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What Do Bouts Of Diarrhea And Constipation Along With Stomach Pain Indicate?

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Posted on Wed, 25 Jan 2017
Twitter Wed, 25 Jan 2017 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 14 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on
Question : I have always had digestive issues. I have been diagnosed with IBS and Celiac Disease. I have struggled with this for several years. I have bouts of diarrhea and constipation. I am afraid to travel for fear of having attacks on the trip, which has happened before. However, I have begun to have new symptoms, severe cramping in my stomach and stomach pain. This has been constant over the past few days. I went to my doctor and told her my symptoms a few days ago. She did blood work, which I XXXXXXX t heard from and put me on Sucralfate one gram four times a day. It has not helped. She also set me up to have a CAT scan of my abdomen on Thurs. the 26. Will this CAT scan help to find out what is wrong? Is there anything else that will help relieve the pain and cramping?
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Happykumar Kagathara (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
IBS related hypermotility of small intestine

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern for GI symptoms.
Yes, CT scan is gold standard test for unexplained symptoms related to abdomen.
But in your case CT scan might not helpful to find cause for cramping pain in abdomen.
Cramping pain in abdomen with diagnosis or celiac disease related IBS suggest that such episodes of cramps occur due to rapid movement of small intestine which is common in celiac disease and this is same phenomena responsible for development of occasional diarrhea. Rapid intestinal movement is physiological condition and can not be confirmed directly on CT scan, although it can be confirmed by indirect evidences.
Treatment for such cramp episode is anti-spasmodic medication which not only control pain but also reduce intestinal motility to some extent.
You, not require any additional test to diagnose cause for this cramps in abdomen as it is related to IBS.

Hope I answered your query. If you have any further doubts, I would be happy to help you.
Have a nice day!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Happykumar Kagathara

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 444 Questions

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What Do Bouts Of Diarrhea And Constipation Along With Stomach Pain Indicate?

Brief Answer: IBS related hypermotility of small intestine Detailed Answer: Hello, I can understand your concern for GI symptoms. Yes, CT scan is gold standard test for unexplained symptoms related to abdomen. But in your case CT scan might not helpful to find cause for cramping pain in abdomen. Cramping pain in abdomen with diagnosis or celiac disease related IBS suggest that such episodes of cramps occur due to rapid movement of small intestine which is common in celiac disease and this is same phenomena responsible for development of occasional diarrhea. Rapid intestinal movement is physiological condition and can not be confirmed directly on CT scan, although it can be confirmed by indirect evidences. Treatment for such cramp episode is anti-spasmodic medication which not only control pain but also reduce intestinal motility to some extent. You, not require any additional test to diagnose cause for this cramps in abdomen as it is related to IBS. Hope I answered your query. If you have any further doubts, I would be happy to help you. Have a nice day!