My symptoms seem to have got worse lately as far as gas and pain is concerned. Sometimes I get scared and think maybe they're the symptoms of something else, like an ulcer. What is your pain like and how does it compare with other possible illnesses? I get loads of gas about half an hour after eating and a stabbing pain in the centre of my stomach, round the belly-button sometimes even while I'm eating the food and then for hours on and off afterwards. I could just about cope with this but have the fear that it could at any turn turn to D so daren't go out when the pain starts. Is this the pain normally associated with ibs?