How I Get Through an Ulcerative Colitis Abdominal Cramp

The unexpected ulcerative colitis abdominal cramp can be devastating especially if you are in the wrong place such as work or school. Of course, it depends how severe the abdominal cramp is.

By definition, if you are "getting through" an abdominal cramp, it is not one that is going to put you back in the hospital.

My UC abdominal cramps are severe and accompanied by bloating and at times foul emissions that are just not controllable anymore than diarrhea. In fact, that can be a symptom as well; however, I am going to limit my comments to the most common scenario which is to have spasms occur leading to an abdominal cramp.

If the abdominal cramp is mild, then it is fairly easy to make it through the situation. It is simply mind over matter much as if something didn't agree with you. You don't feel well so you just "tough it through".

I do carry medication that reduces spasms and also coats my intestines; this can help with an abdominal cramp.

If I am in a public place such as work or school, I will go to the restroom. Always, that visit will tell me whether or not this is an aberration or going to be a long drawn out bout. If it is going to be drawn out then I have to go home. For me at least, a severe flare or abdominal cramp is not something that I can deal with publicly; I have to go home.

Once I am home, I have to lay down in a fetal position typically on my left side. I turn off the light and place a cool cloth on my head and a heating pad on my stomach. This, along with coating and anti-spasmodic medication, seems to comfort me. A severe abdominal cramp is much like having a migraine headache. When I am in bed, sound actually feels magnified in my stomach, if that makes any sense.

More recently, my doctor has given me a narcotic that helps with the pain of an abdominal cramp. It mainly puts me to sleep and allows my entire body to relax.

Not long ago, I was introduced to bio-feedback. I simply "go with the flow" and it truly does seem to work. I focus on an object and just concentrate on it and the pain from the abdominal cramp begins to minimize. I am not a regular or extremely effective user of bio-feedback but I do think it is worth looking into, especially if you anticipate having an abdominal cramp at some point in the future.

Ulcerative colitis attacks typically involve a spasmodic abdominal cramp. It could be either mild or severe. If the abdominal cramp is mild, it is just a matter of "toughing through them". However, even with medication, a severe abdominal cramp is going to knock most people out of normal activity and I have found the best way to survive it is to give my body every opportunity to focus on fighting it.