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Age: 30 Sex: Male Height: 5 9 Weight: 150 Race:
Question: Age: 30
Sex: Male
Height: 5'9
Weight: 150
Race: Caucasian
Duration of complaint: 2 weeks
Location (Geographic and on body): Lower Left Abdomen
Any existing relevant medical issues (if any): None
Current medications (if any): None
Include a photo if relevant (skin condition for example)
I have been experiencing sharp, intermittent abdominal pain for two weeks. The pain appeared on 1/21/19. It is intermittent in nature, last for a few seconds and it normally appears a few times every hour during the day but sometimes is more frequent than that and happens every few minutes. No real pattern to when it happens. It is on the lower left side of my stomach. I got a CT scan on 1/24/19 and there were no acute findings from the CT scan or blood work that led them to identify anything that was causing the pain.(they ruled out diverticulitis). The pain disappeared on 1/26/18 but returned again on 1/28/19. My bowel movements have been a mix of thin stools and diarrhea during this timespan (including gas most of the day) but I have not been running a fever. Is there any chance i have colon cancer or is it likely just IBS? Any help would be much appreciated as I am having a lot of anxiety because i have never experienced abdominal pain like this before.
Sex: Male
Height: 5'9
Weight: 150
Race: Caucasian
Duration of complaint: 2 weeks
Location (Geographic and on body): Lower Left Abdomen
Any existing relevant medical issues (if any): None
Current medications (if any): None
Include a photo if relevant (skin condition for example)
I have been experiencing sharp, intermittent abdominal pain for two weeks. The pain appeared on 1/21/19. It is intermittent in nature, last for a few seconds and it normally appears a few times every hour during the day but sometimes is more frequent than that and happens every few minutes. No real pattern to when it happens. It is on the lower left side of my stomach. I got a CT scan on 1/24/19 and there were no acute findings from the CT scan or blood work that led them to identify anything that was causing the pain.(they ruled out diverticulitis). The pain disappeared on 1/26/18 but returned again on 1/28/19. My bowel movements have been a mix of thin stools and diarrhea during this timespan (including gas most of the day) but I have not been running a fever. Is there any chance i have colon cancer or is it likely just IBS? Any help would be much appreciated as I am having a lot of anxiety because i have never experienced abdominal pain like this before.
Brief Answer:
Chances of colon cancer are negligible at this age.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing 'Ask a Doctor' service on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query. Your problem seems to be related to improper digestion which may also be termed as partial IBS. See IBS frankly speaking is an umbrella term which covers symptoms like abdominal spasms loose
motion constipation etc.When despite of all possible investigations doctors are unable to find any pathology patient is labelled under a term called IBS.
So to be labelled as a patient of IBS a colonoscopy and stool test is to be done along with CT abdomen and if everything turns up to be normal you are a case of IBS.
As such IBS has no specific treatment.Symptomatic treatment is given to patients.
Now let's move to pathophysiology of your symptoms. Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food would be stagnated causing growth of bad bacterial colonies in that region.Degradation of food cause severe inflammation and gas formation which irritates intestines and causes pain and spasm. The bowel habits in that case would not be proper. Degradation of undigested food in the intestines by the intestinal bacteria would lead to the excess gas formation.This gas compresses the intestines hence causing pain intermittent in nature.
As per colon cancer is concerned usually bleeding is there pain is severe and symptoms follow a increasing trend and is usually suspected in patients above 40.Secondly colonoscopy would reveal it if you have it.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid alcohol intake (if it a part of your habit).
* Take omeprazole once daily before breakfast.
* Take plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as other sources of dietary fibers. Take fiber supplements like isabgol/psyllium husk or senna. I would insist you to increase your dietary fiber intake.This should be taken.
* Regular morning walk and exercise to keep the bowel movements proper.
* If I had a patient like you I would perhaps have suggested Prodep (fluoxetine) 20 mg tablet (long term anxiolytic and a prescription drug) once daily for at least 2 months (it may take time for the action to set in). Discuss about this with your treating physician.
* Take curd or yogurt on daily basis. It contains beneficial bacteria and should help.
* Stress reduction has a very important role to play. Yoga and meditation should help.
*Any anti spasmodic can be taken for few days on as and when required basis along with a nyquality probiotic like VSL#3 once daily.
*Eat very light and easily digestible home made food preferably vegetarian for few days.
Hopefully that should help.
Let me know if I could help further.
IF satisfied do rate the answer.
Regards
Chances of colon cancer are negligible at this age.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing 'Ask a Doctor' service on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through your query. Your problem seems to be related to improper digestion which may also be termed as partial IBS. See IBS frankly speaking is an umbrella term which covers symptoms like abdominal spasms loose
motion constipation etc.When despite of all possible investigations doctors are unable to find any pathology patient is labelled under a term called IBS.
So to be labelled as a patient of IBS a colonoscopy and stool test is to be done along with CT abdomen and if everything turns up to be normal you are a case of IBS.
As such IBS has no specific treatment.Symptomatic treatment is given to patients.
Now let's move to pathophysiology of your symptoms. Our gastrointestinal tract has a forward propulsive movement (peristalsis) that moves the food material forward as it is digested, absorbed and finally expelled as feces. If somehow this movement gets hampered, food would be stagnated causing growth of bad bacterial colonies in that region.Degradation of food cause severe inflammation and gas formation which irritates intestines and causes pain and spasm. The bowel habits in that case would not be proper. Degradation of undigested food in the intestines by the intestinal bacteria would lead to the excess gas formation.This gas compresses the intestines hence causing pain intermittent in nature.
As per colon cancer is concerned usually bleeding is there pain is severe and symptoms follow a increasing trend and is usually suspected in patients above 40.Secondly colonoscopy would reveal it if you have it.
In order to relieve yourself, you need to do the following:
* Avoid alcohol intake (if it a part of your habit).
* Take omeprazole once daily before breakfast.
* Take plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as other sources of dietary fibers. Take fiber supplements like isabgol/psyllium husk or senna. I would insist you to increase your dietary fiber intake.This should be taken.
* Regular morning walk and exercise to keep the bowel movements proper.
* If I had a patient like you I would perhaps have suggested Prodep (fluoxetine) 20 mg tablet (long term anxiolytic and a prescription drug) once daily for at least 2 months (it may take time for the action to set in). Discuss about this with your treating physician.
* Take curd or yogurt on daily basis. It contains beneficial bacteria and should help.
* Stress reduction has a very important role to play. Yoga and meditation should help.
*Any anti spasmodic can be taken for few days on as and when required basis along with a nyquality probiotic like VSL#3 once daily.
*Eat very light and easily digestible home made food preferably vegetarian for few days.
Hopefully that should help.
Let me know if I could help further.
IF satisfied do rate the answer.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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