Stomach/pelvic discomfort

[akita6]

Hi, I am currently unemployed with no insurance. Trying to self-diagnose because I can't afford all testing involved to find out what is wrong.  Symptoms are slight nausea, stomach/pelvic gurgling/growling, pelvic pressure/discomfort/pain (almost all the time). Symptoms seem to lessen a bit when I go to bed.  I have had some rare diarrhea episodes (of which I never have had in my life). I had a pelvic ultra sound because of these symptom and the results found nothing.  I don't really have the usual symptoms of colon cancer and until I can narrow it down, I can not afford to be tested.I have NEVER had any stomach problems in my life..not even the flu.  Does anyone know of a few diagnoses I can zero-in on so I can narrow down the tests I should take.  Since I have no insurance, medical care givers are reluctant to give me a battery of tests.   I hope someone has some ideas for me.  Thanks much

[btsmith]

I have medicare and an advantage plan.  Tests are nothing new to me as I have had twenty-five of them over a 18 mo. stretch to see what is causing my problem.  They have found nothing yet and the copays have set me back about $7000.00.  Trust me, this is the way you should go.  Time is money, tests are painful. Wrongfully prescribed drugs have put me in the hospital twice.  My prescription allowance is gone for 2008.  They thought I might have cancer.  You haven't lived till you have had a bone marrow sample.

[pollyhurting]

I wonder about your diet  have you tried a carefully prescribed soft diet for five days or so?
I would make sure I started the day with a breakfast of a banana & cr of wheat,  a cup of yoplait yogurt around noon,a slice of simple bread with a spread of creamy peanut butter around two or three, a slice of 6 oz fresh fish (baked in the oven at 415 for 15 mins) with a cooked veggie and a steamed sliced up potato for dinner.  Or wh rice or  vegetable stew.  Only one cup of coffee, and one 6 oz glass of wine a day  -  or very similar type diet.
I would try the 14 day prilosec regimen taking a capsule 1/2 hr before breakfast daily.
This should relieve the stomach if you are working on an ulcer.
If it's in the colon like diverticulosis or whatever, then after a week you probably won't have good results.
The colon should be treated with a clear liquid diet for three days first - apple juice, ginger ale, cranberry juice, tea, beef & ch bouillon  and jello - if you suspect your problem is your lower abdomen, I would first try the clear liquid diet, then graduate to the soft diet.
Since you are your own physician, treat yourself!
(Good luck).

[ggreg]

Just a couple suggestions and a comment.  If you had colon cancer, probably you would have a lot of blood in your stool.  Chances are you are constipated, and the noises you hear are gas from being stopped up.  The main three things to do when you get constipated are to increase fiber slowly, drink extra water, exercise more.  If you haven't had much in the way of bowel movements other than diahrrea, you may want to get out the waste that is clogged.  This can be done by enemas, and then if it seems ready to come out but won't. "Babylax" by Fleet, squirt two tubes in there, and that should do it, repeat as needed.  You can also try eating "Activia" yogurt, breaks down waste, follow directs on pkg.  By the way, a stool sample and blood drawn doesn't cost much money, would help make sure you don't have a bacterial inflammation going on that needs treating.