- Joined
- Sep 16, 2010
- Messages
- 9
First, hello everyone! I'm looking for some advice and/or support.
I'm a 26 year old male who, for the last month & 1/2 have been suffering from lower right abdominal pain. The pain was at first very sharp and made me nauseous, so much so that I went to the ER. At the ER, I had a CT scan, blood work, stool sample, as well as urine, and all showed negative. I was flabbergasted because while I was in the ER, I was in so much pain as well as retching quite a lot. This pain continued to persist pretty much constantly, with no relation to what I ate. I lost my appetite and became very fatigued and began to lose weight as a result. I actually ended up going to the ER several more times out of pain and each time - nothing. My bowel habits began to change - I had increased gas, more-than-usual smelly stools, etc.
About halfway through one doctor prescribed me Cipro and this did nothing except give me antibiotic-induced diarrhea for almost two weeks, causing me to lose even more weight. I literally went from 156 lbs. of muscle and health to 137.5 lbs (today). I feel awful. Because I'm a veteran I get seen at the VA, which is actually pretty terrible. I think I've seen my actual primary care doctor once, otherwise it's just been a bunch of newbies. I've since begun to see a new doctor via private insurance at my college and just received a referral to see a GI doc next week. I assume the next step is a colonoscopy?
After all the tests and CT scans, one thing the docs are thinking is IBS OR Chron's Disease, but it seems that I don't present with either of these 'typical' symptoms, other than right-sided abdominal pain. For example, other than that antibiotic-induced diarrhea, I don't have frequent diarrhea or constipation at all. No bloody stools either, as far as I can tell. (Bit of a fib: I had diarrhea the other morning, but it was after something I ate upset my stomach, I'm quite sure).
My abdominal pain is right over where the appendix is at. (I should mention that it seems highly unlikely it's the appendix because I've literally had like 3 CT scans since this all started). The pain also seems to radiate down into my upper inner right thigh and sometimes around my whole belly accompanied with bloating and nausea. Sometimes these symptoms will last for days with no avail. Sometimes passing gas gives some relief.
I noticed that in the last two days my stool has had flecks of red covering it. I don't mean to be gross, but it looks like maroon-colored sprinkles on the stool and within it. These bits appear to have some density to them and don't appear to be blood, but I've no idea. I sometimes also have anal itching near the top of my buttcrack. Again, sorry for being so descriptive!
To summarize my symptoms: localized, lower right-sided abdominal pain (just left of hip bone), peripheral pain in upper inner thigh, nausea, bloating, indigestion, general malaise, fatigue (feeling like TOTALLY wiped out). Also when the pain presents itself in the right side, it seems to bubble and whir constantly and I pass a lot of gas, sometimes very smelly.
Other things: I take zoloft 50 mg for anxiety/depression. I avoid painkillers because, well, we know those aren't really good for the stomach. I just drink ginger tea and use a heating pad for relief when the pain gets really bad.
I really am just looking for any similar experience or help or even just SUPPORT. This has been a very difficult time for me, seeing my body be diminished by whatever this is. I was feeling VERY healthy and looked great before this pain began. Emotionally I am a wreck and sometimes find myself just holding my wife and crying out of frustration and pain. Whatever this is it is really taking a toll on my body and mind and I just want some certainty at this point.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to any responses.
I'm a 26 year old male who, for the last month & 1/2 have been suffering from lower right abdominal pain. The pain was at first very sharp and made me nauseous, so much so that I went to the ER. At the ER, I had a CT scan, blood work, stool sample, as well as urine, and all showed negative. I was flabbergasted because while I was in the ER, I was in so much pain as well as retching quite a lot. This pain continued to persist pretty much constantly, with no relation to what I ate. I lost my appetite and became very fatigued and began to lose weight as a result. I actually ended up going to the ER several more times out of pain and each time - nothing. My bowel habits began to change - I had increased gas, more-than-usual smelly stools, etc.
About halfway through one doctor prescribed me Cipro and this did nothing except give me antibiotic-induced diarrhea for almost two weeks, causing me to lose even more weight. I literally went from 156 lbs. of muscle and health to 137.5 lbs (today). I feel awful. Because I'm a veteran I get seen at the VA, which is actually pretty terrible. I think I've seen my actual primary care doctor once, otherwise it's just been a bunch of newbies. I've since begun to see a new doctor via private insurance at my college and just received a referral to see a GI doc next week. I assume the next step is a colonoscopy?
After all the tests and CT scans, one thing the docs are thinking is IBS OR Chron's Disease, but it seems that I don't present with either of these 'typical' symptoms, other than right-sided abdominal pain. For example, other than that antibiotic-induced diarrhea, I don't have frequent diarrhea or constipation at all. No bloody stools either, as far as I can tell. (Bit of a fib: I had diarrhea the other morning, but it was after something I ate upset my stomach, I'm quite sure).
My abdominal pain is right over where the appendix is at. (I should mention that it seems highly unlikely it's the appendix because I've literally had like 3 CT scans since this all started). The pain also seems to radiate down into my upper inner right thigh and sometimes around my whole belly accompanied with bloating and nausea. Sometimes these symptoms will last for days with no avail. Sometimes passing gas gives some relief.
I noticed that in the last two days my stool has had flecks of red covering it. I don't mean to be gross, but it looks like maroon-colored sprinkles on the stool and within it. These bits appear to have some density to them and don't appear to be blood, but I've no idea. I sometimes also have anal itching near the top of my buttcrack. Again, sorry for being so descriptive!
To summarize my symptoms: localized, lower right-sided abdominal pain (just left of hip bone), peripheral pain in upper inner thigh, nausea, bloating, indigestion, general malaise, fatigue (feeling like TOTALLY wiped out). Also when the pain presents itself in the right side, it seems to bubble and whir constantly and I pass a lot of gas, sometimes very smelly.
Other things: I take zoloft 50 mg for anxiety/depression. I avoid painkillers because, well, we know those aren't really good for the stomach. I just drink ginger tea and use a heating pad for relief when the pain gets really bad.
I really am just looking for any similar experience or help or even just SUPPORT. This has been a very difficult time for me, seeing my body be diminished by whatever this is. I was feeling VERY healthy and looked great before this pain began. Emotionally I am a wreck and sometimes find myself just holding my wife and crying out of frustration and pain. Whatever this is it is really taking a toll on my body and mind and I just want some certainty at this point.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to any responses.
