Suggest Treatment For Lower Abdominal Pain And Solid To Almost Diarrhea Bowel Movement

Posted on Mon, 3 Nov 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 3 Nov 2014 Answered on

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello.. I'm a 43 yr old Male. kinda hard to explain what's been going on, but here I go:
I will be awaken in the middle of my sleep with lower abdominial pain, to the point where I have to go to the bathroom, once on the toilet, I can actually feel my bowl system move, and at this point, I will then break into a cold sweat and have a solid to almost diahrea bowl movement, and then to where I actually get nauseated and to the point of passing out. During this whole process, I actually get cold, clammy and pale.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Proctalgia fugax;to rule out other causes first...

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX staton,

The pain starting in the middle of the night associated with breaks in cold sweat is called proctalgia fugax.

However, if I was your caring doctor would make sure you won't have:
- hemorrhoids
- levator ani syndrome
- anal fissure

through rectal examination.

Proctalgia fugax lasts for a very short period of time, thus, no specific treatment is required. However, I usually advise my patients to follow a healthy, rich in fiber and fluids diet.

Hope it helped!
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (13 minutes later)

Doc... I have no hemorrhoids pain/symptoms.. and no anal pain.. what concerns me it the actual lower abdominal pain prior and during and the cold sweats during all this...

Also, this only happens while I'm asleep... never while awake... I know when the body is at rest/Sleep, is when digestion starts... concerns me because the abdominal pain feels as if it's getting worse.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow the suggestions below.....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for your follow up updates.

I have noted that you have reported to be having a surgery on February 2014 on the other query (which I hadn't this information).

Please bare in mind that adherent intestines and abdominal structures after surgery might be a cause to the sudden pain you feel in the middle of the night. Usually, up to 1 year after abdominal surgery, the pain is present; after the first year, everything will be settled.
Another cause may be bowel infection.
At this point, I advise to run :
- abdominal ultrasound
- fecal exams/coproculture
-colonoscopy

to determine the right cause. Taking antispasmodics will also help.

All the best!
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj