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Stomach Cramp, Diarrhea, sweating , light headedness and fainting

I have experienced on 4 occasions in the last 6 years a rather weird Diarrhoea attack which really is painful and scary. Here is a description of what occurs.

1. Sudden abdominal pain which increases in intensity over a short time. The same sensation one might get when they are about to get Diarrhoea.

2. I go to the toilet and try excreting whatever wants to come out. However after about a minute of sitting there with nothing coming out I suddenly few light headed and am starting to get a dizzy spell like I am about to faint and my breathing weakens.

3. This borderline fainting sensation lasts for about another minute before I break out into a sudden sweat all over my body. Within a few seconds I have sweat literally pouring out of me, my clothes are wet as if I ran a marathon or something.

4. After a minute of sweating I suddenly feel something coming out of my rear end. I try to squeeze it out and only a hard stool comes out.

5. The sweating stops and the stomach cramp subsides. I think everything is over and I clean up. I walk out of the toilet and in about 2 minutes time the stomach cramp and the fainting sensation comes back (I've fainted only once to date from this and was out for about 15-20 minutes).

6. When I get back to the toilet I have a really violent Diarrhoea episode in pure liquid state. It takes a few minutes to subside and once I
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Avatar universal
I have the answer.

Now that I have your attention, do as I did to verify that my cause, is indeed, your cause. Our issue is not a biological one - it's a MECHANICAL and ANATOMICAL one.

It's called VOLVULUS. I've suffered on and off with all the pains associated on this thread. Sudden urge to go to the bathroom (but can't), sweating, pain - only to end up on the floor, passed out, because my body can not endure or withstand the level of pain I experience in the moment.

I won't make this long, as I am actually scheduled to go into surgery tomorrow. But, I remembered this thread, and thought to come here and share my discoveries.

The reason colonoscopies, camera pills, endoscopies and all the other tests come back clean is because those are all tests that look on the INSIDE of your GI tract. They look for biological factors that may provide insight as to what's going on, but because there aren't any, they send us home with an IBS diagnosis that leaves us sufferers...nowhere.

I made it a point to see a doctor at Cedars-Sinai and thought if the doctors at Cedars don't know, I will accept this lifelong disability. Prior to seeing the GI specialist at Cedars, I had seen *at least* 15 other GI specialists in the past - with no answer other than IBS.

This time, the doctor said, we are going to stop looking in the INSIDE and, instead, start to look on the OUTSIDE of your GI tract. He had a suspicion that SIGMOID VOLVULUS was the culprit, and ordered me a test I had never done before: Barium enema test with air of the large intestine and colon.

He had the Chief Radiologist at Cedars perform the test, as he was searching for specifics, and was seeking confirmation on his suspicion. Sure enough, all the twisting and turning is right there in black and white on a series of 14 X-rays I took that day.

Over the years of events of volvulus (twisting of the intestines) it has stretched areas of the colon and forced it to lose its elasticity. Because of this, the colon grows longer after each attack, giving itself even more 'rope' for a higher risk of volvulus to happen again the next time.

Volvulus is quite common in elderly people, and almost every time, it can be caught and seen on an X-ray.

My disadvantages, as I suspect many of you out there also have, was my AGE (attacks started at 15 years old, I am now 40), and the NATURE of the volvulus itself.

The NATURE is defined as this: just as quickly as the sudden twist happens, it also, just as quickly, UNtwists itself, suddenly.

That's why by the time we see a doc at the ER after an attack, the twist is gone, the blockage is clear, and they send you home with an IBS diagnosis because, afterall, that's what's in your file backed up by alllllll the other GI docs you may have seen, legitimizing the diagnosis.

After so much pain, heartache and mystery, I am now scheduled for a colectomy. It's quite normal to have a redundant colon - but mine came up REDUNDANT, redundant from the many years of suffering.

Do yourself a favor, and insist on a barium enema (with air) test to rule out (or in!) sigmoid volvulus. The test itself is painful and was hard to endure - namely because they are poking around (with air and laxatives) in the exact area that is already sensitive. Knowing the test will be hard to handle may prepare you for being able to handle it. The first time I did it, I gave up. The second time, I was determined and was able to see it through.

As a side note, and for anyone thinking this, too, is your cause, the surgeon expressed to me how SMART my GI specialist is (whose volvulus theory came from) in not performing yet another colonoscopy. Surgeon said that because of the intestinal damage over the years as a result of these attacks, parts of the intestinal wall are so thin, that yet another colonoscopy could have easily punctured the wall, leaving me with a much, much bigger problem.

Please consider investigating that, like me, your problem is a MECHANICAL one, and not BIOLOGICAL. Look into volvulus. Even if you don't catch an active one on screen on an x ray (real-time twisting), have your doc, radiologist and/or surgeon (preferably all 3), look further into this for you. You have to be your own advocate.

I owe my life to that GI specialist I saw at Cedars. Take this idea and see if you can apply it onto yourself to verify that this, too, is your cause.

Good luck to all - and good luck to me on my surgery tomorrow!

Helpful - 3
4 Comments
You really seem to know what your talking about. This happened to me just last night and I am planning on going to see my doctor but I am 17 weeks pregnant. Im worried they wont be able to do any testing to find out whats going on. Do you know if the testing could harm the baby or this issue alone could harm the baby?
I'm intrigued by your discovery. I think you have answered what causes the intense paralyzing pain. But what can we do to prevent/ stop an attack? In my case, as well as others, the attack is caused by something we ingest (eat or drink).
I'm getting the test done in 10 days. I literally showed my doctor your comment and he agreed to test me but because of allergies I have to have it done a little differently. I am hoping for an answer. This has been going on since I was a teen and I will be 35 this year. I've had tons of other tests done, including neurological and heart testing. I had a positive tilt table and we found out that when I pass out dieting these expisodes my heart stops. My cardiologist wants to put a pacemaker in eventually. But I feel like that's all secondary, why is this happening. That's what I need to know.
You're right - fainting is only secondary to the actual intestinal problem. How'd your test go? What was the result of the barium anema test?
Avatar universal
I'm 35 years old, and experienced my first attack when I was 12 years old.  Doctors have no idea what is wrong so I have stopped listening to them in regards to it.  Some of my siblings experience similar episodes and including father so I am sure there is a genetic component to this problem.  I am very healthy.  I have annual checkups and blood tests.  I exercise and am fit as a fiddle.  I know that I don't suffer from any medical conditions.

I am a pharmacy student, and I recently learned of allergic diarrhea.  What we experience can be triggered by foods that have been exposed to or contain bisulfite.  Your body will try to eliminate everything in your gut in whichever way possible by defection, vomiting, or both.  

The cramping and the pain is extremely painful which leads to anxiety and if you suffer from anxiety, this will exacerbate that problem. The pain leads to extreme physical stress which can trigger vasovagal syncope which I have experienced at least 13 times in my life. Sometimes I grip something really hard, and the pain in my hands will help direct my mind to a focal point and helps keep me from fainting. By keeping your head low will help prevent you from fainting as well.  It helps keep blood flowing to the brain since there is a drop in your blood pressure.  Wrapping your arms around your abdomen will help with the pain as the heat and pressure will help relax your abdominal muscles.  Do all this and allow your body to expel whatever it had a bad reaction to.

The pain will go away once your body has eliminated everything that it needs to.  The sweating and fatigue that follows are our bodies recovering mechanisms. Drink some fluid and sleep it off.  

Don't let this ruin your life.  I do everything I want, and I have a great life.  I deal with this as it comes.  It is traumatic, and it is something that is always on the back of my mind.  It took me years to learn something that made sense to me. I understand that it is an allergic reaction, and there is really nothing wrong with me.  I hope this helps most of you.  Don't let this hinder you from enjoying your life to the fullest.
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I get this quite a lot pains in my stomach feel sick and as though I'm gonna faint I sit on the loo with my head down then have diorrehea then comes the sweating hot one minute cold the next I feel like I'm gonna pass out but this eases after I have gone to the toilet the same happens a few times after tho I suffer with anxiety and had just taken one  new tablet and wonder if it was this. I am waiting for an ultra sound to see if I have gall stones or a hernia too x
Avatar universal
I have had 7 episodes in the past 14 months. Waking up, pain in the stomach, feeling like I need the loo, suddenly getting very hot and dizzy, I would lie down and vomit wherever I lied, I couldn't move for almost 20 minutes, feeling really spaced out as though I was dying, afterwards I would feel exhausted and spend the next day in bed. I was told it was the vascular nerve and sent for thorough testing by a cardiologist, everything came back fine and I was told to stay hydrated and lower my stress levels.  After the 5th episode, I had an endoscopy & colonoscopy with everything coming back fine.  After the heart & stomach drs gave me the all clear, I was referred to a neurologist.  I had an EEG today and he has diagnosed me with abdominal epilepsy.  Please Google it, it has taken me over a year to get to this point and I hope this post helps for other diagnosis.
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2 Comments
Wow thank you so much. This has happened to me only twice in the last few years thanks be to God. Yesterday was the most recent and like yourself I am still in bed recuperating. May God bless you my friend.
Yes, this makes sense! My sister, my son, and I have these horrible episodes with no rhyme or reason... they're awful.
Avatar universal
This just happened to me last night again it only seems to happen once or twice every 6-8 months and I have no clue what this is I just always have to have my husband be near because I always feel like I'm going to pass out and fall off the toilet my husband has to fan me because I'm always drenched in sweet and always to weak to even move it's been happening to me since I was 24 and I'm 30 now and I don't know what to do about it
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1 Comments
You’re not alone! This is a very frightening experience this happened to me just yesterday and I am still recuperating
Avatar universal
I also had all of the above just yesterday . I have had these episodes in my lifetime about 6 or 7 times now but in the last ten years . It makes you feel so helpless as if I didn't have someone around I'm sure I'd of passed out for sure.
I just made the toilet in time where eventually had terrible dhiohrea.the pains in lower abdomen are awful and of feeling sick too . But the worst feeling of all is the sweating when it's happening  like someone poured a bath full of water over you but cold sweat you
feel faint the only way I can describe it is when you having surgery and getting the injection to knock you out .
I'd love to know the cause but wondered if divaticulosis had anything to do with it .is there anyone out there in the
Medical Feild that knows what this is .


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Im 54 yr old female.I've had this happen a handful of times.it usually happens when I take a laxative but has happened without before. It happened this morning. I was on the floor sweating & freezing. It's been over an hour and I can't get warm. I've mentioned this to my gastroenteroligist but she didn't have anything to say.
Avatar universal
Hi everyone! I'm glad that i'm not alone in this boat, but after reading a few of the comments i am only getting more afraid as it seems like there's no specific name or cause of these kind of incident.

I'm 18 now and have had about 5 of these incidents in the past 2 years. The first time i had it was when i was 17 and it happened in a shopping mall and i was alone. First was the stomach cramps, which i just thought was normal so i went to the toilet. Then came the immense sharp pain at my abdominal area, and then the cold sweat. I was texting my mom at that time because i didn't know what to do. After everything came out, the pain didn't subside and i just sat on the toilet floor and wailed while i spoke to my mom. Miraculously i managed to get up and met my mother who picked me up to bring me to the hospital. Unfortunately the hospital was too crowded and by then the pain has subsided.  The next few times that this happened was when i was with my friends, and it was really not pretty. I'd just sit with my head down while i wait for the pain to subside, either that or i'd just go to the toilet to suffer alone. But however, the worst of which happened during my A levels where after my paper i went home ate my dinner, and then the same pain came -- very suddenly this time. I knew it was going to be bad but oh boy i wasn't prepared for it. Same sequence of which the sharp pain came, and then diarrhoea and cold sweat, but this time a surge from within my stomach came and i vomited all over the floor. And then i pooped the kind of watery poop. I went to the doctor after that, and he was pretty much useless because he said it'd be hard to determine if it was food poisoning or any problem, so i just got the usual anti biotics and pills for cramping. Initially i thought that this happened to me because i am 2 year into my eating disorder recovery so my body may still be weak or not used to food, but i see it's not just me who is experiencing this.

Honestly, up till now, whenever i am out or even at home, i still fear that this would happen again. And it kind of saddens me how nobody can still pin point this occurrences. Though i am glad that i am not alone in this, i'm still really fearful for the next event. if there are any tips on foods i should stay away from or how to handle the situation if it does occur again please do let me know. Thanks!
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I agree. This happens to me once every few years. I'm scared I'll be driving or somewhere I can't use the restroom and I have children. Now it's become a feared obsession and it's hard to go to eat dinner without thinking if I'll have my episode. It's scary and Ive gone through lots of testing and nothing.. a whole new level of anxiety though!!
Avatar universal
Over the last 6years, I am now 31 I have had a very similar issue.
I always assumed it might be my heart, and only because I get dizzy and it forces me to get low, I literally find myself face down to get some relief, and if I try to get up I feel like fainting.
I sweat, get very dizzy, nauseas and very bad cramps that will 9/10 end without me defecating.
However last night for the first time I did pass stool and then quite a large amount of soft stool. This happened whilst I was face down on the floor, and I couldn't get up!
I will mention that every time this has happened I always feel the need to get low, and I get cramps.
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Avatar universal
Ok, so this happened to me just this past week & I actually was hospitalized for dehydration, a CT Scan wE done & the CT Scan showed Colitis & my white count was nearly 20,000. Dr's put me on I.V Antibiotics & I feel much better. Dr's said that temporary episodes can be brought on by an infection or virus. This was my second experience. I recommend getting into see a gastro doctor, as I was advised to do, for an upper & lower G.I
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Avatar universal
II'm sorry we are all suffering from this. I'm a 36 year old female and I just experienced this too. Sudden painful cramps, BM, sudden heat rushing over me, excessive sweating, dizzy can't stand up to wipe, feeling scared like I'm gonna die, put my head down & concentrate on my breathing. The heat is unbearable, kick my shoes off, pull my pants off. Sweat dropping off my head, wipe my head & face with toilet paper - saturated. Pass a few more BM (firm) feel nauseous at the same time, scared to vomit all over myself. Just keep breathing, smell is putrid & making me even more nauseous. Legs too weak, can't stand up. Just keep flushing & sitting there. After a few minutes, I can get up. I have a little water & then cramps start again, this time it's diarrhea, so bad it needs to be flushed twice. This happens a couple more times. I'm laying in bed now writing this, freezing cold now, can't warm up. Have a pile of blankets and 2 hot packs and still cold & weak.
I've suffered IBS for 15 years. I've had these episodes a handful of times, usually waking me at night but this episode started about 4pm. I ate fried sardines and salad for lunch. I know I have had diarrohea after sardines in the past (salmon too) but not an episode like this.
Years ago I had a colonoscopy, blood tests etc, everything clear.
My period is due today so could be linked to a hormonal shift. I'm going to go see a chiropractor & see if they can help me. I feel stupid telling a GP, as they just brush it off & say IBS. Good luck everyone
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1 Comments
sardines sounds like a trigger for histamine intolerance...research this and you will find your symptoms
Avatar universal
Dont have an answer. Wish i did. I experience the same exact thing. Still looking for answers.
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histamine intolerance
Avatar universal
I too am glad that I found this site and these posts.  I had my worst episode, by far, this morning.  It was the first time though that I felt like I was going to  pass out.  Deep breathing really helped.  Oddly enough, I didn't have a lot of cramping like I usually do, and, I realized that I didn't have a firm bowel movement before I had diarrhea either. Don't get me wrong, I had some cramping, but not as severe as usual.  I did had the tingling in my hands and feet, shaking in my arms and legs, ringing in my ears with some loss of hearing, and sweat just rolling down my face and body.  You know the drill.  It was horrible!

My episodes started happening after I had my gallbladder removed. They usually happen during the day and always occur minutes to a few hours after I eat.  What I eat doesn't seem to matter, but here is what I have discovered, my episodes usually occur after I have not eaten for several hours and then eat something with a lot of fat or sugar and/or drink something with caffeine in it, like coffee or sodas.  So, here are my conclusions from my research and personal experimentation...When you eat a meal heavy in fat or sugars, the gallbladder releases bile to help digest the food.  When you do not have a gallbladder, or if your gallbladder isn't functioning properly, the bile starts collecting in your stomach instead of staying in the gallbladder to be released when needed.  So, when you have stomach with bile in it, and then you eat a meal heavy in fat, the bile immediately does what it is supposed to do and grabs the fats and sugars and takes them on down the intestines.  Now, if you are dehydrated or if your bowels don't work like they normally should your stool does not move through your intestines like it should (or maybe you haven't had your bowel movement for the day). So when the bile and fat mixture hits the stool that has been in your intestines, it gets stopped in its tracks.  This liquid mixture of bile has to get out of your intestines so your intestines kick in high gear to get the other stool out in order to get the bile mixture out.  Because of this, your body starts diverting all the blood and fluid to your intestines to help get the stool out, hence the light-headed feeling and fainting, and then your intestines start contracting, i.e. bubbling/cramping, and hence the VV symptoms. Know why the pain is on the left side?  That's where your stomach is and that is where the bile is mixing with the food and starting the whole episode...  Well, that's it... I am not a doctor but I do have the internet and personal experience, right? Ha!

I have found that if I drink more fluids during the day, to encourage regular bowel movements, and if I don't let my stomach get very empty, i.e. small meals and snacks during the day instead of waiting and eating larger meals, I do not have these episodes.  It is when I haven't been having regular bowel movements (for whatever reason - stress, dehydration, hormones, not eating enough fiber) AND I go a long time before eating, I have one of these episodes.   When I really pay attention to those two things - regular bowel movements, so there are no "road blocks" and healthy snacking in between meals, so that bile doesn't collect in my stomach, I have no problems.  (As for episodes that happen in the middle of the night, perhaps your food is staying in your stomach longer and your body produces more bile to help with digestion and that is why it hits at night.  I don't eat past 8:00 p.m. so that may be why I don't have episodes in the middle of the night.)

I hope this insight helps some of you.  It is truly a horrible and scary experience!  I'm glad to see that I am not alone! I just need to be better at following my own rules!
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That makes sense to me. I am just recovering from my first ever episode of this scary incident. I skipped breakfast for the first time in ages, and went for a run and thought I'd hold off on eating till the evening, baring in mind, I get up late and have breakfast around 1pm normally. I couldn't wait for the evening to eat, so I had a spicy chicken wrap at around 4 pm. Spicy never sits well with me. The next time I ate was about 9 pm and that consisted of some fairly high quality chocolate covered peanuts. I eat these on a weekly basis. The variant was not eating till much later in the day, spicy, then the chocolate. Bile build up sounds promising. Its not vvs. Vvs is just part of it.
Avatar universal
I just had an episode like this today. I was in a meeting when I felt a cramp on the left side of my abdomen. It hurt so bad that I doubled over (I was sitting at the time). I then felt intensely hot/cold and clammy and slight dizzy. I felt pins and needles in my arms. It suddenly subsided and returned a few minutes later. I got up thinking I just needed to stretch out my abdomen and nearly fainted. I went to the bathroom right after and felt better but still weak and the pins and needles in my arms lingered. I also developed a horrible headache. I saw my doctor and she diagnosed me with gerd and started me on medication and stool softeners. The thing is im not usually constipated but I have been the past few days. Im happy I found this forum. I wasnt satisfied with the doctors prognosis because I dont have heart burn or reflux. Thanks to all of you fir sharing!
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5724908 tn?1373127283
Hi,

Wow, reading all of these posts has been informative...I too, was diagnosed w/ IBS, vasovagal syncope but not Hasimoto hypothyroidism (was tested last year w/ normal levels).  And I completely disagree w/ "it's nothing to worry about."  

I am a single mother of a young child & passing out is not cool at all.  I have scraped my face, broken my nose and nearly poked my eye out from fainting and hitting a bathroom cabinet drawer.

I am still searching for remedies.  Stress completely exacerbates all digestion issues and I can not "stomach" any mixed drinks, have a terrible reaction. I agree, high fructose corn syrup is a culprit.  Every time I have celebrated a holiday w/ more than 2 mixed drinks and combined meat or poultry, it's a very bad reaction.

Thank you to all who have posted!  

I hope all have had some success w/ different remedies - can't imagine being the one to watch.  My friends and family have witnessed "episodes" and it's awful.  You really do think your friend is dying! But we're okay in minutes - developed a mantra and stomach massage but it doesn't always work.



Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
It's a twelve year old thread, but I'm so happy (2021) to finally come across people who have exact the same symptoms. Thank you all for your answers!
I live with this condition since I'm ten years old, for thirty years now. Have it also 2-5 times a year. No doctor or somebody else (not even the mighty online world) could tell me what that condition is.
Everytime I feel like dying, and it's seems nobody believes me the intensity of such an attack. It's not even pain...it's pure agony....hard to describe......cannot breath, sweating....cramps.... blood pressure drops.....and sometimes I get squeezed into fainting.

But.....dear friends...... obliviously I'm not a doctor and I don't know what that condition is, 3 years ago after an attack so violently I had  to try to self medicate myself.
I always had the feeling that bad stuff in the guts has to come out, hence the dhiarria attack. So I was instinctively afraid of taking any anti dhiarria medication. But one day when a attack started I took the decision to take 2 pills of Imodium (Loperamid) and it was the best decision I made. I found out that all the resulting symptoms of sweating, blood pressure drops, breathing problems, fainting, came from the colic spasms, means the overworking of the gut peristaltic (gut movement to squeeze and liquify). All what Loperamid does is stopping the gut movements for a few hours. And that's the immediate remedy for all the symptoms (not the cause obviously). Wherever I go I always have Loperamid with me....always. Whenever you feel the slightest start of these typical gut feelings immediately take a pill or two! It's stops the progression in 3-10 min. I prevented so many of these attacks in the last three years, for me it really works and the relieve from fear and pain is so great that I just could not not tell people about it. The quicker you take it ( even after first intuition) the more pain and agony you could save yourself. Sometimes I take it as a provilactic for train plane bus travels ect. situations where I know I would cause big trouble and probably ambulance because I could in that attack not explain to anybody to just leave me alone and not touch me slouching on the toilet seat.

It works so well this Loperamid and therefore want to finally share it with fellow sufferers.
I hope it can help you to lose some fear over imminant attacks.

I wish you all the best.....may you find relieve.

Daniel
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's a twelve year old thread, but I'm so happy (2021) to finally come across people who have exact the same symptoms. Thank you all for your answers!
I live with this condition since I'm ten years old, for thirty years now. Have it also 2-5 times a year. No doctor or somebody else (not even the mighty online world) could tell me what that condition is.
Everytime I feel like dying, and it's seems nobody believes me the intensity of such an attack. It's not even pain...it's pure agony....hard to describe......cannot breath, sweating....cramps.... blood pressure drops.....and sometimes I get squeezed into fainting.

But.....dear friends...... obliviously I'm not a doctor and I don't know what that condition is, 3 years ago after an attack so violently I had  to try to self medicate myself.
I always had the feeling that bad stuff in the guts has to come out, hence the dhiarria attack. So I was instinctively afraid of taking any anti dhiarria medication. But one day when a attack started I took the decision to take 2 pills of Imodium (Loperamid) and it was the best decision I made. I found out that all the resulting symptoms of sweating, blood pressure drops, breathing problems, fainting, came from the colic spasms, means the overworking of the gut peristaltic (gut movement to squeeze and liquify). All what Loperamid does is stopping the gut movements for a few hours. And that's the immediate remedy for all the symptoms (not the cause obviously). Wherever I go I always have Loperamid with me....always. Whenever you feel the slightest start of these typical gut feelings immediately take a pill or two! It's stops the progression in 3-10 min. I prevented so many of these attacks in the last three years, for me it really works and the relieve from fear and pain is so great that I just could not not tell people about it. The quicker you take it ( even after first intuition) the more pain and agony you could save yourself. Sometimes I take it as a provilactic for train plane bus travels ect. situations where I know I would cause big trouble and probably ambulance because I could in that attack not explain to anybody to just leave me alone and not touch me slouching on the toilet seat.

It works so well this Loperamid and therefore want to finally share it with fellow sufferers.
I hope it can help you to lose some fear over imminant attacks.

I wish you all the best.....may you find relieve.

Daniel
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok I solved the issue, at least with me and some other people on here. First person I noticed with this theory was lalala1010 on page 90.

So I so started having similar issues as 95% of you about 8 years ago and it lasted for 4-5 years, had them about 6-7 times, usually after I ordered food(like some people indicated).

I woke up this morning with same symptoms, have not had them in 3-4 years. I thought I was about to die, plus I was alone this time.
I found this thread and started reading. After one episode, I know it was food related since I ate more than normal yesterday afternoon. But thought it was a spice, or maybe ice cream I had.
Then I remembered that I started taking brain supplements 10 days that had Ginko Biloba , and my girl friend told me her friend told her that they work but caused constipation. I did notice some constipation last week but wasn't anything serious. Then I remembered 8 years ago I got prescribed oxycodone 30mg and that cause constipation (opiate constipation), and once in a while I took stool softeners, but only a few times, and yes it helped. Now I think back and every time during the time I was on pain killers and ate alot, usually when ordered out I would get these painful episodes.
3 hours ago I had 1 episode, which was bad, but I couldn't go(no BM), even though I needed to. After reading lalala1010 post I decided to walk(while I can) and get laxatives from corner Walgreens that's open 24 hours(TG). Returned,Put one in, 15 min later had alot of BM and I felt great.

My theory is, people that get constipated regularly , check your meds and supplements. Eat lots of fiber, fish oil and other things that work against constipation.
If you get constipation once in a while have a laxative available, plus if you eat alot and hadn't had any BM in 24 hours or longer I would take stool softener after your meal.
I'm not a Dr, but I think what happens is when we don't have any BM in a while then eat usually more than normal (like I did yesterday), your processed food gets stuck in your intestines, then after hours , usually during the night your digestive system goes into some panic mode. That's why you feel nasua, and other symptoms, then your intestines starts to break down this hard stool and you get cramps, it will keep doing this until your stool is very soft, and even water like (diarrhea) . Notice alot if people said a hard stool will followed by diarrhea (like mine in the past).
Now if I didn't put that laxative in, I would be in that bathroom for 3-5 hours. I basically helped to unclog what was stuck, and I eliminated hours of pain.

Don't get me wrong, alot of times you will get food poisoning or food allergy and have similar symptoms, except usually you would get diarrhea right away.

I hope this helped. I'm very relieved I was able to find a cure for myself. I thought I was allergic to Tyme spice.
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Avatar universal
I just want to say that I experience this also. Twice so far this year. Don't know what to do, but glad/sad I'm not alone.
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Avatar universal
Does this only happen at night for everyone? Cause thats the only time it happens to me. But it does seem to build up through the day and hits me all at once. Either Im still awake or it will violently wake me up and then I rush to the bathroom and end up passing out. But when I come to I feel like am renewed.
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No this happened to me just yesterday while I was at a movie theatre at 10:00AM!  My stomach began to tighten as if I had to poop badly!  I made my way to the restroom somewhat hunched over due to the pain in my lower abdomen, as I sat on the toilet I had very loose stool but not completely watery.  My stomach would tighten in nearly unbearable excruciating pain and I broke out in a massive sweat all the while feeling extremely faint and nauseas. I must say this is the worst feeling ever as there seems to be nothing to do but go through it.
Avatar universal
Hi, I'm male, 47 years old, reasonably good shape. I've had this for several years. First episode was in 2010 while living in China (I was with a colleague in a restaurant, felt some nausea immediately after starting dinner, started going back to the hotel and blacked out on the sidewalk. I woke up with my colleague doing cardiac arrest massage and saying my heart had stopped beating for half a minute). Had dozens of episodes in the following years. Did a bunch of tests and nothing came out . A doctor in Hong Kong said many foreigners have this in China, and it's usually caused by an allergic reaction to MSG (monosodium glutamate). I didn't test for MSG allergy yet. In general it only happens after I eat out. After a few years without any episode, I started getting this again some weeks ago (living in Germany now). Will try to get tested for allergy to MSG. IMPORTANT TIP: While I was in China, I found out there is a well known Japanese medicine called SEIROGAN. It has many generic clones with other brand names, made in Hong Kong and China. This was the only thing that made the horrible symptoms stop. Whenever I started feeling that this was coming, I took 3 pills and it usually stopped in 10-15 minutes. (This is not advertising, I have nothing to do with any of the companies that produce this). It really works and apparently it has been used in Asia for many decades. When I left China I took dozens of packages with me, and now I'll try to find it in Germany, or order it online. Good luck to everyone.
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Avatar universal
Post 1/2

GUYS, I MIGHT HAVE AN ANSWER:

Like all of you, this is an issue I've been struggling with for most of my life. I'm a 24 y/o, fit female with GERD, IBS, and Endometriosis. I first started seeing a gastroenterologist when I was 13. I was a serious athlete (competitive swimmer, training 5-6 hours per day, 6 days per week, eating healthy) and yet the reflux was intense. I was started on Prilosec and eventually worked my way up to the highest dosage of Aciphex--a prescription dosage that should've been used for an adult 3-4 times my weight. I am now on Dexilant for reflux. (It should also be noted that age 13 was also when I got my first period.)

At age 15 I started to have my "attacks", though they were not quite as debilitating as they are now. They would happen in the late evening/at night and happen quite suddenly, usually after a large meal. Usually they began with a sudden, extreme bloatedness and intense nausea, followed by a flop sweat and excruciating pain. I'd keel over into the fetal position on the floor and rest my face on the cool tile. After a few bouts of liquid diarrhea, I'd feel completely better. But back then, the diarrhea was pitch black or bloody, so at 15, I got my first colonoscopy. There were signs of upper GI bleeding and scarring, as well as an unidentified, "unremarkable" infection in my esophagus, but nothing diagnostic.

At 18 I got an exploratory laparoscopy. This is when they found the endometriosis, which explained why my period cramps were so debilitating. There were adhesions all over my intestines, which they removed. They also found a lot of ovarian cysts, which were too small to remove. The endo was classified as "mild/moderate" after that. Both the endo and cysts have been relatively well managed with hormonal birth control since then.

Over the years, I've done every test you could ever think of: hitascans with contrast showing my gallbladder functioning at the absolute lowest end of normal (if I was 50 that would be enough to remove it, but since I'm so young, it's not worth it.) Ultrasounds, CT scans, H. Pylori (which was positive and treated for.) I have been tested for Celiac and other food allergies and do not have any, aside from minor lactose intolerance.

College is when my attacks became both more frequent and positively incapacitating. The first attack in college happened during a night class and the pain was so sudden and so severe that my boyfriend took me to the hospital, thinking I had a kidney stone. CT scans showed nothing. My junior year I had one attack that lasted for two weeks in fluctuating waves. At the time, I was convinced I had salmonella poisoning, even though urgent care took cultures and labs and said I was fine.

Now, I'll have these attacks anywhere from once a month to once every 6 months, and they're completely unpredictable. I've kept a food journal and could not link them to ANY common triggers. My recent scopes and tests have found a non-concerning hatiated hernia, sessile polyps, benign tumors, unremarkable scarring--all evidence of years and years of irritation and suffering, but no apparent cause for it.

90-95% of the time now, my attacks will wake me up from my sleep around 1-3 am and begin with a horrible pain deep in my gut. I'll somehow manage to crawl to the bathroom. My brain will be in a fog, as if my body is in so much pain that I don't even have any mental faculties left for conscious thought. I'm confused and can barely comprehend what's going on or remember anything afterwards. I'm also unbelievably weak. I lay on the floor with my face against the cold tile to stay conscious. I'll be utterly drenched in sweat and shivering like crazy. I've broken bones, had oral infections, had wrist surgery, and an embedded IUD, and NOTHING compares to this pain!! When the diarrhea strikes, usually I'll need my boyfriend to literally LIFT ME ONTO THE TOILET because I cannot lift myself--talk about embarrassing! I'll signal to him that I need his help by gently scraping my fingertips on the bathroom door because I am too weak to knock and too nauseous to open my mouth (he always waits outside the door.) After the diarrhea, the pain subsides to a more tolerable level, but does not dissipate completely. This cycle repeats through several bouts of diarrhea--usually 6-12--until I feel almost completely better, just absolutely EXHAUSTED. Then for the next several days, I will feel completely worn, a little crampy, and constipated.
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Post 2/2

TLDR: SKIP TO HERE: ---->

In the past, after all of my tests have come back negative, my gastros have been quick to write this off as "severe IBS" or just food poisoning. Which is so dismissive that it's not even funny. That is why I am so grateful to have finally moved to a new state and found a doctor who actually LISTENED to me. Right away, during my first appointment with this new gastro, I explained my symptoms and he said, "this is absolutely not IBS, and any doctors who said that obviously were just frustrated that they couldn't diagnose it, and/or didn't want to really listen." He told me that it didn't even sound gastroenterological in nature, and that it sounded more related to blood pressure, like something endocrinological, neurological, or vascular with GI symptoms. He straight up said ***IBS SHOULD NOT CAUSE CONSISTENT ATTACKS OF THIS SEVERITY.***


PORPHYRIA?

I have read almost all 900+ entries on this forum and noticed a few people mentioned porphyria. It's interesting, because my doctor actually suggested this and happens to be know one of the only select few physicians in the entire country who specializes in it. Interestingly enough, he took a random blood and urine sample when I was NOT SYMPTOMATIC and found that my urine corpro porphyrins were elevated, as is common with people with AIP. Two weeks later, I had an attack. Out of curiosity, I collected some of my urine in a jar at home immediately after this attack and noticed it was dark orange/bright red, as is tell-tale with AIP. So I left it in the sunlight for 48 hours and checked again, and the color had darkened to a deep, dark red, just like urine should with AIP. So my doctor ordered some more urine sample tests to be carried out during my next attack, which conveniently enough, happened about 3 weeks later. However, the test was inconclusive. My ALA was elevated, but none of my porphyrins were high enough to diagnose AIP. He wants to repeat the test again during future attacks, but expects them to yield similar results--especially because AIP doesn't usually cause such short episodes of debilitating pain and diarrhea, but rather prolonged episodes of incessant cramping and nauseating pain.

******ANSWER: ABDOMINAL MIGRAINE******

So my gastro referred me to one of the leading Internal Medicine specialists in the entire state. I just met with the guy last Friday. Before I could even finish describing my attacks, he cut me off and said, "I think I know exactly what this is. My sister actually has the exact same thing. It's called ABDOMINAL MIGRAINE." This is a vascular/neurological disorder that is not uncommon in children and is often grown out of. However, it is quite rare (but much more common in women), much more severe, and much more likely to be chronic/ongoing in adults. He did also say that it will likely go away with menopause. And the biggest thing? Abdominal migraines almost always strike in the middle of the night!

So basically, you have neurons (i.e. brain cells) in your gut, and if you have abdominal migraines, you are literally getting severe migraine headaches in your bowels. The treatment is taking a migraine medication during the onset of symptoms, and that should completely stop the attack (he gave me a special kind of inhaler thing.) This explains why some people in this forum have found relief during their attacks by using an epi-pen; both migraine medications and epi-pens are vasoconstrictors, so they essentially accomplish the exact same thing.

He did say that if this migraine medication doesn't work, then it is time to look into other, endocrinological causes, such as hormone-producing tumors and such. But he seemed extremely confident that this was the answer. Unfortunately, it's not something you can test for; it's more of a diagnosis of exclusion and experimentation (by trying the medication during an attack), so be sure to bring it up with your doctors. And good luck everyone!

-----------------------------------------------------

NOTE ON FOOD POISONING AND VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE:

PS: To everyone who is saying that it is just food poisoning--no. If this is happening more than 2 or 3 times throughout your life, that's NOT normal and NOT coincidence. That's a condition. There are types of epilepsy and seizure conditions where you'll only have one seizure every 15 years--types of heart conditions where you'll only have a single heart attack. So why should this be any different? Don't disregard your suffering.

And to those who are saying it's just vasovagal syncope: well, yes and no. Vasovagal syncope describes a symptom, NOT a cause. That's like if you were allergic to cats and got hives when you pet them and then someone tried to diagnose you with hives instead of a cat allergy; it does nothing to describe WHY it is happening. Yes, vasovagal syncope describes when you are fainting or almost fainting during defecation, but that doesn't explain why you were struck with the severe pain and need to defecate in the first place. (At least in the context of our attacks, it doesn't.)
Avatar universal
I also suffer from these symptoms, for me it is seeds, coconut, dairy, and gluten....my kids have been the same recently and they have all been diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Disorder. Their Mast cells are sending out too many indicators to fight off allergens...body is going into anaphylactic shock....blood pressure drops and this can cause the syncope. G.I. Stated that we passed it on to the kids. Certain foods will trigger it if you have allergies....it is like having a bucket and if you are throwing in allergens-histamines, you may not react severely every time, but once the bucket is full then it throws your body off every time, and you are reacting from everything that is spilling off. My kids are currently on Cromolyn, Zyrtec, Zantac, and Singulair daily and it seems to be helping.
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Just want to leave this here. Research Mastocytosis, this seems to be the cause of all the symptoms i've seen here.
Just want to leave this here. Research Mastocytosis, this seems to be the cause of all the symptoms i've seen here.
Avatar universal
Relief For Now. Shortly after my episode in May 2016 (refer to my post at that time), I saw a GI doc who prescribed a low dose anti-depressant. The reasoning behind this is to suppress the vegus nerve just enough to prevent the onset of syncope by desensitizing the vegus nerve. I have not had an episode since. I had one occasion when I felt that I would have had an episode but my system was very relaxed and it turned out to be quite mild with no excruciating pain and no syncope. The anti-depressant is such a low dose that I don't feel any effects although it does involve a daily medication. To me, this is a small price to pay for peace of mind. 10mg Nortryptoline.
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this used to happen to me, exactly as everyone is describing. after being treated by gastroenterologists for years, i was finally diagnosed with endometriosis. had a laproscopy to remove the endometriosis and now seeing a pelvic pain physio to relax my very tight pelvic floor muscles (from years of spasms). doesnt happen nearly as often and when it does it isnt nearly as bad. some people get relieve during pregnancy from endometriosis so especially those people above, i suggest speaking to a gyno that specialists in endometriosis!
this used to happen to me, exactly as everyone is describing. after being treated by gastroenterologists for years, i was finally diagnosed with endometriosis. had a laproscopy to remove the endometriosis and now seeing a pelvic pain physio to relax my very tight pelvic floor muscles (from years of spasms). doesnt happen nearly as often and when it does it isnt nearly as bad. some people get relieve during pregnancy from endometriosis so especially those people above, i suggest speaking to a gyno that specialists in endometriosis!
Avatar universal
I have been suffering in silence. Everyone is describing exactly what is happening to me. I actually faint and then the large volume of foul smelling watery large volume stool seems to explode out of me. I had a heart test done and found out that my heart actually stops beating for 30 seconds during these episodes. It started when I was 18 and I am 34 now. I am a mother now so it makes the thought of happening so much scarier now. The only time it stopped happening was when I was pregnant. Post partum 3 months it started again. My son is 3.5yrs now. It happens sometimes weekly. It's terrifying because I either faint or get to the point that I am going to faint. Thank you guys for posting here because I am going to call my GI doctor about what I have read here because it is identical. Hopefully I can have some more tests done. I have done all the elimination diets to try to stop this from happening. It's to a point now that at every BM I feel funny when before it was only with the severe cramping and then the "episode" plays out and it over. I am sitting here with 2 episodes in 12 hours and decided to google.
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Avatar universal
I have had this on and off since I was around 23 (I'm now 37).  It almost always happens at night while I'm sleeping.  I wake up to feeling "weird"...pain in my stomach and feel like I need to go to the bathroom.  I go to the toilet and sit and wait.  The pain is horrible. I feel like I might vomit.  I begin to get hot and sweaty and feel like I'm going to pass out. Sometimes my legs start to shake like I'm freezing or extremely nervous.  At times, my arms or legs will feel a bit numb or like pins and needles.  During this episode I usually end up belching very loud and forcefully like I have an extreme build-up of gas.  Usually I have constipation that ends with diarrhea.  After I poo I feel better for a bit and then it comes on again. I do not feel better until I have pooed out whatever is causing all of the issue....even then sometimes my body feels tired or my lower back hurts.  I have been told I have IBS....I have noticed a couple of times that this has happened has been after eating a lot of fiber (raisin bran, broccoli, etc).  I cannot drink alcohol or this will usually end up happening.  
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Also....during this episode I try to breathe through it so that I (hopefully) don't pass out.  I start breathing in and out slowly and rub my tummy to try to help whatever it is to move.  Hope this helps.  
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