It’s not clear exactly what causes IBS, but there are a few theories. People with IBS may have abnormalities in how their brains and guts interact that lead to digestive problems and pain, the NIDDK explains.
This can manifest in a few different ways. Dr. Chey says that people with IBS may have large intestines that contract more strongly and more frequently when they eat a meal than other people’s, which can then cause abdominal pain and other issues. Another theory is that people with IBS are “extra sensitive to the stretch that is normal in the intestines from the breakdown of food products,” Dr. Krishnareddy says.
5. You might have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
IBD is an umbrella term for two conditions that both cause chronic inflammation of various parts of the digestive tract: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. People with either type of IBD often experience periods of remission followed by flare-ups, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that Crohn’s disease usually affects the part of the small intestine that meets the large intestine, but the characteristic patches of inflammation it causes can be anywhere from the mouth to the rectum and seep through multiple layers of the G.I. lining. Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, affects continuous portions of the large intestine and/or rectum, with the innermost lining becoming inflamed.
If you have Crohn’s disease, you’re likely to deal with abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and weight loss, and might also have additional symptoms like fatigue, nausea, joint pain, and anemia, the NIDDK says. With ulcerative colitis, the most common symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea (specifically containing blood or pus), the NIDDK notes, though you may also have issues such as fatigue, nausea, anemia, and an urgent need to use the bathroom. (As you can tell, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can have pretty similar symptoms.)
If your abdominal cramps are making life miserable, try to talk to a doctor.
Treatments for the above issues can vary wildly. For instance, if you think the issue is that you have a hard time processing beans, which then leads to painful gas, over-the-counter medications like simethicone (the active ingredient in products like Gas-X) may help with the distension that causes your pain, Dr. Krishnareddy explains.
However, if you’re experiencing cramps that are pretty severe, along with other symptoms that make you think you might have a chronic issue like IBS or IBD, it’s really important to try to consult with a doctor—particularly because taking over-the-counter medications won’t treat the real issue at hand.
“These medications can decrease the symptoms just enough that the person doesn’t go to their doctor to get evaluated,” Dr. Krishnareddy says. “But it’s not actually [addressing] the underlying problem.”
Ultimately, if getting abdominal cramps after eating is affecting your life, it’s time to consult the professionals. “If you’re having symptoms that are occurring frequently enough to interfere with your ability to conduct your daily activities, you need to see a doctor,” Dr. Chey confirms. This is especially true, he says, if you’re having serious symptoms like vomiting (with or without blood), seeing blood in your stool (which can sometimes look like tar instead of being red), or inexplicably losing weight.
Even if your cramps come without these types of symptoms, it’s good to look for an explanation if you’re dealing with them persistently. “In many cases—especially with Crohn’s—it’s just a vague abdominal pain, which is why it takes so long to reach a diagnosis,” Dr. Krishnareddy says. “That’s why I always tell people if you feel anything is wrong with you, or out of the ordinary, it’s always better to get checked out by your doctor.”
Trust your gut when it tells you something’s wrong. At the very least, your doctor should be able to ask you some questions that get you closer to figuring out what’s going on.
Related:
- Gastroenterologists Share 9 Things to Do When You Have Painful Gas
- 8 Signs You Should See a Doctor About Stomach Pain
- 7 Things That Can Cause Bizarre Green Poop
Most stomach aches are not anything serious and will go away after a few days. These are some common types of stomach ache and what may be causing them. But see a GP if you're unsure and worried. Find a pharmacyCommon causes of stomach ache
You can ask a pharmacist about:
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- the pain gets much worse quickly
- the pain or bloating will not go away or keeps coming back
- you have stomach pain and problems with swallowing food
- you're losing weight without trying to
- you suddenly pee more often or less often
- peeing is suddenly painful
- you bleed from your bottom or vagina, or have abnormal discharge from your vagina
- your diarrhoea does not go away after a few days
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- your stomach ache came on very suddenly or is severe
- it hurts when you touch your stomach
- you're vomiting blood or your vomit looks like ground coffee
- your poo is bloody or black and sticky and extremely smelly
- you cannot pee
- you cannot poo or fart
- you cannot breathe
- you have chest pain
- you're diabetic and vomiting
- someone has collapsed
Other causes of stomach ache
Do not self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried.
Type of stomach ache
| Pain and cramps when you have your period | period pain |
| Sudden pain in the lower right-hand side | appendicitis |
| Ongoing cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation | irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
| Bad ongoing pain that can go down to your groin, nausea, pain when peeing | kidney stones |
| Severe pain that lasts for hours in the centre of your tummy or just under the ribs on the right-hand side | gallstones |
Page last reviewed: 15 July 2020
Next review due: 15 July 2023