Why do I get bad cramps while hiking?

[TheCheeseLady]

Hello, this has been happening to me for a while. While I'm hiking, I will get intense cramps that makes it feel like I'm about to have diarrhea. This most often happens a minute or so after I take a drink of water. I do not have to hike long to get this sensation, and I do eat before I hike.

If I don't hike/walk, my days are normal. It seems like physical activity is the main culprit. As soon as I feel it, I usually head to my car and drive home.

Sometimes when I get home, I have very loose stool. Sometimes the cramping goes away, and I don't have to poop. I really enjoy hiking, but this is really starting to put a damper on my outings. I am 22 years old, so I wouldn't expect any aging changes to be the subject. It will happen at any time of the month, not just on or around my periods too, which I though was the issue, but it isn't. Any ideas as to what this may be or more importantly, how to deal with it?

[marie110]

i have a question
i cant eat alot, or drink i feel tired, pain in my esofagus and stomach, nauseas i trough liquids the most, i have diarrea somtimes, i begin feeling dizzy and lightheadead, yesterdad i almost fall i dont know cause i dont eat or drink to much, i feel pains sometimes in all my body more in my feet legs and arms like also cramps, the doctor here gave me pantomed 40mg help alittle but not for all i feel; i still cant eat real food just light things but almost nothing, i feel weak and with pains and nauseas, i have days without to eat good and always come diarrea not alot but make my legs almost bend of zwak if i go to the wc; what i can do ? and also what can be??? im desesperated

[TheCheeseLady]

D'oh! Okay, that last post had a typo in it lol. Oh boy, it's one of those days.

[TheCheeseLady]

Just wanted to add that my original post had a type in it about eating. I do not eat before I hike.

[TheCheeseLady]

Thank you, I appreciate any feedback. I do not eat before hiking. I normally hike after work, which is usually about 5 hours after my last meal (lunch). Hiking/walking is my main thing for exercise. Sometimes I will bike, but when I do that, it's in the morning, and I do not recall experiencing these symptoms during that activity. Maybe it has something to do with the time of day plus exercise?

I don't *always* get this feeling when I hike after work, but I have noticed it happening more often.

[Richard A Pierce, M.D.]

I have to admit that your problem is a bit of an unusual occurrence, and I’m not sure I can make a diagnosis based on limited information.  It does sound like this may be some kind of exercise-induced bowel hypermotility.  I would ask if this set of events comes on when you do other types of exercise, as this might suggest that it is exercise-induced.  If so, you might try some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines like Imodium, or even Gas-X, right before you go for your hike to see if either of these helps.  My other thought would be that it might be a sensitivity to something you’re eating before your hike.  Are there any special foods (such as energy bars or trail mix) that you tend to eat more of, or only, before hiking?  If so, check the ingredients to see if there are any foods or additives that could cause such a reaction.  If you find something consistent in the foods, you may have to cut them out, or even undergo allergy testing to better define the problem.  Sorry I don’t have more a slam-dunk answer for you!