice to stay. I don't force him. He stays because he loves me. The best food I have found is rice. I make beef stew and put rice in it. Or sometimes I'll go for chinese food with rice. That settles ok. They never discovered my colon until I had my colonoscopy done. I went to a specialist for four years. Four long years of taking different pills and tests. Then my mom spilled the beans and they checked my colon. I'll never understand why she wouldn't tell me. Anyhow, have you found any food that has helped you? How long have you had IBS? What do you do to help? Take Care.
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