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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Similar to other problems, looking for thoughts
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Similar to other problems, looking for thoughts
by FL180, Jan 05, 2004 12:00AM
Hi...I have a question that is along the same line as everyone else's, but I'm looking for your thoughts.
I'm a 33y/o white male, and I've had intestional/stomach problems for about 2 years or so. I've had an upper and lower GI and a CAT scan, with everything seemingly coming back "normal".
My symptoms are stomach/lower left slight abdominal pain (from mid abdomin (abdomen) up to my rib cage), bloating, gas, reduced appetite, indigestion, occasional diahreah (at least once a week), occasional wheezing and coughing. There's a mixture of what seems to be reduced intestonal activity sometimes, other times the activity doesn't seem to stop. I've never experienced constipation (but that may be because I massage my abdomin (abdomen) when things don't seem to be moving well).
My left side is where the issue is, my right side feels fine. I've probed around, and when I do, there's an area just above my left pelvic bone that is sore (pushing causes pain, and that pain also radiates to my right side), and there's also pain around my navel.
As I said, when things don't seem to be moving well, I'll massage my abdomin (abdomen). Sometimes that seems to "wake things up", other times I can just hold pressure that seems to cause material to "squirt" (for lack of a better word) past a point that I can't pinpoint (but it is on the left side, and seems to be about midway between my pelvis and my rib cage). Sometimes I can do this just by tightening my abdominal muscles. Just a few nights ago I wasn't feeling well, so I balled up a pillow and laid on it with the ball in the same area I'm writing about. It wasn't long (maybe 5 minutes of lying with presure there) when something seemed to move past a point of constriction (?), with enough force that my intestines on that side kind of "reverberated" from the event, an odd feeling to say the least!
I really feel like I may have some kind of constriction, but my doctor said all of the xrays have come back normal.
Also, maybe unrelated (maybe not?) there's something along the bottom of my rib cage. It feels like maybe it's a vein or something, and it shifts and "pops" (again, for lack of a better term--the "pop" is a feeling, not a sound) when I probe that area by wrapping my fingers under my rib cage. I wonder if it's related to any of this, because whatever this is feels like it is affected by the intestonal/stomach movements too. I haven't been able to figure out what this is by looking at Gray's drawings.
The final part of this is the coughing/wheezing that results when I try to do an in-depth self examination (heh, not that I think I'm going to figure anything out)!
My guess is some combination of a muscular thing, a bit of an obstruction (perhaps), combined with some acid reflux and a slight infection which is affecting my left lung (though I do not have a fever). Whatever it actually is, I've reached the point where I'm calling another doctor...
I hope some of this makes sense. Thanks for your thoughts!
I'm a 33y/o white male, and I've had intestional/stomach problems for about 2 years or so. I've had an upper and lower GI and a CAT scan, with everything seemingly coming back "normal".
My symptoms are stomach/lower left slight abdominal pain (from mid abdomin (abdomen) up to my rib cage), bloating, gas, reduced appetite, indigestion, occasional diahreah (at least once a week), occasional wheezing and coughing. There's a mixture of what seems to be reduced intestonal activity sometimes, other times the activity doesn't seem to stop. I've never experienced constipation (but that may be because I massage my abdomin (abdomen) when things don't seem to be moving well).
My left side is where the issue is, my right side feels fine. I've probed around, and when I do, there's an area just above my left pelvic bone that is sore (pushing causes pain, and that pain also radiates to my right side), and there's also pain around my navel.
As I said, when things don't seem to be moving well, I'll massage my abdomin (abdomen). Sometimes that seems to "wake things up", other times I can just hold pressure that seems to cause material to "squirt" (for lack of a better word) past a point that I can't pinpoint (but it is on the left side, and seems to be about midway between my pelvis and my rib cage). Sometimes I can do this just by tightening my abdominal muscles. Just a few nights ago I wasn't feeling well, so I balled up a pillow and laid on it with the ball in the same area I'm writing about. It wasn't long (maybe 5 minutes of lying with presure there) when something seemed to move past a point of constriction (?), with enough force that my intestines on that side kind of "reverberated" from the event, an odd feeling to say the least!
I really feel like I may have some kind of constriction, but my doctor said all of the xrays have come back normal.
Also, maybe unrelated (maybe not?) there's something along the bottom of my rib cage. It feels like maybe it's a vein or something, and it shifts and "pops" (again, for lack of a better term--the "pop" is a feeling, not a sound) when I probe that area by wrapping my fingers under my rib cage. I wonder if it's related to any of this, because whatever this is feels like it is affected by the intestonal/stomach movements too. I haven't been able to figure out what this is by looking at Gray's drawings.
The final part of this is the coughing/wheezing that results when I try to do an in-depth self examination (heh, not that I think I'm going to figure anything out)!
My guess is some combination of a muscular thing, a bit of an obstruction (perhaps), combined with some acid reflux and a slight infection which is affecting my left lung (though I do not have a fever). Whatever it actually is, I've reached the point where I'm calling another doctor...
I hope some of this makes sense. Thanks for your thoughts!
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jan 07, 2004 12:00AM
, Jan 07, 2004 12:00AM
You are having changes in bowel habits as well as left sided colonic discomfort. Upper and lower GI as well as CT scan was negative. This would eliminate most of the obvious causes such as colitis, masses or diverticulitis.
I would suggest a colonoscopy as the next step. If that is negative, you may want to consider treatment for irritable bowel syndrome including possible antispasmodics.
Regarding the wheezing, this may or may not be related. You may want to consider pulmonary function testing to document whether asthma may be present. If so, appropriate inhalers may need to be considered.
If all the tests are negative, then treatment for less serious causes such as musculoskeletal issues may be addressed.
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.
I would suggest a colonoscopy as the next step. If that is negative, you may want to consider treatment for irritable bowel syndrome including possible antispasmodics.
Regarding the wheezing, this may or may not be related. You may want to consider pulmonary function testing to document whether asthma may be present. If so, appropriate inhalers may need to be considered.
If all the tests are negative, then treatment for less serious causes such as musculoskeletal issues may be addressed.
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.
