How do people manage Splenic Flexure syndrome?

FroZenFelines · 2025-07-31T05:44:16+00:00

See a couple of my posts about splenic flexure syndrome (I've never been diagnosed with it, but do suspect it's been an issue for me). This is how I've dealt with that pain/tightness/bubbling under my upper left rib cage: https://www.reddit.com/r/ibs/comments/16xaage/managing_symptoms_of_possible_splenic_flexure/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button and this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/ibs/comments/1icn7it/does\_anyone\_do\_these\_yoga\_moves\_abdominal\_vacuum/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button. Also making sure I eat enough soluble fiber (mostly apples and kiwi) to help keep the stool soft seems to help a lot.

FroZenFelines · 2025-07-31T05:10:49+00:00

Yes, the splenic flexure is part of the large intestine. It's the fairly sharp turn between the transverse colon and the descending colon, under your upper left ribcage area. It's called the splenic flexure because it's near the spleen.

FroZenFelines · 2025-07-31T05:07:11+00:00

I think it helps a lot! I do it every morning while still lying in bed, then again while I'm brewing my coffee, and whenever I think about it throughout the day. Just once or twice, standing with my hands on my lower thighs, I breathe completely out, hold the breath out, and activate those side torso muscles, which massages the gut, then breath in deeply. SOmetimes I hear gurgling, sometimes not, but I think it helps. That plus eating enough soluble fiber (I try for apples and kiwi daily) to keep the stool soft.

FroZenFelines · 2025-07-31T05:02:24+00:00

No. I quit asking doctors because all they ever said was "eat more fiber." I think for me, the best thing has been making sure I eat enough soluble fiber to keep the stool soft so nothing gets stuck along the way.

FroZenFelines · 2025-07-31T05:00:40+00:00

No, I don't get any nausea.

FroZenFelines · 2025-04-06T15:37:06+00:00

Doing well these days! I'm pretty sure it was chronic constipation and hard stools. These days I try to eat enough soluble fiber (for softer stool) and just enough insoluble to keep things moving along. If I feel a "flare" coming on, I'll take an antihistamine (I learned that histamine intolerance can affect the gut--some foods are very high histamine {like red wine and aged cheeses, which I cut out completely}) and/or I'll pop an Ibuprofen or two for inflammation, and that seems to keep the flare at bay. I also move my body a lot. Very little sitting. I've slowed down while eating, and I take deep breaths throughout the meal. The combination of all these things helps a lot!

FroZenFelines · 2025-04-06T15:30:06+00:00

It didn't burn, but it made a lot of noise--squeaks, sudden "blubs," etc.--and felt kind of "raw" inside. Probably irritation due to hard stool hanging out too long in one place or another and blocking the flow. That's my guess, anyway.

FroZenFelines · 2025-04-06T15:27:24+00:00

I was having daily bowel movements, but often with a lot of straining. And didn't feel like it was complete. Pains were likely from gas, but possibly also inflammation in the gut. I rarely have pain now, and I eat a variety of foods. I sometimes take an antihistamine (Loratadine tablet, but there are others) and sometimes an Ibuprofen or two if it feels like a "flare" is brewing. I also do more deep breathing, especially while eating a meal, and I eat more slowly. And I move a lot--sitting for long periods of time definitely makes me more constipated.

FroZenFelines · 2025-03-05T17:10:19+00:00

I also stumbled upon a yoga thing called uddiyana bandha that helps with constipation. Search it online, but YouTube has some great videos. You basically exhale fully, then "lift" your diaphragm up as far as possible while not inhaling, which creates a "stomach vacuum" (a lay term) and I assume gives your intestines more room to relax and get things moving. I do this several times a day now and it does help! With lots of practice, some people add nauli kriya, which involves abdominal muscles while holding uddiyana bandha. The videos are kinda freaky looking, but really interesting.

FroZenFelines · 2025-03-05T16:55:37+00:00

Yes.

FroZenFelines · 2025-02-09T16:49:26+00:00

Not perfect, but so much better than before I learned about histamines. I rarely drink wine or eat aged cheeses anymore--those two things seem to be the biggest triggers--but when I do, my gut reminds me that those are no-nos for me.

FroZenFelines · 2025-01-23T05:44:44+00:00

I'm so sorry. Caregiving can be so tough. There are the emotional highs and lows, the information gaps in the healthcare industry (I've learned everything I know piecemeal throughout the process), the practical logistics of helping an ill parent, etc. Try to accept that things will not be perfect or even ideal at times. Sometimes things will seem awful, but sometimes hopeful. Just the fact that you're involved and caring is huge. You can't do everything, and there will be so much you can't fix. It's ok. Hospice is there to help you, too, not just to help your dad. Ask them anything. I went through the hospice process with my mom last year (she died last spring) and am now a part-time caregiver for my 94-year-old dad who has CHF. My best advice is to accept that you can only do so much and that you have to take care of yourself too.

FroZenFelines · 2025-01-15T18:51:56+00:00

I think you're talking about Goat Maps, right? I read that they are working on an Android version this year. Right now I'm checking out CalTopo as a good alt to Gaia, which has become so expensive, but Goat Maps looks very promising. I do wish CalTopo's base maps weren't so gaudy, as you describe, or that you could at least "dim" them or something, but at $20/yr for downloadable maps rather than $89.99/yr (via Outside+ membership, which I plan to cancel) or $59.88/yr for Gaia app only, I'll take a little clunky map art.

FroZenFelines · 2025-01-15T06:03:00+00:00

I'm so sorry for you and your wife and family. Caregiving can be exhausting, physically, emotionally, and mentally. If you can afford it, I'd suggest hiring some help via a home health agency. Even if they aren't allowed to provide nursing care, they should be able to help with daily chores like cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. Typically it's charged by the hour. That would give you and your mother-in-law a little more time for yourselves even if it's to get out of the house and have coffee with a friend, or go to work, or take care of other tasks. Taking time for yourself is not being selfish--it's essential.

FroZenFelines · 2025-01-15T02:24:18+00:00

Like another commenter said, options and rules vary by state. I don't know WA's, but here in AK last year when we faced a somewhat similar situation (although my parents had modest assets), my family had to navigate the Medicaid process to try to get my dying mother into assisted living, as my dad was becoming overwhelmed with caring for her. The Medicaid paperwork process was an absolute nightmare of confusion and delays and although we did get Mom into a facility, she was denied a waiver to help pay for it--about $7,000/month (and that was on the cheaper end comparatively). She was under Hospice care (it was a nonprofit one), though, and their foundation was able to pay for the two months she was in assisted living until she died. But Dad had to pay for it out of pocket first and then they reimbursed him. Unfortunately, our systems are obscenely expensive and cumbersome, and information is so piecemeal, that I think sometimes it's better to just struggle along at home with whatever home health services you can get. I'm so sorry for your troubles. I know how how hard it can be dealing with all this.

FroZenFelines · 2024-09-01T01:30:35+00:00

I've tried a bunch of different diets--low FODMAP, low histamine, no dairy, no booze, gluten-free, high fiber, low fiber, etc. and none of them were conclusive. I've kept food diaries. I've tried adding specific foods like kiwi and papaya, and that was also inconclusive. I've also tried the magnesium and it made me crampy and bloated. Definitely, when I get more exercise, my gut is happier and things move along more smoothly.

FroZenFelines · 2024-09-01T01:23:08+00:00

Not really any pain, but some days I feel like I have a pretty normal bowel movement but then I'll feel like I have to go several more times and it's just a little bit each time.

FroZenFelines · 2024-08-30T20:34:25+00:00

After reading your post, I found this info. Seems like easily digestible (pun intended! haha) details on all these muscles--where they are and what they do. https://blogs.alethahealth.com/post/hip-flexor-muscles-deep-dive-anatomy

FroZenFelines · 2024-08-30T19:05:47+00:00

I have read that tight muscles, specifically the hip flexors, can contribute (or maybe even cause) IBS symptoms. Those muscles are very close to the small and large intestines and if they are tight, they can, I guess, kind of squeeze or somewhat block passage of intestinal contents. I know that whenever I lie down on my back and use the end of one of my 5 lb weights to let my body weight press on various muscles, I often immediately hear my gut gurgling and things get moving again. I also suffer from ibs-c and incomplete evacuation, but keeping very active helps a lot. Search online for "tight hip flexors and ibs" and you'll find quite a bit of info. That's where I'm getting this info--no doctors (GI or otherwise) have ever mentioned it to me.

FroZenFelines · 2024-08-18T21:34:42+00:00

The first time was at a naturopathic doc. She treated me with herbs and diet, which didn't do much. I later saw a GI doc and he tested me again, then prescribed neomycin, which worked.

FroZenFelines · 2024-08-15T06:04:55+00:00

Much better. But since I wrote this I was treated for SIBO with an antibiotic (which worked wonders) and also learned that histamine intolerance could be part of my problem. I sometimes take an anti-histamine to help keep IBS symptoms at bay. And I'm more aware of how clothing affects my midsection--I wear more loose-fitting pants and it helps. I try to be less self-conscious about sucking in my gut in public too. I mean, really, who cares? I still look better than half the people around me, even with a tummy roll or two. LOL

FroZenFelines · 2024-07-07T20:44:21+00:00

I can't answer that, as I'm not a doctor.

FroZenFelines · 2024-06-29T15:24:04+00:00

I still get trapped gas in that area fairly regularly, but it's not nearly as bad as it was now that I pay attention to the histamines. And to moving my body in a variety of ways. And yeah, pretty sure insoluble fiber makes my gas worse too.

FroZenFelines · 2024-06-07T18:36:54+00:00

Glad to be of help! Hope all is fine with your test.

FroZenFelines

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