If you’ve ever had to cancel plans last minute or lie awake at night clutching your belly in discomfort, you know just how disruptive gut pain can be. It’s not just an inconvenience. It can affect your energy, your mood, your confidence and your freedom.
Whether it’s bloating, cramping, stabbing pains or feeling like you have to stay close to the toilet just in case …… gut pain is a real and daily struggle for many people. And if you’ve already tried changing your diet, taking over-the-counter meds or even been told “your tests look normal”, you’re not alone.
Let’s explore some of the most common reasons gut pain happens, and what might be going on behind the scenes.
What Does The Pain Look Like?
When I say gut pain, I also mean abdominal or stomach pain. Gut pain can show up in different ways:
- A dull ache or sharp cramps in your lower belly
- Bloating and pressure after eating
- Urgent or irregular trips to the toilet
- Pain that flares up with certain foods or during stressful times
The tricky part is that these symptoms often overlap across different conditions (think Crohn’s Disease, Coeliac Disease etc). If you’re constipated (no poo for a few days), this can also cause pain. Here are just a few common conditions.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a functional gut disorder, meaning your gut looks fine on scans and tests but it just doesn’t feel fine. People with IBS often experience:
- Cramping and bloating
- Constipation, diarrhoea or a mix of both
- Pain that eases after going to the toilet
IBS can be triggered by stress, certain foods, hormones and even a change in routine.
- Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis happens when little pouches (called diverticula) in the lining of your colon become inflamed or infected. It often causes:
- Sharp pain on the lower left side of the abdomen
- Fever and chills
- Changes in bowel habits
It’s more common as we get older but it can be managed with diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes.
- Food Intolerances – Especially Gluten
One of the sneakiest causes of gut pain? Eating foods your body doesn’t tolerate well.
For many people, gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley) can cause:
- Stomach pain or bloating
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Diarrhoea or constipation
Some people have Coeliac Disease, where the immune system reacts to gluten and causes real damage to the gut lining. If you don’t have Coeliac Disease, non-coeliac gluten sensitivity is very common and can still cause uncomfortable symptoms, especially pain and bloating after eating. Many of you probably don’t realise you have a non-coeliac sensitivity. How do you find out? You can test or you can cut out gluten and monitor your symptoms.
So, What Can You Do?
If you’re dealing with regular gut pain, it’s important to:
- Track your symptoms – note what you eat, your stress levels and how your gut responds.
- Work on gut-friendly habits – this might include gentle dietary changes, stress support, better sleep and addressing any nutrient deficiencies.
- Get comprehensive gut testing done – ask your healthcare provider
If you’ve tried everything and your pain isn’t getting better, it might be time to seek professional help and get a gut function/microbiome test. I use the Co-Biome (by Microba) MetaXplore GI Test in my clinic. This is the most comprehensive and accurate test.
Not sure which foods are causing you trouble? Find out which foods you’re reacting to. Find out more about food sensitivity analysis here.
If you’re not sure where to start, book in a free 20 min chat with Sal (phone or Zoom) here.