Lower right severe spasms and pain

[desperate23]

I am 26 and have been having the same problem since I was 16.  I have been through every doctor and every test and they treat me like I am making the pain up and nothing is wrong.  I am a very active person and this is ruining my life.  I never feel well and I don't know what to do.  I have a constant pain in my lower right side.  Sometimes it feels like I am being stabbed by a knife and others it is a constant spasm, so severe that is keeps me awake at night.  I get severely constipated unless I lie on my side and wait forever to go to the bathroom.  If I can't do that (early mornings, away from home, etc.) I just don't go to the bathroom at all and that can last over a week until I can lie down on my left side and wait for hours to finally have a bowel movement.  I can feel a lump in there and I can feel my intestines constantly moving, but they seem to be stuck.  There will be a gurgle or a rumble and it will stay in that same area always.  The pain never travels, it is very localized to that one spot.  I feel so much pressure there that I just want to stab a knife in and dig around relieving all of the pressure and removing the mass. I have recently started seeing a chiropracter as I can see in the mirror the differences between my right and left side.  My left side does not have the curve that my right side has.  I have not noticed any difference from the chiropractic visits either.  I was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus 6 months ago, but I still have not had a change in my stomach problems.  All of my problems started at the same time.  When I was 16 I just started drinking mass quantities of water (2-4 gallons a day) and it never stopped.  Everyone (doctor's included) just kept telling me how healthy it was to drink all that water and they didn't listen to me when I tried to explain how much.  I finally went to an endocrinlogist on my own and was diagnosed, but with no known cause.  Now I use ADHP and don't drink much at all, but my stomach is the same.  I have tried everything, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, x-rays, colonoscopies, capsule endoscopy, upper and lower GI's, etc. etc.  I am not making up this problem.  I don't like people to know how I feel and it is holding me back in life to an extreme degree.  The only way I seem to feel any relief is hanging upside down or swimming (seems to relieve the pressure), but that does not always work either.  I tend to build up a lot of gas by the evening and sometimes the only way I can get any relief is to stand on my head.  This problem is so embarrasing and I am at a loss as to how to fix anything.  I have been prescribed different medications for spasms, irritable bowel, etc, etc., but nothing, and I mean NOTHING has given me any relief.  This has been going on for 10 1/2 years and I just can't deal with it any longer.  I don't know what to do so that I can live a normal life.  I am never able to go to the bathroom during the day when I know I need to.  I have to be lying down. Help!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You have had a pretty comprehensive evaluation for your symptoms.  I would assume that comprehensive imaging has been done of the area, including a CT scan and/or MRI.  

If the testing continues to be negative, irritable bowel syndrome can be considered.  Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet can help, as well as antispasmodic agents.  

If the GI tests continue to be non-revealing, you can look outside of the GI system.  This can include possible musculoskeletal causes as well as evaluating the kidney.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

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.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[dcdre14]

Have they evaluated your appendix?  

I'm a 28-year old male.

I had pain of varying intensity off and on in my lower right quadrant for close to 2 years...

I went back and forth to my general practictioner, a gastroenterologist and, when the pain got really bad, the ER!

Over the course of those 2 years, I got a wide variety of diagnoses - colitis, diverticulosis, gas, constipation, kidney problems, an ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome... even a pulled abdominal muscle!

Finally - during one particularly bad episode, I went to the ER at a very well-respected hospital.  They did a CT scan and discovered that my appendix was enlarged!

They took my appendix out and I have been symptom-free since... they diagnosed me with "chronic appendicitis."

I guess there's a debate about whether this condition even exists - some doctors think appendicitis can only be acute... that is, the appendix becomes enflamed and you have a day or so to get it out before it ruptures...

Well I'm living proof that it can be chronic too!  The doctor who took mine out said he's seen it before, but that it's pretty rare...

Just a suggestion...

[ckwt]

About 5 years ago I had a laparoscopy for evaluation of infertility, during which the doctor discovered massive amounts of scar tissue covering my appendix. So much so that he couldn't even find my appendix behind the scar tissue and was surprised that I didn't experience extreme pain. All of my life I had been experiencing occassional sharp pains in my lower right abdomen, but just figured it was normal. Now I know what it's from.

More disconcerting however, is that the scar tissue still exists (as a reproductive endocrinologist, I guess the doctor felt it wasn't his responsibility to remove the scar tissue while he had me on the operating table!) and now I'm having increasing discomfort in my RUQ area. The gastro doc I saw last week said it could be due to the scar tissue in my lower right abdomen. But first I have to have an upper GI and colonoscopy done because that's "standard."

Doesn't make much logical sense to me, but I'll keep jumping through the hoops until something is found or someone decides to actually "do" something for me!

[desperate23]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I have never had any surgeries, but I know people that have had severe problems with scar tissue.  I kept thinking that it was my appendix also, but it actually feels better if I press in on the area, so I know that doesn't describe appendicitis.  My brother had his removed, so I checked into that right away, but no luck.  Extra fiber and bulk is the worst recommendation and I get so tired of hearing that from doctor's, I was hoping for a scientific explanation, not a simple answer like that.  The problem is it is stuck in there becuase something is kinked or blocked, the bulk just creates more pressure.  Wish doctors would look beyond the norm.  I have never found anything about irritable bowel that matches my symptoms and trust me I have looked.  My problem is very isolated.

[Biskie2]

Do you live near a major university hospital (Cleveland Clinic, Univ. of Chicago, Northwestern, Mayo, etc.)? It might be worth it to take your records and have them evaluate you.

[seekingknowledge]

I am also in a state of pain in my lower right side that causes bloating if I eat anything and then takes a really longtime to pass  at which point I often pass out food that has not been digested at all and very quickly! I have been experiencing this for over a week and have been to the ER, my naturopath as well as a gastroenterologist all with the same response, if it were appendicitis or crohn's disease we would feel it in your abdomen. I finally got a CT scan and am waiting for the results though I am dubious. I have been having this problem on and off for about four years now. I had thought it was chronic appendicits but as most doctors believe the appendix has two or less days and then it ruptures so I was unsure. The one thing I know for certain is that up until this week, the symptoms would go away when I went on a raw foods diet that consisted of mostly fresh juices. Sometimes I have to do this for only a few days and sometimes (like now) I have to stay on liquids, especially kombucha tea, for a week or more. Have you ever considered food allergies as the possible root of the problem? I know my "flair-ups" always follow a break in my normal extremely clean and careful diet.

[holsy]

When I was 19 I suddenly became ill with similar symptoms - Sever spasms in my intestines and bowl - bloating - constipation - abdominal pain - constantly expelling excessive amounts of gas.

After 3 years I got a hold of a product called 'Clarkia' which is supposed to kill parasites. After taking Clarkia for about two weeks I started noticing hundreds of tiny white speks had in my feaces. They turned out to be hookworm eggs.

I also took mebendazole (which is available without prescription). 2 tablets per day for 3 days.

My symptoms disappeared quickly. But I was still fatigued for a long while as my body had been depleted of nutrients and minerals.

I would reccommend a hair mineral annalysis.

Be warned that any doctor you mention parasites to will treat you like you're an idiot and any test will probably come back negative.

You can purchase Clarkia online at http://drclarkia.com/ and mebendazole is available from any chemist - Also called Combantrim 1 or Vermox.

Good luck.

[holsy]

Parasites thrive on foods high in fat and sugar which could explain why there is less activity when you eat raw foods.

[fairygirlcindy]

I have the same, "Sever spasms in my intestines and bowl - bloating - constipation - abdominal pain - constantly expelling excessive amounts of gas,"  so I went to the doctor and he gave me Zelnorm and it has helped alot, I don't mind the side effect of the diarra cause everything else feels better.  Then he suggested an abdominal sonogram and the results came back that I have an enlarged liver!!  Blood test for my liver panel came back normal, so I had to go back today for Hepatitis blood panel.  I will get results hopefully on Monday.  Any one else have the same problem??

[Tinkerbell100]

A related discussion, what is wrong with me doctors keep treating me for different things??? was started.