Stomach issues are scaring me a bit.

Posted , 4 users are following.

So This all started about two weeks ago. I was at work and I had randon sharp pains in my upper abdominal area(right below my ribs) The pain was intense and sharp but only lasted a few seconds. The day after that I began to feel bloated and very crampy. The cramping was in a few different spots and not just in one location. My first thought was that I was extremely constipated. So over the next day or two I watched my bowel movements, which seemed normal enough. The cramping and bloating didnt seem to get any better, so I went and bought some magnesium citrate. I drank the entire bottle with a few bottles of water and was soon having a massive bowel movement. After this I began to notice slight amounts on mucus in my stool and for a day or two after drinking the magnesium citrate my bowel movements switched between normal and diarrhea. I also felt as if I had gas bubbles in my stomach, which constantly gurrgle and growl. I made an appointment with my doctor and was seen a couple days later. After feeling, and pressing on my stomach, she thought I may be constipated. I told her that I had been having bowel movements and even took magnesium citrate. She said there could still be a bit of blockage and to try one more laxative. I drank another bottle of magnesium citrate and one again had a pretty large bowel movement. 

Now its been about 4 days since I went to the doctor. The bloating and cramping seems to have gotten better, but there is still a crampy tender spot on the middle left side of my stomach, Theres still some gurrgling and rumbling, I dont seem to have diarrhea anymore, and my stools are looking my normal. I'm just affraid of what it could be as im still not feeling 100% I keep thinking that it might be colon cancer.

Heres a bit of info about me:

Im a 24 year old male

I do suffer from stress and anxiety

I had blood work done a month ago(which came back normal)

What do you guys think?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Anxiety makes you think your symthoms are worst. It sound like IBS . It comes on with stress. Try and calm down and you will see you will feel better.
  • Posted

    There are several things it could be.  You just need to make sure that your GP is kept aware of your symptoms and organises the appropriate tests.  It could be worth asking for a colonoscopy just to make sure there is nothing untoward.  The main thing is to push for some sort of diagnosis because you don't want to be left in limbo worrying about what it might be.
  • Posted

    Could it be your gallbladder,they are very tricky,I had my gallbladder removed many years ago,but started to have terrible pains again in that area you described.anyway it turned out a gallstone in my bile duct. I don't think you have to worry about bowel cancer I have had that and they are fife rent symptons. Don't get stressed as that makes it worse. Hope you feel soon better
  • Posted

    I appreciate all the comments. The truth is, I've calmed down a lot. However, I still have moments where Im scared to death that I have bowel cancer. The cramping seems to have gotten a little better, but my stomach still rumbbles and gurrgles for no apparent reason. I'm hoping that It's nothing serious but its been like three weeks, and its hard not think that it may be something bad.
    • Posted

      You really need to jump up and down on your GP to get a proper diagnosis, if only to put your mind at rest.  A blood test to look at the CEA level would be a good starting point. 

      Have you tried any of the over-the-counter stuff for IBS, such as Colpermin or Buscopan?  If you haven't, it's worth trying while waiting for a proper diagnosis. 

      There is also the possibility of coeliac disease, where the body's immune system reacts to gluten,  maybe going gluten free could help - the Coeliac UK web site gives informaton on both the disease and how to deal with it.  There are also several discussions on the coeliac disease section of this web site.  Don't treat either of these approaches as being a substitute for a proper diagnosis, though.

      If the worst does come to the worst, and I suspect it won't in your case, colon cancer is readily treatable these days.  I used to have two fears; suffering from cancer and having to go into hospital for surgery.  Both came about in the latter part of 2014, as part of the diagnosis I also found out that I had coeliac disease as well as bowel cancer.  After some surgery and chemo I'm now fine.  The surgery was almost an anticlimax, into the theatre in the morning, scoffing a full size meal in the early afternoon, back home, a bit sore but otherwise OK, four days later and out in the car shopping after a couple of days.  I'm not trying to make light of the situation, any sort of cancer is not good news, but to make you aware that all is not lost if the worst does happen and that treatments are very effective - if caught in time, so get that diagnosis!

       

    • Posted

      I really just hope everything is OK. Its really messing with my anxiety...
    • Posted

      I'm sorry if I sound like a stuck record but the only way to allevate your anxiety is to get a proper diagnosis from your GP.  Continuing to worry is likely to result in other problems if it goes on too long added to which,  any problem that you do have is only likely to get worse if left untreated. 

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