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What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain?

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Posted on Thu, 13 Nov 2014
Question: I have been having abdominal pain (mid line over to right upper and lower quadrants) for about 5 years now, went to ER and PCP many times with ultrasounds completed and no answers. Recently the pain became very severe in my RUQ under my rib cage, severe headache, diarrhea. Had a CT scan done that showed my gallbladder was completely decompressed, no inflammation, sent me home with a diagnosis of Biliary Colic? what does this mean? pain comes and goes now.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Conservative management, IBS suspicion

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

Pain abdomen and pain in right upper quadrant has thousands of etiologies and biliary colic is one of them. It may or may not be associated with stomach inflammation or ulcer and or pancreas involvement. Diarrhea is least an association with biliary colic. Irritable bowel syndrome may also cause that. Simple infections of genital tracts like PID may also cause it.

If they diagnosed you with a biliary colic they sent you home to try conservative therapy. With painkillers and anti spasmodics. Try ant acids too. Use fibre in diet and drink plenty of water. Eat soft and easily digestible and avoid fats. Get assessed for any intolerance like gluten or lactose and see if it helps.

Lets try conservative management for a while and if it does not respond bowel assessment will be done like endoscopy and GI monitoring to sort out any functional issues like IBS.

I am giving you a long list of etiologies which may cuase such pain just to make you know how versatile this pain can be and how difficult it gets some time to sort out the cause. Here is the list.

NEUROLOGIC BASIS OF ABDOMINAL PAIN
Localization of pain
Referred pain
Extra-abdominal causes of abdominal pain

UPPER ABDOMINAL PAIN SYNDROMES
Biliary disease
Acute pancreatitis
Dyspepsia
Hiatus hernia
Pneumonia
Myocardial infarction
Splenic abscess or infarction

LOWER ABDOMINAL PAIN SYNDROMES
Appendicitis
Diverticular disease
Kidney stones
Bladder distension
Pelvic pain

DIFFUSE ABDOMINAL PAIN SYNDROMES
Mesenteric ischemia and infarction
Ruptured aneurysm
Peritonitis
Intestinal obstruction

ABDOMINAL PAIN IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Women
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Adnexal pathology
- Endometriosis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometritis
- Leiomyomas
Older adults
HIV infection
Hemophilia
Sickle cell disease
Chronic opioid users
High-dose glucocorticoids

RARE CAUSES OF ABDOMINAL PAIN
Celiac artery compression syndrome
Painful rib syndrome
Wandering spleen syndrome
Abdominal wall pain
Abdominal migraine
Mesenteric lymphadenitis
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
Epiploic appendagitis
Abdominal compartment syndrome
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome
Familial Mediterranean fever
Hereditary angioedema
Other

I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.

May the odds be ever in your favour.

Regards
Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (13 minutes later)
Yes I have followed strict diets, decreased red meats, decreased dairy, try my best for low fat, drink water only. Colonoscopy done and everything clear, cleared my OB/GYN, another ultrasound completed after the CT (showed no abnormalities) being set up for a Hida scan at the moment. Been looking to find what causes decompressed gallbladder with no success at this time. CT and ultrasound showed No gallstones. Currently taking anti spasmodic and pain meds (chronically as everyone just tries the "bandaid" method so far) I'm not sure if there is any relation but was currently placed on Atenolol d/t htn q time I go to dr, HR always over 100, usually around 125, broke out in blistering rash on hands and feet that my PA thought was hand foot and mouth, have had it now for 5 mths. Thank you for your response. If hida scan returns normal do I have any other options? Xrays, ultrasound, CT all completed
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Lets hope for the best

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me

Its good to know you are following strict dietary protocols. If Hida scans come up clean then other etiologies will be sorted out. Autoimmune work up for ANA and Anti DsDNA , anti mitochondrial Antibodies etc would be advised too as such vague presentations normal other wise creates autoimmune suspicion.

And decompressed gallbladder is needed one and is achieved with stenting and different procedures and is normal state of a healthy gallbladder. Distended one is bad and needs to be decompressed, yours is already decompressed.

Heart rate needs to be addressed too. Atenolol might be causing these symptoms indirectly though.

There would be no harm in doing prophylactic cholecystectomy using minimal invasion if need be. It would be wise.

Take care
Khan
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain?

Brief Answer: Conservative management, IBS suspicion Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking Pain abdomen and pain in right upper quadrant has thousands of etiologies and biliary colic is one of them. It may or may not be associated with stomach inflammation or ulcer and or pancreas involvement. Diarrhea is least an association with biliary colic. Irritable bowel syndrome may also cause that. Simple infections of genital tracts like PID may also cause it. If they diagnosed you with a biliary colic they sent you home to try conservative therapy. With painkillers and anti spasmodics. Try ant acids too. Use fibre in diet and drink plenty of water. Eat soft and easily digestible and avoid fats. Get assessed for any intolerance like gluten or lactose and see if it helps. Lets try conservative management for a while and if it does not respond bowel assessment will be done like endoscopy and GI monitoring to sort out any functional issues like IBS. I am giving you a long list of etiologies which may cuase such pain just to make you know how versatile this pain can be and how difficult it gets some time to sort out the cause. Here is the list. NEUROLOGIC BASIS OF ABDOMINAL PAIN Localization of pain Referred pain Extra-abdominal causes of abdominal pain UPPER ABDOMINAL PAIN SYNDROMES Biliary disease Acute pancreatitis Dyspepsia Hiatus hernia Pneumonia Myocardial infarction Splenic abscess or infarction LOWER ABDOMINAL PAIN SYNDROMES Appendicitis Diverticular disease Kidney stones Bladder distension Pelvic pain DIFFUSE ABDOMINAL PAIN SYNDROMES Mesenteric ischemia and infarction Ruptured aneurysm Peritonitis Intestinal obstruction ABDOMINAL PAIN IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS Women - Pelvic inflammatory disease - Adnexal pathology - Endometriosis - Ectopic pregnancy - Endometritis - Leiomyomas Older adults HIV infection Hemophilia Sickle cell disease Chronic opioid users High-dose glucocorticoids RARE CAUSES OF ABDOMINAL PAIN Celiac artery compression syndrome Painful rib syndrome Wandering spleen syndrome Abdominal wall pain Abdominal migraine Mesenteric lymphadenitis Eosinophilic gastroenteritis Epiploic appendagitis Abdominal compartment syndrome Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome Familial Mediterranean fever Hereditary angioedema Other I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please. May the odds be ever in your favour. Regards Khan