Stomach cramps are a characteristic symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to make things worse, going to the bathroom rarely alleviates the pain. To get relief, most people have to find other ways to soothe their aching stomachs. Since some options can take longer than others, it’s always good to know which measures will bring you fast relief.
7 Ways to Ease Your Stomach Pain
1. Use Some Heat
In many cases, placing a hot water bottle or a heating pad on your stomach can help. If you opt to use them, remember to place a cloth under the pad or bottle so they don’t come in direct contact with your skin. In case you don’t have those, pain relief creams that warm the area may also work.
2. Have a Cup of Tea
Some herbs have been shown to settle your stomach and soothe irritation. You can take advantage of them by using them to make a nice cup of tea. Peppermint and chamomile are great for soothing an irritated stomach. Anise can ease constipation, while fennel is known to alleviate digestive issues in general. However, you should skip the chamomile and fennel if you’re on a low FODMAP diet to manage your IBS.
3. Be Smart About What You Eat
With your stomach in pain, you might be tempted to avoid food altogether. That might only make your symptoms worse. You should be selective about what you eat, instead. Some foods to avoid include greasy foods, heavy meals, gas-producing foods like apples, mangoes, peaches, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, dairy products, whole grains, and sugar-free drinks. A few meal options that will be better for your stomach are steamed vegetables, lean proteins, lactose-free yogurt, and broth.
4. Explore Over-the-Counter Supplements
These supplements can be good to keep at home or bring with you. You should look for products that are specific to what you’re dealing with. For example, if your stomach pain is related to bloating, then products that contain simethicone may help you to pass gas. For more all-around relief, peppermint oil can help with spasms and cramps.
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5. Stay Calm
It sounds easy to say, but staying calm can help alleviate your stomach cramps. That’s because stress and anxiety have been shown to make IBS symptoms worse. By practicing relaxation techniques, you can manage your pain a little better. Some techniques you may try are visualization, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation. It might take some time to figure out what works for you, but it will be worth it.
6. Get Imaginative
According to recent research, using your imagination can help reduce IBS pain. It’s most effective when combined with relaxation techniques. After relaxing, you should imagine some pain-relieving images. There are no set visuals that are proven to be effective, so you can come up with anything you want. One that can get you started is imagining that a soft, healing balm is moving through your body while cooling, soothing, and calming your inflamed tissue.
7. Try Hypnotherapy
While more research needs to be done, there is enough evidence to suggest that hypnotherapy can help soothe IBS pain. It may be more effective if you’re involved in a regular hypnotherapy program, but listening to a hypnotherapy recording may make a difference if you need immediate help. If you’re in pain, doctors recommend finding a recording that focuses on relieving issues with the stomach.
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Why You Have Stomach Cramps
IBS is defined as a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Its symptoms can include stomach pain as well as episodes of diarrhea and constipation. Though the symptoms are well-known, their causes aren’t as well-defined. Some of the possibilities include your genes, sensitivities to food, an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut, problems with movement in your intestines, and poor communication between your gastrointestinal system and central nervous system (CNS).
Regardless of the reason behind your IBS, everyone experiences stomach pain. Doctors still haven’t identified a definitive reason for this pain, but one suggestion is visceral hypersensitivity. When this occurs, your gut’s threshold for pain is low, so any discomfort causes your brain to overreact.
During this overreaction, your brain sends signals that result in the intestines’ automatic contraction and relaxation being stronger and more irregular than they usually are. Along with stomach cramps, this overreaction can give you bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea.
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When to Talk to Your Doctor
While it’s imperative to have a few homemade remedies at hand, you should know when to reach out to your doctor. Generally, if you’re experiencing symptoms that are worse or uncharacteristic, you need to tell your doctor. For example, even though intermittent stomach pain and painful flares are expected with IBS, severe pain is a cause for concern. If you’re in so much pain that you can’t move or speak and none of your usual painkillers work, you should go to the emergency room.
Another symptom to be aware of is seeing mucus in your stool. This usually means that your gastrointestinal tract is irritated enough to cause your colon to secrete mucus. Though this can happen with people who have IBS, seeing it consistently may mean that you need medical intervention to soothe the irritation.
Consistent diarrhea and constipation are other reasons to see your doctor. While you may have stomach trouble with IBS, it shouldn’t be your everyday life. If this is happening, it can be a sign that you need medicine to alleviate the issues.
Finally, if you’ve started a new medical regimen, it’s best to watch your symptoms closely. There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment program for IBS, so doctors often need to try different medications to effectively manage the symptoms. Additionally, for some people, certain symptoms can worsen over time, prompting a new batch of medications. If you’ve noticed that your stomach pain is no longer under control with your new regimen, you need to tell your doctor immediately.
In addition to all that, there are a few signs that you need emergency care. If your stools are black and tarry, bright or dark red, or have an unusually foul smell, these may indicate that there’s something significantly wrong with your digestive system. In that case, you need to go to the emergency room.
Stomach pain may be expected with IBS, but that doesn’t mean you have to bear it without help. You should always have some natural ways at your disposal to alleviate your discomfort. If these aren’t making a difference, though, it may be time to talk to your doctor about your medical needs.
