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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
pain to the right of belly button
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.
pain to the right of belly button
by mb123, Jul 24, 2003 12:00AM
I am a 46 year old female. I run a few miles each morning and eat well. In the beginning of April I started to have pain in the lower right abdomen next to my belly button. And I began to loose at about 1 lb per week. My stools are loose with undigested food. I went to the family doctor who had many tests run all of which came back OK (Cat scans & ultrasounds of kidneys, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, ovaries) All blood tests came back OK. I had a colonoscopy in October for internal hemorrhoids and everything looked good at that time. Family doctor said eat more and because they couldn’t find anything wrong it was probably IBS, he prescribed Hyoscyamine. The Hyoscyamine doesn’t seem to change the pain.
I went to a gastro specialist and was given an endoscopy. He found inflammation in the esophagus and prescribed nexium and librax. Said come back is six weeks I should feel better. I said that I had no pain above my belly button all pain is to the right and lower. It is persistent some times radiating into my lower back. At this point I have lost about 15 lbs. I don’t feel that IBS is causing the pain and the weight loss. What should be my next step.
I went to a gastro specialist and was given an endoscopy. He found inflammation in the esophagus and prescribed nexium and librax. Said come back is six weeks I should feel better. I said that I had no pain above my belly button all pain is to the right and lower. It is persistent some times radiating into my lower back. At this point I have lost about 15 lbs. I don’t feel that IBS is causing the pain and the weight loss. What should be my next step.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jul 26, 2003 12:00AM
, Jul 26, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - thanks for asking your question.
IBS is a possibility, and with a recent colonoscopy, IBD would not be likely.
One possibility I would inquire about would be tests for malabsorption. This can present with weight loss and loose stools. There are various types of malabsorption, including fat and carbohydrate malabsorption, or celiac disease.
I would suggest testing your stools for fat malabsorption and further tests for carbohydrate malabsorption. There are serum antibody tests for celiac disease that I would also considered.
If those tests are negative, then I would work with your GI doc to optimize treatment for IBS.
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.
IBS is a possibility, and with a recent colonoscopy, IBD would not be likely.
One possibility I would inquire about would be tests for malabsorption. This can present with weight loss and loose stools. There are various types of malabsorption, including fat and carbohydrate malabsorption, or celiac disease.
I would suggest testing your stools for fat malabsorption and further tests for carbohydrate malabsorption. There are serum antibody tests for celiac disease that I would also considered.
If those tests are negative, then I would work with your GI doc to optimize treatment for IBS.
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.
