I quit taking creatine about 5 years ago because it gave me that bloated look in the face, but recently my wife bought me some mono-creatine. I decided to use it again and I have been on it 2 weeks now. My lower back, not muscular, has been ache and I have had the shits for about 3 days along with gas pains. Could this be the creatine or am I just being paranoid?