Have you EVER experienced anything like this???? Lots of TMI...

jjc99 · #1 December 29th, 2009, 07:36 PM

I have had a physically painful day. I realize what I'm going to share might not relate to pregnancy specifically, but right now, I have no idea who to ask these questions to. We've all shared so much...why not a little more? Someone tell me I'm not a freak...or that I am and go see a Dr... either way, read below only if you dare!! (It's gas/cramps related) Everything is TMI, so this is the warning - and it's long...

Over the years, I have had experienced quick sharp pains. It feels like a butcher knife going up my butt. I was told this is gas. Up until a month or so ago, these pains were quick and happen once or twice and finished if i passed gas or had a BM.

Couple weeks ago (at work), I experienced the gas pains REALLY bad!! I was walking and it stopped me in my tracks and almost dropped me. I sat at my desk and tried to compose. Made a visit to the bathroom and did whatever I had to do. After 15-20 minutes, I was better. Tired, but better.

Now, today - before my 1:30 meeting, I was gassy, so I took a chewable Gas-x tablet. I got out around 2:30. 2 minutes later, I started with the butcher knife up the butt feeling. Luckily, DH was at my desk. While talking, i'm wincing, jerking, squeezing the arm chair for dear life. As soon as I start to relax, pain would shoot, and I'd tense up. I tried to go to the bathroom - nothing (plus, someone was in there). After a few rounds of desk to bathroom and back - I STILL wasn't feeling any better. If anything, worse. Now I also had abdominal cramps and starting to get lower back pains. It was hard to change positions and to walk. I left at 3pm. DH drove me home. I was in constant, growing pain in that 20-25 min ride home. The pain was alternating from my butt to my abdomen to by back and even pains in my vagina. (Kinda like when I have bad period cramps.) I was in tears when we got home.

DH got me some new medicine, but still OTC gas relief pains, per the pharmacist's recommendation. I felt a little bit better, eventually. Enough to get my care at 6:30. I'm was still in pain, but could at least drive.

So, has ANYONE ever had anything like this? Seriously? over 8 hours of gas pains? Can these JUST be gas pains? are these menstrual cramps? (I know I can be gassy when AF visits) Is it my internal organs imploding? I didn't want to have to call a Dr yet, but should I? I'd hate to go to the Dr just for gas. (do I se my regular MD or my OB that probably can't see me, or an Urgent Care?)

I haven't taken anything except the gas relief. Can/should I take ibuprofen or Aleve? I have Tramadol...should I take that?

I realize you're either #1 - laughing, #2 - getting grossed out, or #3 - sympathizing and feeling for me. Hopefully some of you can give me some insight. Any of you RN's out there have any ideas? I'd appreciate any info any of you have!!

Kary♥RN · #2 December 29th, 2009, 08:06 PM

OK...well let the TMI... continue...

1. What is your BM like? Soft, Hard, watery??

2. Have you ever wrote down what you had the 24 hour prior to having these gas related pains? (Anything small "hard" things like Peanuts, raw veggies, seed... poppy, sesame ect??)

3. Have you taken anything in the past that have helped the pain (besides the gasx?) .. and when you are cramping with AF do you take anything?

4. What were you doing activity wise... before these pains started.. even a few hours prior.

jjc99 · #3 December 29th, 2009, 08:34 PM

Thanks Kary for asking. I appreciate it!

1. What is your BM like? Soft, Hard, watery?? Last BM was late this morning - softish, Probably from the hummus/chips i had last night...

2. Have you ever wrote down what you had the 24 hour prior to having these gas related pains? (Anything small "hard" things like Peanuts, raw veggies, seed... poppy, sesame ect??)

Wrote down - no. Mental notes, yes. What i've had in the last 24 hours or so (before i had the pains) - hummus and tortillas, Fiber One bar, raw carrots. I had a 100 calorie pack of kettle-type snack mix. This is the only thing I have had that I normally don't have. But it's not really all that different from what I usually would have. I had Japanese steakhouse Sat night, so i probably had sesame seeds...Sat night.

3. Have you taken anything in the past that have helped the pain (besides the gasx?) .. and when you are cramping with AF do you take anything?

I've tried Bean-o and the pill forms of gas-x - if it's pretty minor, it would work. if it's major, it might help relieve it, but not like i'd hope. I try things, but it doesn't seem to always work. As for AF cramps/pains - 15 years of the pill - usually 2-3 ibuprofen would take care of it, maybe my heating pad. Since going off the pill, the pains are a bit worse, so maybe more ibuprofen or aleve and more heating pad. Sleep.

4. What were you doing activity wise... before these pains started.. even a few hours prior.
Usually - nothing. Sitting at the computer or watching tv. maybe driving. Today, I was sitting in my boss' office, talking. Got up, walked to my desk - all of 20' or so, saw Chris, sat down and they started. Maybe it's Chris' fault! lol!

What's so confusing is right now nothing is "normal" with me, since i got pg. Things happen, but I don't know if it's because of A, B or C...or maybe X. And I feel this not just with the gas, but other things too. My logical head can come up with some explanations, but ultimately, I just don't know. I don't want to run to a Dr every time something weird happens.

at 11:30, i'm finally feeling better. I can still feel some faint faint aches. We'll see what happens when i get up and go to bed...

Kary♥RN · #4 December 29th, 2009, 08:57 PM

Jennifer. I would deff.. call you MD..

First I can tell you after my d/e in Feb.. I had pains in my abd for months.. every cycle.. day after day of pain. I would have maybe 5-10 days a month.. I was not in pain.. or not enough to make note of it. Since my losses.. my body has changed with every loss... Is what your feeling "pregnancy related"? I am not sure on way or the other... But it is something that needs to be checked out.. You could have IBS Iritable Bowel Syndrome.. When you eat raw veggies or tiny seeds... it can aggrivate the intensines.. causing losser/softer stools. Another thing that can cause pain.. is Ulcerative Colits.. or just Colitis.. where these same "small particals" can get stuck in these little ulcers in the intesines... Also high in fat foods.. (like gressy foods)... these are only a few of MANY things it can be.. some less than bothersome than others... and some treatments are easier than others. I would keep track of what you eat... and if you eat raw carrots again next tuesday and the same thing happens... you can tell your doctor. Salads can also do this... corn, things that are hard for the body to digest.

But If it was me... I would run this by my regular doc...

and when I have to have a BM... depending on where I am in my cycle.. my BM's change... after AF... so problem going... around O.. I get more constipated... than the day before AF shows... (This is how I know I am NOT pregnant) I will have very loose stools. and horriable cramping and rectum pain.... If I am pregnant... I have a the not so nice constipation.. ...

momof6lopez · #5 December 29th, 2009, 09:58 PM

Make sure you talk to your ob about pain like that. The "shapr knife pain in the butt", litteraly, is the exact kind of pain I get when I have an ovarian cyst that is close to ruptering. these are common and come every three to four months for me. The only pain releif for me is to be in the fetal position, very still for about 2hrs. No joke. I have made three trips to the er this year. U/S confirmed a huge cyst on the ovar of about 3-4cm. (size of a lemon)

Just something to think about. I know I confused these pains myself with gas pains a long time ago, until I started going to the er. Now I know what they are, and gas pains cannot come close to this pain.

Kary♥RN · #6 December 29th, 2009, 11:09 PM

wow Lori... When I had my cyst rupture in Aug.. I had severe back pain..

See how many different symptoms.. you can have.. pain radiates with evey body differently..

Just another thing that makes it so harder for us to know what is going on with our body's. Just like a heart attack.. pain to the Jaw for some.. down the arm for others..

Justjessie · #7 December 30th, 2009, 02:26 AM

I'm #3, I sympathize.

I'd call the doctor. I have IBS, like Kary said, and I never had the knife up the butt thing but I had the runs for about three years straight and the worst stomach pains ever. Try being a teacher and dealing with that. Well, actually, don't =) But I went to the doc, they put me on meds, ran a bunch of tests (know we KNOW it's not a deadly thing) and it comes and goes. I haven't had huge problems in years. I am not on meds anymore but I know I can be if I need to be.

At my ultrasound, they found cysts on my ovaries, they said one was really big but it could be gone by next month. Geez, might this cause problems, too???

momof6lopez · #8 December 30th, 2009, 04:14 AM

AngelKitty, cycsts in general go away on their own, and dont cause too many problems except "PAIN". That pain for me in unmistakeable. Feels like someone is taking a knife and litteraly going through my rectum. Pain from ovarian cycsts can radiate through the pelvis down to the rectum. Cant sit, lay down, stand, no position is good for me when this happens. The pain is usually brought on for me after dtd. I would say at least 10 times since I was 21 this has happened. Up until about 3yrs ago, I always assumed it to be a symptom of my ulcerated kolitis. But it wasnt. Thats why it is so important to get pains like this checked out for anyone.

*MomofO&Nat* · #9 December 30th, 2009, 04:31 AM

I have also had o. cysts and had the same pains Lori describes. Definitely get a full physical done just to rule out everything. If it ends up being a reaction to something you eat regularly, its a quick fix to eliminate it from your diet. I hope you feel better, sounds awful!!

MonkeyBugMommy · #10 December 30th, 2009, 05:23 AM

When I was pregnant with DD I had this, but I luckily noticed that it happened when I ate shrimp (and I LOVE shrimp). I swear, that was the worst pain I ever felt. Even worse than the pain of recovering from my c-section, which was really bad pain. It did only happen when I was pregnant. Any other time, I can eat shrimp with no problems.

The first time it lasted for about 4 hours. I had no idea what was going on, but I was terrified that I was having a miscarriage. After about 4 hours, all the pain went away.

The next time lasted 8-10 hours. I couldn't move, I couldn't walk... I was just in severe pain. I did a lot of laying in bed and trying to sleep and trying to go to the bathroom. The pain finally stopped when I was asleep and had a dream that I went to see a chiropractor and he pushed down on my back and made me fart really loud. (

). When I woke up, I felt SO much better!

I never really found any medication that gave me any kind of relief. I took Senekot S, but I don't know if it helped or not. It made me feel better to try something, though, so I took it. I learned not to eat shrimp, because even in small amounts it gave me gas pain.

Good luck to you! I hope you find out what the problem is and that you get some relief soon. I know how awful it is.

Justjessie · #11 December 30th, 2009, 05:37 AM

OMG...wait a minute...LAST month, when I was post miscarriage...we DTD and IT HURT LIKE HELL AFTER...thought I had to poop and I couldn't...I was moaning in pain and DH thought it was all his fault...could this have been that darn ovarian cyst, and should I get it checked out again???????????

OMG did it feel like a knife up my butt? It felt like a knife in SOMETHING...OMG worst pain ever next to childbirth (how did I forget this happened) and then it went away in a day and I haven't had it since.

I also had something like this the month I got pregnant but I thought it was me ovulating and maybe I ate something bad.

jjc99 · #12 December 30th, 2009, 05:49 AM

Wow...ok...ok.. you al convinced me to get in to see the Dr.

Ovarian cyst never crossed my mind. But, I've been on BCP for over 15 years - maybe I had them, but it was never too bad, due to the pills. Now I'm off - let the real fun begin!?

And like MomofLopez (sorry, don't know your IRL name...) we DTD Monday night, due to a mis-read OPK test (thought it was +, really it was -) so, it's a symptom similar to you.

No more speculating - I'll call the Dr...

FYI - I slept ok-well. It was a little difficult getting upstairs and once I was in bed, and sorta comfy, i didn't want to move. I fell asleep probably 12:30-1am. This morning, the intense pain isn't here - yet. I was feeling mild abd. cramp/pain at first, but as I've been up a little and moving around, i can feel the rectum pain starting to come back. It's ok/mild - NOW. But I can feel it gearing up again. Never felt this before!

Called my MD - he's full today, but they will give him the note to see if I should be squeezed in or just go to the ER....now i'm just waiting for him to call back.

.:Shortcake:. · #13 December 30th, 2009, 06:38 AM

I also get cysts and that is what it feels like for me. I agree though go to the doctor. Hopefully they can give you some insight as to what is going on. Although if it is a cyst there is not much they can do except give you so pain meds to help when they burst. Hugs!

~Lynda~ · #14 December 30th, 2009, 06:52 AM

I just hope you feel better soon. the pain sounds horrible! let us know how it goes, but definitely get it checked out by someone who won't just tell you it's gas!! HUGS

mommy x 10 · #15 December 30th, 2009, 08:34 AM

Hope you feel better and that the docs can figure out what is causing the pain!

jjc99 · #16 December 30th, 2009, 09:50 AM

Went to the Dr. While I was waiting for him, I had a couple surges of moderate pain. He questioned me and then checked out my abdomen, pressing on various places. He isn't sure what it is, exactly. I mentioned the cyst thing and the fact that I'm now off BCP after 15 or so years. He said the rectum pain isn't a common symptom, but it could be that too.

Ohhhh. after leaving his office, i was almost in full-on pain, like yesterday. No pressing in my belly when I'm feeling like this!! Especially when I'm alone. And have to drive.

He scripted me Dicyclomine. According to the paperwork, it's an antspasmodic for IBS. So, I might have IBS, maybe not. We will just see how this all works. *fingers crossed* this works.

BigGrin · #17 December 30th, 2009, 10:49 AM

How interesting, I have had that "knife up the resctum" pain but had no idea what it was. I still get it sometimes and it can radiate to one of my labia. It literally takes my breath away and I am frozen in pain. But it is always very quick and intense...then just dissapears. Now I am wondering if it's cysts or something?

I am scheduling an annual ONGYN visit and will bring this up to my doc and see what she says. Thanks for posting this, now I know there are more butt sufferes out there and I am not alone.

alethia · #18 December 30th, 2009, 12:24 PM

i have IBS and SLE and have had symptoms like that - my mom had Crone's and had symptoms like that. I would def say call your doctor - it could be many different things - but if your in that much pain - it shouldn't be ignored and you shouldn't have to deal with that. HUGS! I'm sorry hun - i know how much it sucks!

sharilyn · #19 December 31st, 2009, 09:03 AM

I have gotten that pain too mostly while Af is visiting and i'm sitting to the toilet...mine started after I had DD and i seriously almost pass out when it happens! I've never said anything to my dr about it either...maybe it would be a good idea to

Celena · #20 December 31st, 2009, 11:17 AM

Yes and I was told I have ulcerative colitis... but I didn't have ALL of your symptoms. It does double me over in excruciating pain when the bouts happen. Always had to get to the bathroom as fast as I could even tho I could hardly walk or I'd have a bigger problem. It goes into remission tho thankfully.

I've never had the searing pain in my bum hole like you described.

IMO, I would try to go see your General Practitioner and see if they can refer you to the right people. You said your co-pay for GYN was $100- right, wouldn't your GP be cheaper a little? I'd be careful and definitely get checked out asap it can be any number of things and you don't want any damaging effects from it if it could. Does that make sense?