Hello, I am 44, and the same thing has been happening to me for about 14 years now, it happens to me every 6 months to a year, and feels like a knife going up my rear end, and 99% of the time I passed completely out cold for at least 45 seconds or so.... One thing I have learned is to never agitate it by trying to use the bathroom, every time I have tried to go to the bathroom I wound up unconcious on the floor. The best thing to do is stay in bed, go into a subconscious state, small breaths, and hope for the best.... I am writing on this forum today because it just happen to me last night again, the last time was about 7 months ago and I unconsciously stood up and then passed out and almost went through a glass door, whatever the heck this is it's serious, I been reading on forums like this that everyones doctor has no answers, including mine......so yeah, it's been 14 years now for be, and the pain is rediculous, in fact, every time this happens to me, the morning after when I wake up I am literally in awe how bad it hurt. I am a male, but I have read females in other forums posting that to them it feel worse then the labor from their children. Anyway, I hope this helps in some way, you're not alone.
After reading all these comments I'm wondering if a couple of different problems are not getting lumped together. What happens to me always follows the same pattern. I wake up in the middle of the night, always with a pain that feels like something is trapped inside my stomach and is trying to get out (could be my intestines, lower abdomen so I just call it stomach pains) I get out of bed and go to the restroom. I rarely actually have to use the bathroom but eventually the pain becomes so severe that I pass out. This started it my early 20's and happened once a year or every other year for awhile, but has now happened 2 times in the last six months. The most recent incident happened 3 days ago and I managed to pay more attention to what happened right before blacking out. I noticed my breathing was heavy due to the pain, then I felt all the blood run out of my head and I got tunnel vision as I blacked out. When I woke up, the pain was gone. The entire event never lasts more than 5 minutes or so. Luckily this time I knew it was coming and leaned to the side and only injured my shoulder. The time before I fell face first into the side of the tub and broke my nose. Diet does not seem to be my trigger because I have been tracking my meals on the days of the incidences and I can find no correlation of the types of food I am eating. I would love to know what this is or if there is any way to prevent this from happening in the future.
A severe and longer-than-usual attack last night (30 minutes rather than 10-15) has prompted me to look into this a little more, hence finding this forum. I am a 38 year old healthy male who's been suffering from this for 12 years or so.
One trigger that I've not seen mentioned on this site is excessive straining when trying to poo. I finally realized this was often the cause a few years ago on holiday in Italy - I was rushing to leave the hotel for an appointment, strained on the toilet for a few minutes to no avail (i.e. no poo!), rushed to catch a bus, and then 30 minutes later the pain started. I left the bus and eventually passed out in a bus shelter due to the pain (my wife was with me to tell concerned onlookers not to worry!).
With me it's usually at night though, around 2 hours after going to bed. Only 4 times has it happened during the day (twice I've stayed conscious) where after the episode I've been able to think more clearly and try and rationalize a cause. Since realizing that straining on the toilet was a probable trigger, I am much better at stopping myself push too hard when trying to poo (I guess like many people I'm a busy person and want to get it done asap and get on with the day!). Since then attacks have been less frequent (1 per year rather than a few).
Annoyingly, last night was definitely not caused by straining. It could have been bad (low fiber) diet the day before; too much chocolate and (de-caff) coffee ice cream followed by a very hot bath (!); being particularly sedentary during the day; or non of the above! Who knows?!
My GP (doctor) said not to worry too much, many things can cause muscles in the intestine to go into spasm (if that's what it is), and that passing out (loosing consciousness, if done safely - i.e. with someone supervising and already close to or the floor) is not a bit problem and can actually help the body to reset the muscle spasm.
I find alternating between child's pose on the floor, and on my knees with my head and chest on the bed, are the best. Even though I know rationally I've come through this so many times with no ill effects, I can relate to many other people on this discussion thread in that the pain is so bad it's really horrible and scary, and when it's actually happening it feels though something very serous is happening down there in the lower bowel. Isn't it weird that the pain seems to center on the anus (ass-hole) but it is actually not coming from there at-all, but from somewhere inside!? Anyway, I'll stop rambling now - good luck everyone.
Ian
thanks for the post
I'm a 62 year old male. I have had similar, infrequent pains over the last 30 years. I have probably experienced this frightening pain about half a dozen times since the 1980's. It occurs when I start to have a stool that suddenly becomes painful as if my sphincter or lower colon has suddenly constricted. I am completely debilitated and turn as white as a bed sheet. Laying down on the cool tile of the bathroom for about 10 minutes and praying to God for it to stop is what I do in such cases. Thank God it has never lasted more than about 10 minutes.
I have suffered from the same thing for twenty years. When it hits, it feels like a spear has been put up through your rectum and into your lower body. I have been hospitalized and released with no diagnosis being made. Best thing to have with you at all times in case you need it is a muscle relaxer. Take it at first sign of a problem coming on. The first time I suffered an attack I shared a room with a woman having the same problem. I do believe that it is a virus that your contract that goes dormant for different lengths of time. It does seem that when ever I go back to eating wheat and gluten products my stomach bloats and then I have an attack. It seems to take a while for my intestines to get really irritated. I do believe that wheat is poison.
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I found your post bc I just got done having a cramp of this nature also. I have been having them for years, and have had numerous laparoscopic procedures to explore to see if there is any physical cause that they can see for them. The closest thing they have come to an answer is that I have numerous fibroids in my Uterus, but they are really not supposed to cause any pain, so I am skeptical as to that being the cause. During my "cramps" I also sweat (to the point that it is dripping down my body), and I am basically unable to move during the cramp. It usually comes on directly after waking. I can usually feel it coming on and I have found that it doesn't get AS severe if I am able to urinate before it starts. I actually had one DR surmise that what I was experiencing was "Bladder spasms" which may also be a cause, not sure, but I know that most times, even if I have been able to urinate, it feels as though i wasn't quite able to empty my bladder but that I am absolutely incapable of passing any during these cramps. I have also found that if I am able to get to a place where i can be totally undressed so that i am not AS hot during the cramp, then it is a little easier on me, even so much as to open windows in the dead of winter to provide some relief. Usually, directly after the cramp, I find that I am very clammy and frozen to the bone, causing me to shiver severely for about half an hour after. It does seem to be cyclical being that the only time I have ever been sure that I don't end up having them is during my actual period, and that they seem to be stronger and more intense as I get closer to that time during the month. I know that it has been frustrating living with no relief from them, but I am done allowing Dr's to "explore" through surgery to "have a look" at what might be causing them. I typically set my alarm at least half hour earlier than I need to function to allow time for these cramps, bc as I said they seem to happen right as I wake from sleeping. They usually last up to half an hour and as soon as they are done, I'm always left feeling drained, but with absolutely no pain as soon as its done each time. It's very frustrating but I have learned to live with it as just one of those unexplainable maladies of life, I guess. Good luck with yours. Also, I do find it slightly relieving to use an extremely hot towel. I dampen the towel and then put it in the microwave and roll it up to kind of lay it across my abdoman during the cramp and kind of rock back and forth with it.
I have eperienced the same numerous times. Two times I completely lost consciousness for a period of time (husband said several minutes) and lost all bowel and bladder control during the episode. Other times I've come close to passing out but not passed out. Just cold sweat and that visual and auditory thing you get right before passing out. Since my last episode in February, I now have a constant fear of a repeat. I have have begun suffering from severe anxiety to the point of needing medication. And my stomach problems have increased, although there has not been another episode since then. Both times I lost consciousness I fell to the ground and could have been seriously injured had my head hit objects on the way down.
Every time it's happened, it's been in the middle of the night, or at least a couple hours after falling asleep. I wake with abdominal cramping, use the bathroom and a couple times get back to bed and then feel I need to go again and that's when I start to pass out/pass out. One episode I woke up already about to pass out and hit the floor before I could even get to the bathroom the first time. Other times I'd go the first time and then have to lie on the cold tile floor trying not to pass out. I had vomiting on a couple occasions years ago as well. There is always very loose stool associated with this. And no food explanation for it (no unusual foods, or excesses of foods that cause loosened stool, etc.).
I have had an EEG and it says no seizure. I'd love to hear from others with this experience, especially if you've gotten a diagnosis. My doctor has re-referred me to a GI doc to look into the possiblity of "neurogenic gastrointestinal epilepsy". Obviously hoping that gets ruled out as it is a seizure disorder of sorts and requires anti convulsants to treat it. I've been to a neurologist and when they gave me an anticonvulsant "just in case" it was seizure related, I had a bad reaction and ended up in the hospital and battled gastroparesis for a couple weeks after.
Oh I'm so happy to find out I'm not alone. I have an episode almost once a month. It started about a year ago and I have no explanation. Happens during the day for me and lasts 10-45 minutes. N haven't been to the dr yet, but I'm going to start journaling what I eat when it happens so maybe I can make a connection. Just happy to find out I'm not alone :)
I had a similar experience last week. I woke up in the morning and shortly after waking up i felt like i was gettting sick and was going to throw up so i went to the bathroom. Meanwhile i started having severe abdominal pain and it was not a pleasant feeling. i yelled for my sister because i knew i was going to pass out, i had had this happen once before. she said i was white as a ghost as well and that i was sweating. i could feel myself shutting down and felt clammy but i didn't know i was sweting. I couldn't move and could only whisper. I was somehow able to stand up and i was going to have my sister walk me to the bed but as soon as i took one step i fell into her and she said i kinda spun around few times loosig my balance before i fell back an thankgoodness she was there to catch my head otherwise i would have hit it pretty hard on the wall.
hey rveryone....I'm feel like I have come home...and I also feel like I'm not crazy or have some deadly disease. ...this just happened to me two mornings ago....all I can say is pure hell!!!! its the second time now in 4 years...I didn't pass out this time though I think it's because I was right beside the air vent for the ac. I can't believe how many people have experienced this, I feel like my intestines are trying to come out....I told my doctor and their answer is always the same...eat more fiber....yes like many say it is worse than labour. ...I think because its unbearable pkus no epidural. the difference this time was the bowel was stuck so bad I hate to say it but I had no choice but to do the unthinkable as I had no suppositories. ..I know its gross but when you feel like ur dying you will do anything....the nut analysis is interesting because recently I have started eating more nuts for cleaner eating...I thought it might have been from new supplements I'm taking....creatine and protien powder....anyways what relief to know others have been through this although I do feel sorry for y'all...my husband can't understand .....I almost had him call 911 the other day....
OMG i hav the same thing! I am only 15 and I do have a history of stomache aches but it was usally diarrheara(however u spell it) . Up until last year it worsened and felt like the muscle was cramping every few seconds like I had food poisoning (but becuase I was the only one who had it and nobody else who ate the same stuff did It was obviously not food poisoning) . It also makes me out of breath and light headed and once I had fainted from the pain. It happens day and night and once at school. It is soooooooo painful and the doctors had no idea wat was wrong. The pain is sooooooooo bad I think it is worse than pregnancy but thank god it goes away quickly (most times) usually about 10mins-3hrs? maybe?
How to help the pain:
If u are alone DEFINATELY call the ambulance. For the breathing problem get the freshest air possible!! and there is a herb type thing that gives you oxygen called "gen" (some type of root) It definately helps alot! check maybe lyk a herb doctor or a chinese herb doctor. For the pain I just try to make the stomach warm by putting my had over it but Im not sure what else to do for the pain. O and try not to move at all becuase that makes it worse byy alllot so just sit of the tiolet(just in case) or something for a while. This is all from my personal experiences. I really wish to know what causes all this so then I can try and prevent it:( I thought that some of the reasons may be bad food, cold stomach, too full, too hungry, or just simply a weak stomach.
If anyone can help me in any way It would be much appreciated because I am only 15 and never ever want it to happen again
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Hi there this is my second time having this stomach attack pain problem I am very scared do you know what kinda sickness it is.. luckily my mom was there the 2 times that i have it i have a young 4yrs old daughter @ home.. I dont know what else would i do without her there if the next time i get this attack again.. if i did fainted please get back to me asap thankyou!
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