[56F] Experiencing abdominal cramping, diarrhea, muscle spasms, and vision changes

What might be happening

Based on the symptoms you've described, here are a few possibilities:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long term.

• Hashimoto's disease: This is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. With this disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid. The thyroid becomes damaged and can’t make enough thyroid hormones. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, joint and muscle pain, constipation, dry skin, thinning hair, decreased sweating, heavy or irregular menstrual periods, depression, and a slowed heart rate.

• Eye Floaters: These are spots in your vision. They may look to you like black or gray specks, strings, or cobwebs that drift about when you move your eyes and appear to dart away when you try to look at them directly. Most eye floaters are caused by age-related changes that occur as the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes becomes more liquid.

• Insomnia: This is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. The condition can be short-term (acute) or can last a long time (chronic). It may also come and go. Acute insomnia lasts from 1 night to a few weeks. Insomnia is chronic when it happens at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more.

Please remember that these are possibilities and not a definitive diagnosis. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis.

What you can do

Here are some general suggestions that might help:

1. For IBS, dietary changes can often help control symptoms. You may have noticed that certain foods seem to trigger your symptoms. If so, it’s a good idea to avoid these foods. Some people find that eating a diet low in fat and high in carbohydrates (whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, vegetables, pasta) helps. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is also important, especially for people with diarrhea.

2. For Hashimoto's disease, taking your prescribed medication (levothyroxine) as directed by your healthcare provider is crucial. Regular follow-ups to monitor your thyroid hormone levels are also important.

3. For eye floaters, while they're usually harmless, it's a good idea to consult an eye specialist if you notice a sudden increase in the number of floaters, especially if you're also seeing flashes of light or losing peripheral vision. These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.

4. For insomnia, maintaining good sleep hygiene can help. This includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime, and making your sleep environment comfortable and free of disruptions.

What you should look out for

Please seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Blood in your stool
• Unexplained weight loss
• Severe or worsening vision problems
• Symptoms of an underactive thyroid, such as fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry skin, weight gain, puffy face, hoarseness, muscle weakness, elevated blood cholesterol level, muscle aches and tenderness, joint pain and stiffness, heavy or irregular menstrual periods, thinning hair, slowed heart rate, depression, impaired memory.

Remember, this advice is intended to be general in nature, and specific causes may need different management. Always consult with a healthcare professional for accurate information.