Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Could not eating be causing abdominal cramps?

Ok, I was just wondering the same thing. I had a pretty rough IBS week last week - lots of D. I felt so sick and basically stopped eating, or eating much. I swear this made me feel even worse. I even got a new symptom if that were possible. I began getting sharp pains in my stomach as well as the usual burning sensation in my intestines. My husband thought that because I was not eating, the acid in my stomach was basically stirring around in there causing the new abdominal pain and probably even causing more intestinal pain. Also, as a result of not eating much food, I had no soluable fiber in my intestines to keep it distended and stable. Also, I heard somewhere that your stomach can quickly fill up with gas if you do not eat, causing you to feel pretty cruddy. This happens to dogs all the time. No really, I am completely serious. I have a friend who is a vet and she told me that she has to perform many abdominal surgeries on dogs. Sometimes dogs are only fed one large meal a day, usually at night. During the day, because the dog has had no food in its stomach, gas builds up. When the dog receives his nightly meal, there is no room for the gas and the large meal. This will force the stomach to bloat even more and ultimately flip over and twist - causing the emergency trip to the vet and subsequent surgery. Needless to say, I now feed my doggies and guinea pig twice a day. I know, long story to say that not eating enough may cause gas to build up in your stomach. Does that make sense? Anyway, I began eating normally again and trying to fill my gut up with lots of soluable foods and immediately began feeling better.

I know how you feel with regards to the barium. When I had my barium enema, it constipated me so bad I thought I was going to die. Trust me, you don't want to get constipated with barium stuck in your intestines. Suffice it to say, it was not a fun day for me when it FINALLY decided to evacuate. About 2 weeks later I had to undergo a barium swallow. This time, I had MAJOR D. I mean, I could not get off that table fast enough. I barely made it to the hospital bathroom. I was sick for a week. SICK SICK SICK!! It was almost like my colon was saying "what the
%^!! did you put in me!!" I completely sympathize with you.

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Dana

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