Questions on Hernias?

[ADUB69]

I have been experiencing pain on my left side for over a month now. Mostly in the abdominal area but sometimes in my back as well. I went to the doctor and the said it could be my kidneys because I don't drink enough water. Well I've been drinking 80oz. of water a day. Someone advised me that it may be a hernia. I sometimes have a slight dull discomfort in my groin area as well. It's on my left side as well. As of lately, the groin area pain and the abdominal pain have been consistent. I'm looking for advice. Can a hernia hurt in both places? If so, can you explain why? Or does this sound like something else?

I do not have blood in my stools and I haven't had any recent weight loss or change in my stools.
I need advice!

Thanks,
Aaron

[NCCajun]

Make an appointment with a surgeron...he can test for a hernia.  I had the same problems that gradually got worse over the years.  Come to find out, I did have a ingual (SP?) hernia.  Surgery/recovery was a breeze.  It definately helped get rid of that pain.  Now if I could only get rid of the adbominal pain.

[Jaybay]

You'll have to return to your doctor if the water doesn't help.  Too many times, we patients take the intial doctor's opinion as the gospel and quit seeking answers when the first treatment doesn't work.  In today's medical world, you have to keep going back and back and back again, or find a different doctor to do a more in-depth examination.  

As for your hernia question, it's worth looking into.  Do you have increased pain when you lift heavy objects or cough hard?  If so, that would make it more likely that you're on the right track with a possible hernia.  The problem is that there could be other things going on in your intestines causing your symptoms.  All you can do is keep talking to your doctor or find a different one who is more aggressive in figuring out the cause of your symptoms.