All That Sassafrass: Stomach Troubles

Tuesday, January 16

Stomach Troubles

Today I stayed home from work. My stomach is acting up, which seems to happen a lot. You know I never realized how much my stomach hurt until one day my mil said. "Your stomach sure does hurts lot." WELL, HELLO??? Why didn't I notice it before? I mean, it is MY body, right?

What is funny about my mil saying that to me is because that is something I always have thought about my mom. She has ALWAYS had stomach issues or for a long time anyway. So my mom leaves me a message yesterday that says she is getting some tests run on her stomach to figure out why hers is acting up. This has prompted me to think about getting mine tested too.

I have looked up IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)((I HATE the name of that!!)), but am not even sure that is what mine might be. Does anybody have this (IBS) or have any other ideas on what it might be? When I compare my symptoms to the symptoms of IBS, I am really not sure they match. Some do, some don't. I just can't imagine what else it could be.

20 Comments:

Well, it's good to get things checked out. You may have some sort of intolerance to certain foods and once you pin-point it, you can move on to feeling better! Hope you get some answers!!

By Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph, at 5:34 PM
I don't know much about IBS but I think you should get it checked out, what does it hurt? :)

By Mall Worker, at 5:40 PM
I hope you feel better. IBS is usually what that call it when that can't find anything else.

By Holly, at 6:13 PM
oh no! I hope you feel better soon.
IBS SUCKS! I agree with Holly IBS is the last resort...I so hope it is nothing big.
hugs

By Lindsay, at 6:25 PM
Is it stomach "pain?" or is it changes in your bowel movements?

The stomach is such a hard system to work within b/c the stomach cavity contains so much stuff!

I've had my appendix and gallbladder both removed and still experience stomach problems...my pain in more pain that radiates to my back. It's weird.

My best friend has Eosinophilic gasteroenteritis and experiences frequent stomach pains (crippling at times).

In any case, I'd see a physician to rule out serious conditions and see if there is anything you can do behaviorally (change foods, diet, vitamins, etc) that might improve your quality of life.

By Anonymous, at 6:29 PM
Ewww...do we really have to talk about irritable bowels Nicole?? LOL I have no clue what IBS is...I just always thought it was when you had to be close by a toilet pretty much all of your life...if you know what I mean. I bet that is not what yours is. If it is..I don't know if I want to hang out with you in public anymore.

By Anonymous, at 6:41 PM
Oh sorry to hear about this but I do know that my D always feel bloated and whenever he eats he will get full very easily.

Do you feel like this too? He did a scope test and everything is normal but he still feels uneasy.

Keep us posted and take care.

By Shionge, at 6:45 PM
Celiac disease is often misdiagnosed as IBS -- let's hope it's not either one of those! Good that your mother is having it checked out and you should, too. However, stress can be a huge factor in stomach problems. I know when I'm really stressed out, I end up with stomach discomfort and usually diarrhea. And you've both had some stress you've been dealing with the past few days. Or it could just be a virus, but do call our friendly doctor to have it checked out. :) Hope you feel better soon!

By cindy, at 6:50 PM
What about ulcers?? I think you should definatley get it checked out. Yucky stomachs are no fun!

By Anonymous, at 7:27 PM
oh no Sorry your tummy is acting up on you. I have no advice to offer but i hope you can get it figured out.

By KC, at 9:25 PM
I deducted the same thing a few years ago, but it was the same result as yours... not enough matched up. It may just be a lactose intolerance. BUT when I drink Lactaid or Soy milk, I still get the same results as when I drink cow milk... so when you figure it out, let me know!

By Gina, at 12:22 AM
From what I understand you can have some of the symptoms of IBS & still have it. I know several people that have IBS & the are all effected differently.

By ~Crystal~, at 1:50 AM
Better stop eating that ice cream every night Nicoley! =)

By Anonymous, at 8:04 AM
Bring your IBS worries to your doctor! Have you also thought about lactose intolerance? It's way more common and a much smaller deal.

By Beck, at 9:05 AM
there are so MANY things it could be. I'd have it checked out.

blessings,
Karla

By Karla Porter Archer, at 12:35 PM
I AM SO LOVING THIS AWESOME BLOG TEMPLATE! You should definitely get an award for cutest blog ever!!!

But I must tell you I have IBS, too. Shh, don't tell anyone. It's so embarrassing to talk about. I've been to tons of specialists and been on lots of meds, but the most helpful thing to me is:

Take Citrucel tablets as directed every day. It doesn't make you have worse problems if you have diarrhea (this is so unlady like). It just evens out your system.

Don't drink carbonated beverages--I'd rather my stomach hurt than give up Dr. Pepper.

and

avoid fatty foods...also can't do that.

But at least I know to expect stomach upset when we eat out or if I drink a Coke. Those kinds of drinks are so hard on the stomach.

Hope it helps!

By Flawed And Disorderly, at 4:30 PM
PS...they're all right about getting that diagnosis as a last resort. I went through so many colonoscopies, barrium enemas (sp?)...all kinds of unpleasant procedures and they never found a cause. Very expensive, but follow your instinct. If it's worse when you're stressed out, it's probably IBS. Also, I'm always worse in the morning. For some reason my stomach can tolerate more at night. Are we best friends now? I just gave you way too much information. I feel like we should at least be IBS sisters or something.

By Flawed And Disorderly, at 4:33 PM
I agree that it can't hurt to have it check out. My hubby has had stomack "sensitivities" for the 10 years I've known him. He refused to go to the Dr until a few months ago. Then the Dr just basically said it was IBS before my hubby even really described all the symptoms. My hubby wasn't really convinced.

Anyway, he has finally figured out that certain foods can make it act up, anything carbonated, or containing caffeine, or msg among others. Anyway, for him even taking tylenol will do it. So maybe keep track of what you eat or take for awhile too and see if there are any similarities.

By Butterfly Mama, at 11:15 AM
I think you should get it checked out. My daughter recently had an endoscopy and they diagnosed her with gastritis and ulcers. She was also checked for gallbladder problems as well as H-pylori (a bacteria that can cause ulcers). There are so many things that can be causing your tummy pain and it sounds like it is severe enough for you to miss work - it's probably time to get it checked out.

Now that the icky stuff is out of the way, I wanted to tell you that I love your blog template! It rocks! (I came here from a comment you left on underwear girl's blog.) ;-)

By Nancy Jensen, at 3:17 AM
Have you looked into gluten intolerance. Celiac, stuff. I'm not sure I have celiac, long story but am definetly gluten intolerant.

Not as hard as it sounds and I feel SO much better there is NO way I am going back. Dh and I are both very skeptical of things like that, but he is totally on board with my gluten free existence. (after a few accidental glutenings, anyway..)

Good luck!!!

By Jen, at 9:29 AM