bad belly ache?

So, I am still pretty new to cycling. I have had this weird thing happen about three times now. Keep in mind that I have a grumpy belly in the best of times... but while riding (and usually during a tough ride), I get this HORRIBLE belly ache. I just want to stop and curl up in a ball on the side of the road. Now, I have thought maybe it's a posture thing... I don't know. Does anyone have any suggestions? The tummy ache is sort of a slow pulsating thing.... comes on... feel like I'm going to die... kind of recedes a bit... comes back.... think I'm going to die again... then it sort of goes away and just lurks for the rest of the ride. Descriptive, huh?

Ah yes, gastrointestinal cramps. I've struggled with IBS problems for years, and they only get worse when bent over a bicycle.

Things that have helped:
1. Avoiding high-rise and/or too tight waistbands on cycling clothing. The ultimate in belly-comfort is a bib-style short, which... well... isn't for everyone. :p I have had good results with just being a selective shopper and finding shorts/tights that fit me well and have scooped waists in front.

2. Work on your GI/health issues. If your stomach is generally unhappy all of the time, there's a bigger problem you should work on. In my case, eventually I learned that dairy, wheat, and soy all aggravate my tract and the pain is simply not worth it. When I'm being good on my diet :rolleyes: I am generally free of all discomfort, something I never would have believed 5 years ago.

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Originally Posted by ginny

So, I am still pretty new to cycling. I have had this weird thing happen about three times now. Keep in mind that I have a grumpy belly in the best of times... but while riding (and usually during a tough ride), I get this HORRIBLE belly ache. I just want to stop and curl up in a ball on the side of the road. Now, I have thought maybe it's a posture thing... I don't know. Does anyone have any suggestions? The tummy ache is sort of a slow pulsating thing.... comes on... feel like I'm going to die... kind of recedes a bit... comes back.... think I'm going to die again... then it sort of goes away and just lurks for the rest of the ride. Descriptive, huh?

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Ginny,
I had this happen to me a couple of times, but it may or may not be the same as what you had.
It was just like a terrible upset stomache that made me want to lie down just on the side of the road, it was so bad i could not continue riding I was so bent over in pain. Every time I would stop it got better, then as soon as I started pedaling again it would start up.
I don't get this anymore now, I only experienced it early on, when I was revving up my ride distances and difficulties in hills.
I don't want to alarm you, since you could easily have something else going on entirely- but after doing some reading I came to the conclusion for myself that this "upset stomach" was actually a symptom of my heart being under stress during those times. I am not diagnosing anything here, but simply mentioning one of many possibilities. One of the early symptoms of heart stress in women is a sensation of having a very bad upset stomach. If by any chance your problem has anything to do with circulatory/aerobic stress, then you might want to back off just a bit in terms of pushing yourself to your limits and concentrate on increasing your ride difficulty levels more slowly. Going more slowly won't hurt anything, in any case! ;)
After a whole summer of building myself up more, i no longer seem to get these horrible "stomach aches" even on harder rides and hills.
Good luck- I feel your pain!! :(

thanks for your replies... I have actually bought the sugar short with a scooped belly and I'm happier in it. I have heard other psople suggest the bib shorts too... maybe I'll try that. As for the ticker... suppose I'll take that up with my doc next time I see her... though with the running and other aerobic stuff I do, I don't think it's the heart. Though, never can be too careful (you know when it comes to the possibility of death) :rolleyes: ... so I'll ask my doc. Thanks! :o

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Originally Posted by ginny

thanks for your replies... I have actually bought the sugar short with a scooped belly and I'm happier in it. I have heard other psople suggest the bib shorts too... maybe I'll try that.

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Yep, I'm a big fan of the Sugar shorts, Sugar knicker are both very comfy with the scooped front. I wish they didn't have the big diaper chamois, but... oh well. :rolleyes:

ETA: The heart-gut connection Lisa's talking about is related to the vasovagal response. That's the same thing that happens where you will feel the need to puke at max heartrate.

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

Yep, I'm a big fan of the Sugar shorts, Sugar knicker are both very comfy with the scooped front. I wish they didn't have the big diaper chamois, but... oh well. :rolleyes:

ETA: The heart-gut connection Lisa's talking about is related to the vasovagal response. That's the same thing that happens where you will feel the need to puke at max heartrate.

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Interesting. It's odd though that when it happened both times to me I was working out hard but my heart was not racing or pounding too much.
Our bodies are mysterious... :o

I do agree that scoop front shorts are GREAT. :)

I'm not sure if your problem is related to food, but when I first started riding I had a really hard time eating anything during my rides because I'd get terrible gut aches. I never had that problem eating gels etc. while xc skiing, so I assume it has to do with the crunched over position on the bike.

All I can say is that it seemed to get better the more I rode, and eventually my body got somewhat used to it. Though I still sometimes get it once in awhile.

I love bib shorts, by the way. I hate to have anything constricting on the belly :)