Can you make anything out of my symptoms?

  I have been experiencing unusual pain in my lower abdominal regions on and off for about the last three months.  In addition to this pain, I have had episodes of nausea that seem to come and go with no set pattern.  I have found that if I eat something when I am experiencing nausea that it will reside for a short time.  When I press down on my abdomin (abdomen) it feels like I am able to pop something back into place.  On both my right and left sides I feel what seems to me to be a hardened lump of somekind.  The nausea always worsens when I press on my abdomin (abdomen).  My bowel movements have also changed. There will be times when I will go an entire week without one, then sometimes I will eat something and have to make a mad rush to the bathroom.  I am only eighteen years old and I have been heathly most of my life, so I am worried if something is really wrong.  I hope that you can help give me some insite as to what if anything this might be.  Thank you.

[HFHSM.D.-rf]

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Dear Karly,
Thank you for your letter.  The symptoms that you describe are relatively common and usually do not indicate serious illness.  In fact, often a specific abnormality is not found.  If the symptoms are incapacitating or interfering with your lifestyle, you should consider having  a medical evaluation that will include X-rays.  Most probably, you will require a barium enema and a small bowel x-ray.  However, before you see a doctor you may wish to try symptomatic treatment.  In many cases the symptoms of pain, bloating and nausea are the result of not having regular stool.  I suggest that you increase the amount of fiber in your diet by eating salads and/or high fiber natural cereals.  If you can not ingest a sufficient quantity  of fiber in your diet, you may wish to try over the counter fiber e.g. Metamucil is one example.  Eating fiber will give you abdominal gas in the beginning but the discomfort rapidly wanes.  Avoid other laxatives as they can cause cramping.  If your symptoms persist after this trial of fiber, then you should be assessed by your doctor to confirm that there are no intestinal problems.
Best of luck.

This response is offered for your general information and should not replace the conclusions drawn from a careful and complete evaluation by your physician. If you wish to be seen at our institution, Henry Ford Hospital, please call our PHYSICIAN REFERRAL LINE at(313) 876-2393 and request consultation with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in the evaluation of abdominal pain.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: abdominal pain, functional bowel disease, fiber
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