Stomach Cramp, Diarrhea, sweating , light headedness and fainting

[tomski]

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

[CNS12345]

I've experienced the same symptoms everyone else mentioned.  One spell resulted in fainting and falling face first onto the tile.  I went through a battery of tests, none of which revealed anything.  I was referred to a cardiologist who performed a tilt table test.  10 minutes into the test, I fainted and my heart stopped for 14 seconds.  I was diagnosed with cardio neurogenic syncope and they highly recommended I get a pacemaker.  I sought a second opinion from the Cleveland Clinic Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Clinic.  They also recommended a pacemaker.  At that point I hadn't had another episode and I chose to hold off.  I've recently started experiencing the symptoms again however I haven't passed out again.

I did a ton of research when I was first diagnosed but only just now found this forum.  It's really nice to read that there are other people out there who experience this.  I'm concerned that a pacemaker may not be the option.  I just wish there was a treatment for this.  

Below is an article I stumbled on when I first started experiencing this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1768202/

[mdbanks2]

Ughhh I cannot tell you how  many times I have had an attack and spent hours later trying to figure out what this is.  I'm 27y/o, female, no children, and I experience dizziness, nausea, hot/cold sweats, clamminess, fainting, and diarrhea on the onset of my period.  Not every time (thank god!) but probably 5 or 6 times since I was 13.  That being said I think what so many of us are describing might be VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE. Where enough blood doesn't get to your brain and you feel all the symptoms of fainting. This would be brought on by different things for different people but painful menstruation/cramps is definitely a cause. Please check out this link, ihttp://www.bhhsnetwork.nhs.uk/userfiles/file/StandardsGuidelines/ArrhythmiaGuidance/Patient%20Info%20-%20Vasovagal%20syncope.pdf
ts legit (just a PDF) and explains a LOT of what I think we've been describing as well as methods to keep it in check and shorten an attack.  I've never actually posted on one of these things before but if I can help explain the cause of this INSANELY painful experience for even one person it will be well worth it.  Let me know if you think the article fits you and I'll be making my MD appt!  Take Care All!, Melissa

[IBDResearcher]

I am so happy that I found this forum! I had my first bout a little over 3 years ago when I was 28. Since then, it has happened only a handful of times. The last one happened 2 years ago when I was pregnant and that the first time I actually fainted. The only explanation that I got from doctors and other health care professionals is IBD, which I knew it wasn't (I work as a researcher on IBD) and was later confirmed. I was pretty much told that my pregnancy hormones had me overreacting and exaggerating my symptoms. Nevertheless, this happened again post-pregnancy, which again was dismissed. At that point, I decided to do my own research. Looking back at these incidents, I am convinced that it was due to a combination of constipation and a severe food intolerance, in my case, lactose intolerance.
Each and every time it happened, I consumed either coffee from Starbucks (I am convinced that those non-dairy canisters contain whole milk) or ice cream. However, it's not just lactose intolerance by itself considering I've suffered its symptoms for over 10 years and the intensity of symptoms are like night and day. Knowing that lactose intolerance alone, I've also realized that I was constipated (over a week between bowel movements) during these times. Since I noticed these patterns, I've avoided all dairy products and tried to have more frequent bowel movements and I haven't had a problem since. Reading through these posts, I think IBD is being overly and misdiagnosed. Let's be real, we all have some sort of inflammation in our bowels considering that it is the most dirtiest part of our body. Furthermore, the actual diagnosis is subjective. So, please do your own research and not rely on so much on doctors and their diagnoses.  

[Ginger_65]

It is so nice to finally know this is not unique. I too have suffered these episodes since about 20 almost on a monthly basis. Many drs and naturopaths, food journals to never find a coomon denominator. Changing my diet by restricting wheat and dairy most of the time  has helped immensely. I have inly had approx 4 episodes in three years! It tends to always happen when i have been slightly constipated for a few days prior. I am not sure what causes it for sure but I do agree that it is definitely a vagal response from pressure in the bowel. I avoid passing out by positioning my self on the toliet so my head is wedged against the wall. This will avoid hurting myself if i pass out. I just wish I truly knew what actually causes this so i can avoid this feeling like I am going to die while going through one of these unusual epiisodes. Thanks to everyone for sharing as these forums help immensely where no physician has been able to.

[Latina88]

For at least 4 years or so,I have had pain come suddenly in my Lower abdomen,during that time any kind of wind or even ac of anything like that will make me cramp worse,also get the feeling of throwing up really bad but I never throw up,the pain can come at any time of the day and it used to be around my menstrual time,once I went to the bathroom my first stool was normal,then the pain would go away and come right back within a few minutes and I would have diarreah then i would be back in the bathroom and this time it was very watery and also mucusy,sometimes a good 5 or 6 times in the bathroom would make me feel better but the next day I would still have the after shock sort of speak and my stomach would still act up.but it wasnt pains like that,lately I used a heating pad for the pain,its like a weakness feeling in my lower abdomen,Sometimes I noticed I get a bit of fever was well during the time of the cramps,but once the cramp goes away the fever goes away too,what could this be?I have not been to a doctor about this issue in particular in a very long time.sometimes I can feel it coming because it comes in as a bit of weakness in the lower abdomen I am 25 years old no children,I had a cyst about 3 years ago or so in my right ovary,it went away on its own after months and years.Recently I have been having this episode every day for the last week once a day and it is usually in the evening time after dinner,I eat sometimes around 7pm or so because my husband doesnt get off until 6 30 sometimes.anyone ever had the same symptoms??or similar??i would like to know if there is a name for this attack and what could cause it.

[ifollowtheshepherd]

Hello,  I've been suffering with these 'attacks' for about 2 yrs.  It really comes on fast.  Starts with cramping but not the usual cramping I would experience.  I know it's going to be bad if the pain is just above my bellybutton.  I start to get hot and sweaty and I have to sit on the toilet immediately.  I will have diarrhea but that doesn't make the pain go away.  The pain intensifies and then I do not have the strength/energy to sit anymore so I roll onto the floor.  This is the weird part...I will start to get a tingly feeling which starts at my shoulders and works its way down to my finger tips...very scary.  One time I even had an instance where the tingling in my hands was very strong and then both my thumbs stuck to the sides of my hands and I could not pry them back off.  I was so scared!  Then that slowly goes away and within an hour the pain is subsiding too but it seems to take forever to go away.  I will start to get cold from all the sweating.  I'm very weak but I slowly make my way back to bed to find a comfortable position.  I have never fainted. I am vegetarian but think that maybe dairy is doing this to me.  Has anyone ever experienced this hand thing that happened to me?