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What Could Cause Painful Spasms In The Upper Abdomen While On Treatment For IBS For Over A Decade?
Posted on
Thu, 31 May 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 31 May 2018
Answered on
Thu, 28 Jan 2021
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello. I have been diagnosed with IBS over the last 10 years have had many diff symptoms. Lots of gas (sometimes I feel like I need to force it out). Bloated. Constipation. Soft stools. Going a bunch of times a day, going no times a day, feeling like I haven’t totally emptied my bowels when I do go, cramps etc. Then again some days I’m perfectly fine. Over the last 4-5 days I have felt something different. It’s a spasm/fluttering feeling right in the middle upper part of my stomach. Almost in the dead center of of my upper chest/stomach where you feel that little ball/hard area. Kind of like right near the Lower part of my left rib. The first few days it was pretty constant but when it happens it only happens for like 3 seconds then stops. Then it will come and go. But only lasting for 3 or so seconds every time. Over the last few days it’s happened less and then a little more, very random. I feel very gassy and am assuming it has to do with my IBS and gas but I am not certain. Can you shed any light on this for me? I’m a slight hypochondria so my IBS has always been slightly worrisome to me that it’s something worse (I’m 36 year old male). I’ve seen many different gastroenterologists and they all tell me it’s IBS. But still, the feelings are there and I’m trying to put my finger on them.
Brief Answer:
Can be paplpitaions.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The feeling you are having is called palpitation.Palpitations can feel like there is s fluttering, throbbing, flip-flopping, murmuring ,or pounding.Usually involves chest however in some cases these sensations can be felt in abdomen stomach,limbs and head also.
In your case strong emotional responses, such as stress or anxiety can be a cause. Extra-cardiac stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (inappropriate stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve (which innervates the heart), can be caused by anxiety and stress due to acute or chronic elevations in glucocorticoids and catecholamines hormones which can cause palpitations.
However as you are diagnosed case of IBS gastrointestinal distress such as bloating gas or indigestion, can also irritate the vagus nerve causing palpitations.
Suggestion-
I would prescibe you following tests
1) Thyroid profile- to rule out hyperthyroidism.
2)24 hour holter monitoring- will record the ECG continuously during a 24-hour or 48-hour period. If palpitation occurs during this period it will be recorded in ECG recording and we can rule out the cardiac rhythm at the time.
3) Serum electrolytes - a disturbance in serum electrolytes can cause palpitations , they can be corrected easily.
If you are a smoker give up smoking.
Don't take alcohol in excess.
Try to do 45 minutes of exercise daily.
As you are anxious person with elevated anxiety levels cardiologist will prescribe you with benzodiazepene to lower your anxiety.
Don't eat oily ,fatty and spicy food for some days.
Add fibres to your diet.
The above mentioned investigations are the basic test which can be helpful in finding out the cause of palpitations.
As prevention is always better then cure, i would suggest you to take the problem seriously.
In case you need more details or have any other query ,feel free to ask ,i would be happy to help you!
Thanks
Can be paplpitaions.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The feeling you are having is called palpitation.Palpitations can feel like there is s fluttering, throbbing, flip-flopping, murmuring ,or pounding.Usually involves chest however in some cases these sensations can be felt in abdomen stomach,limbs and head also.
In your case strong emotional responses, such as stress or anxiety can be a cause. Extra-cardiac stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system (inappropriate stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve (which innervates the heart), can be caused by anxiety and stress due to acute or chronic elevations in glucocorticoids and catecholamines hormones which can cause palpitations.
However as you are diagnosed case of IBS gastrointestinal distress such as bloating gas or indigestion, can also irritate the vagus nerve causing palpitations.
Suggestion-
I would prescibe you following tests
1) Thyroid profile- to rule out hyperthyroidism.
2)24 hour holter monitoring- will record the ECG continuously during a 24-hour or 48-hour period. If palpitation occurs during this period it will be recorded in ECG recording and we can rule out the cardiac rhythm at the time.
3) Serum electrolytes - a disturbance in serum electrolytes can cause palpitations , they can be corrected easily.
If you are a smoker give up smoking.
Don't take alcohol in excess.
Try to do 45 minutes of exercise daily.
As you are anxious person with elevated anxiety levels cardiologist will prescribe you with benzodiazepene to lower your anxiety.
Don't eat oily ,fatty and spicy food for some days.
Add fibres to your diet.
The above mentioned investigations are the basic test which can be helpful in finding out the cause of palpitations.
As prevention is always better then cure, i would suggest you to take the problem seriously.
In case you need more details or have any other query ,feel free to ask ,i would be happy to help you!
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
in your opinion is this something i should be overly concerned about?
Brief Answer:
No need to panic.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
No need to panic.However if things repeat again and again you have to go for the basic tests as suggested above.
Thank you.
No need to panic.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
No need to panic.However if things repeat again and again you have to go for the basic tests as suggested above.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As TSH is normal as per protocol serum electrolyte and cardiac test called 24 hour holter should be done.
If all these are normal then we could consider that gas bloating or anxiety could be a cause of it.
However for palpitations initially thyroid and cardiac evaluation should be done.
What did your gastro said?
Had he considered palpitation as a probability?
waiting for reply
Thanks.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As TSH is normal as per protocol serum electrolyte and cardiac test called 24 hour holter should be done.
If all these are normal then we could consider that gas bloating or anxiety could be a cause of it.
However for palpitations initially thyroid and cardiac evaluation should be done.
What did your gastro said?
Had he considered palpitation as a probability?
waiting for reply
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
He hasnt said anything yet because my followup is not until next week. when i went to him about a month ago for the first visit he attributed all of my symptoms to IBS but did order blood tests and CT scan of small intestine with contrast (which i also read the results of online and it seems normal as well). however when that visit happened i was not yet experiencing the flutter/spasm feeling. this is a new symptom. some days however it happens less and some more and has only just started about 4 days ago.
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As far as my opinion is concerned a holter should be done.
They could be false beats originating in heart.
Follow up with reports of holter.
Thanks
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
As far as my opinion is concerned a holter should be done.
They could be false beats originating in heart.
Follow up with reports of holter.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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