Colon problems, Severe Pain, Diarrhea, Not sure what to do?

[henria]

I've been having stomach problems for about a year now and they are as follows:

1. Frequent stomach pain, sometimes even upon waking that would be rated a 10 out of the 1/10 scale. This pain comes unexpectedly and a BM doesn't follow it. I've recently postulated that it could be severe gas, but gas isn't an evident cause, to me.

2. Everyday, I have a normal bowel movement once, but then have one or two that follow a few hours later that are gassy and watery/oily, there is not alot of substance to the latter. I know that pencil thin fecal matter is a sign of something serious, but I've never had pencil thin fecal matter, just the regular BM and then oily/gassy ones that follow.

3. I oftentimes think I have GERD, simply because I have horrible acid reflux, sometimes I vomit from that...but I didn't think any kind of acid reflux would irritate my intestines/colon the way they have been bothered.

4. My pain sometimes comes in spasms in my stomach, it radiates from where my testicles are up to my abdomen. This has bothered me because the thought of prostate cancer is extremely unnerving...but I don't see how these other symptoms would fit in. I've traveled quite a bit over the course of the past few years, to Central America/Europe/Jamaica...so, perhaps it's some kind of bug I've picked up...but it's really just become evident over the course of the past 12 months.

I don't have health insurance, I really don't have that much money right now at this point in time to get it...I was just wondering if this could be IBS, I do have severe social anxiety, but my stomach acts up even when I'm not anxious.
I don't know what to do, I just want an idea of what I'm dealing with here and the seriousness of it. Also, I was wondering if there happens to be any kind of over the counter medication that would alleviate my symptoms...zantac, for some reason, makes me extremely nauseated.

[Cindee56]

I have acid reflux and I often get stomach symptoms also.  It's hard to answer your questions without more information.  What is your diet like?   Do you get enough fiber, drink enough water?  Are you on medications?  Do you eat spicy food or too much salt or sugar?  A lot of carbs?  Do you exercise or are you sedentary?  Do you drink alcohol?

Your BM's don't sound that unusual.  It's not abnormal to have several a day.  I can't imagine why zantac would make you nauseous.  I get pretty decent results from using it, but if it bothers you, try Prevacid.  You can also try to take something like Maalox or Mylanta, or even Pepto-Bismol, although that will turn your stools black.

The stomach pain is, obviously, not good.  It could be gas that is trapped and you can't get it out.  But since this is going on so long, I'm not sure.

I know you said you don't have insurance, but a visit to a clinic might be worth it just to get some idea from a doctor if this is serious.