Stomach pains

[Hannah Murray]

I was diagnosed diabetic in January of this year. For two months now I have been experiencing bad stomach pains going down to my groin area. Has anyone else experienced that? Does anyone think it is to do with insulin. Am at my wits end. Pains are severe and doctors don’t know what is causing them.

 

[richard_medhurst]

Have you tried 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in 1/4 pint of water, stir and drink? table spoon of apple cider vinegar daily helps, probably digestive tract issues caused by diabetes

 

[Drummer]

Have you been prescribed Metformin? I was in a lot of pain as it tried to turn me inside out - that was what it felt like.

 

[Hannah Murray]

Have you been prescribed Metformin? I was in a lot of pain as it tried to turn me inside out - that was what it felt like.

How was your problem resolved? What happened?

 

[Drummer]

How was your problem resolved? What happened?

I threw away the tablets and relied on diet alone. It was such a relief.

 

[Leadinglights]

I was diagnosed diabetic in January of this year. For two months now I have been experiencing bad stomach pains going down to my groin area. Has anyone else experienced that? Does anyone think it is to do with insulin. Am at my wits end. Pains are severe and doctors don’t know what is causing them.

Welcome to the forum
If you would like to say what medications you are on and if you have made any dietary changes that may help people to make any suggestions and identify with your issues.
How did you come to be diagnosed, What was your HbA1C which gave you your diagnosis? Sorry for all the questions but it does help.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Hannah Murray

Sorry to hear that you are having stomach pains. If you have been prescribed Metformin to help you manage your levels you could ask for the slow release version which is kinder to stomachs for many. As you will have seen other people have managed to control their levels by altering their diet and/or activity levels.

I hope that you are able to make changes to help manage the stomach pains.

 

[Elaine333]

I was diagnosed diabetic in January of this year. For two months now I have been experiencing bad stomach pains going down to my groin area. Has anyone else experienced that? Does anyone think it is to do with insulin. Am at my wits end. Pains are severe and doctors don’t know what is causing them.

I have been on Metformin for 2 weeks now, and for the 2nd time yesterday I had the most awful tummy pains come on from nowhere which felt like someone had stuck a knife in my left lower groin and turning it. I mentioned this to my diabetic nurse after the first time who said she didn't the medicine had anything to do with it. Seems to be happening to others. !!

 

[Leadinglights]

I have been on Metformin for 2 weeks now, and for the 2nd time yesterday I had the most awful tummy pains come on from nowhere which felt like someone had stuck a knife in my left lower groin and turning it. I mentioned this to my diabetic nurse after the first time who said she didn't the medicine had anything to do with it. Seems to be happening to others. !!

There are quite a few people who get stomach issues with metformin, it is listed as one of the side effects if you look at the leaflet in the packet. Taking mid meal can help and it can sometimes settle down with time but if it persists then there is a slow release version which is supposed to be kinder on the stomach.
the symptoms you describe sound familiar to many people's experience, I am surprised your nurse was unaware.

 

[Elaine333]

There are quite a few people who get stomach issues with metformin, it is listed as one of the side effects if you look at the leaflet in the packet. Taking mid meal can help and it can sometimes settle down with time but if it persists then there is a slow release version which is supposed to be kinder on the stomach.
the symptoms you describe sound familiar to many people's experience, I am surprised your nurse was unaware.

I am on the slow release meds, but as I told the nurse, I have a lot of problems taking new meds and if there's the slightest chance of any side effects, then I get them. I had no other reason to have such awful pains twice. She also said she hadn't heard of any such problems with the meds.

 

[EmmaL76]

I had the lower tummy, groin pain thing also. So severe that I was scanned for pelvic cancers. It was a horrible knife twisting kind of feeling. Would feel like it was shooting down in a straight line from ovary area to groin. This happened as soon as I started to get my blood sugar in range and ceased after about 3 months. Lots of funny things happens as your sugars drop and if mine shoot up at any point the pain comes back. Was your hba1c very high on diagnosis?

 

[Leadinglights]

I had the lower tummy, groin pain thing also. So severe that I was scanned for pelvic cancers. It was a horrible knife twisting kind of feeling. Would feel like it was shooting down in a straight line from ovary area to groin. This happened as soon as I started to get my blood sugar in range and ceased after about 3 months. Lots of funny things happens as your sugars drop and if mine shoot up at any point the pain comes back. Was your hba1c very high on diagnosis?

I had that sort of pain 40 years ago and the GP suggested it was ovulation pain which was highly unlikely as it was there all the time, it turned out to be an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit. I had a total hysterectomy as it turned out to be precancerous and then that was the recommendation, I not sure if it would these days. The bonus of course no periods and luckily no menopausal symptoms.

 

[Elaine333]

I had the lower tummy, groin pain thing also. So severe that I was scanned for pelvic cancers. It was a horrible knife twisting kind of feeling. Would feel like it was shooting down in a straight line from ovary area to groin. This happened as soon as I started to get my blood sugar in range and ceased after about 3 months. Lots of funny things happens as your sugars drop and if mine shoot up at any point the pain comes back. Was your hba1c very high on diagnosis?

Hi, it was 119. Have just seen the nurse, taking me off of the Metformin as also have lots of headaches, light headedness and low blood pressure, plus several more bouts of pain and upset tummy. Dont know the name of the new med yet as she has to discuss with a doctor. Also said a monitor is of no benefit to me. Any thought on that one please.?

 

[Elaine333]

I had that sort of pain 40 years ago and the GP suggested it was ovulation pain which was highly unlikely as it was there all the time, it turned out to be an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit. I had a total hysterectomy as it turned out to be precancerous and then that was the recommendation, I not sure if it would these days. The bonus of course no periods and luckily no menopausal symptoms.

Hi, no chance of it being ovulation pain for me, am in my 60s. Despite the nurse last week over the phone saying she hadnt heard of such problems, today did a total reversal and said it can happen. !? Being put on different meds, hopefully they will be ok.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.

Sorry to hear that you have been experiencing such problems.

I certainly got out of the blue, stabbing, colic spasm pains at odd times from the Metformin and sometimes followed by the urge to pass wind to get release from the pain but couldn't always guarantee that was all I would pass .... Not great when you are out horse riding I can tell you!! 😱 It did mostly settle down after a while. If you have been getting these pains for months but only been on the Metformin for a couple of weeks then obviously it is not the cause. I think I might be pushing for a pancreatic scan just to check things out with your levels being so high.

As regards telling you that you don't need a BG meter for home testing.... that is because they are ignorant of the power of diet in controlling BG levels. I would hang on from splashing out on self funding one though as they may start you on Gliclazide in which case they will need to supply you with one and test strips on prescription.... so wait and see what medication they offer next before you order one.

Out of curiosity, did your symptoms come on suddenly and have you lost any weight.... and do you have much/any weight to lose?

 

[Elaine333]

Hi and welcome from me too.

Sorry to hear that you have been experiencing such problems.

I certainly got out of the blue, stabbing, colic spasm pains at odd times from the Metformin and sometimes followed by the urge to pass wind to get release from the pain but couldn't always guarantee that was all I would pass .... Not great when you are out horse riding I can tell you!! 😱 It did mostly settle down after a while. If you have been getting these pains for months but only been on the Metformin for a couple of weeks then obviously it is not the cause. I think I might be pushing for a pancreatic scan just to check things out with your levels being so high.

As regards telling you that you don't need a BG meter for home testing.... that is because they are ignorant of the power of diet in controlling BG levels. I would hang on from splashing out on self funding one though as they may start you on Gliclazide in which case they will need to supply you with one and test strips on prescription.... so wait and see what medication they offer next before you order one.

Out of curiosity, did your symptoms come on suddenly and have you lost any weight.... and do you have much/any weight to lose?

Hi Barbara I started getting these pains after taking Metformin for 1 week, at random times, on 3 different occasions, 1 followed by an upset tummy..Also had lots of headaches and light headedness.
Been checked by nurse, had low blood pressure. Now taken off the Metformin, to go on another, not Glicazide as that is known to cause hypos, hence why they only offer a BGM with this saying one is not necessary with other meds. So looks like I will have to buy my own.
I have lost weight, about 10lbs in just over 2 weeks, so I am being very careful what I eat. I do have lots to loose.

 

[rebrascora]

@Elaine333 Sorry for the confusion, I now see that this isn't "your thread" and you just tagged onto it with having similar problems which is fine but for some reason I just assumed you were the original poster of the thread and they said they had had pain since Jan.... hence predating you starting on Metformin..... I guess I am just not quite as sharp today as I normally would be.... maybe lack of sleep last night. 🙄