Any ideas as to what this could be???

[refresca]

Starting last Wednesday (today is Sunday), I developed a stomach ache, accompanied at first by chills.  The chills went away after 2 days, but the tummy ache persists. It was not accompanied by diarrhea at first, but rather by very narrow, 1/2"diameter yellow stools. As of today, Easter,--after eating a decent-sized meal, the stools have totally lost their weird form and have turned into yellowy diarrhea. The pain is a constant ache, not intense, but uncomfortable. No position relieves the discomfort. It is just a constant,   and very central, middle-of- the-tummy  dull ache. I have no history of any gasterointestinal problems and am quite confounded by this, especially its persistence.  I wake up in the morning with liquid sounds in my stomach which go away over time as I stay upright during the day. I don't have much of an appetite--a rarity for me-- but the pain does not seem to be affected by eating or not eating. As of today, for the first time, the stools smell terrible. As I tend to eat mostly fish and vegetables, my stools do not generally smell particularly bad, so this is definitely something new. Do you have any idea from this history what I may have or what I should do?  I have a primary care doctor as part of an HMO plan, but he has a subspecialty in cardiology and doesn't know much about gut stuff. Also, last Tuesday night I took 2 aspirin on a relatively empty stomach, but I haven't taken anything before or since.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Most cause for the transient diarrhea as well as the stomach pain would include viral gastroenteritis.  If the symptoms do not go away, you may want to consider bacterial gastroenteritis, ulcers, gastritis.  Non-infectious causes would include malabsorption, irritable bowel disease or inflammatory bowel disease.

I would culture the stools for bacteria, culture, ova and parasites.  If the symptoms continue, an endoscopy - either flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy - can be considered.  The stomach pain can be evaluated by an upper GI series or upper endoscopy.  

A gastroenterology referral can be considered for further evaluation.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[L-Town]

I would go see a gastro. doctor. I'm not sure but I think yellow in the stool is bile. Good luck with everything!

L-Town

[surgeon]

The most likely explanation for the illness you describe is a viral gastroenteritis, which is inflammation of the gut caused by a virus, and which usually runs its course in anywhere from a couple of days to a week or so. Not knowing your age or sex, I can't speculate about some other things. If the fever is persisting, or if the pain is worsening, it's time to let your doctor know. There are other things, such as diverticulitis (depending a bit on your age), or even appendicitis which are on the list. As a one-time event, it's more likely an gastroenteritis than some sort of chronic bowel disease. Going straight to a gastroenterologist, as suggested above, is a bit of overkill for a one-time acute illness. Let your doctor decide.

[L-Town]

Mabe I shouldn't have jumped the gun so to speak as stated in the post above and told you see a gastro doc.I thought I read that your primary care doc. specializes in cardiology not stomach problems. I just figured you would be more comfortable with a specialist. It sounds like what's happening to you is really bothersom Whatever you choose to do weither it is a one time illness or reoccuring see a good doctor. Let us know how it goes.

L-Town