Spent a Fortune at the Doctor for an "I don't know. Very upset...any help is appreciatet.

[Presidiobanks]

Recently I saw a doctor about some lower abdominal pressure. This pressure doesn't really hurt so much as it is annoying and uncomfortable. A description of the feeling is: like a gas moving around or a bowel movement yet no real need to pass gas or use the bathroom. It can also be compared to a feeling of fullness, like after a big meal, yet localized in a small area of my abdomen (lower-right side 2 inches to the right of my belly button). I have no lymph nodes that are swollen, my blood work was "beautiful" according to the doctor, liver was fine, and my urine test yielded only 1-3 white blood cells, which, according to him, was insufficient for any real possible infection. Further, I explained that I had done some strenuous labor three weeks earlier and was worried a hernia may be present - he did a physical examination from my testicles up. "Nothing" he said - "Everything seems fine". Having said all this he had an x-ray of my abdomen taken. When I saw the picture there was a handful of black spots, about the size of nickels, maybe bigger, stretching from my lower-right part of my abdomen up under my right rib cage. I was worried this was a collection of tumors but he said it was stool backed up...

Ok...So, I took Magnesium citrate to clean out the blockage (even though I've been having frequent bowel movements while this pressure has been occurring - not sure what's being "blocked" - whatever though. Of course, HAVING the bowel movements regularly made me skeptical of the "stool blockage" diagnosis). This morning, after waiting all night for it to do something, I pooped but it wasn't as dramatic as others had told me, and, yes, even as dramatic as I'd hoped for. Maybe three runny poops and that was it...back to solid poop again...and guess what? Pressure is still there and now I have some slight pinching/ cramping pain...along side that I have medical bills for all this up to my eyes. I would really appreciate some exactitude in this area so I can put my mind at ease...please, anyone with real experience/expertise I would love a good, solid, detailed answer. Thanks.

Any additional details can be given upon request. Thanks.

[patient915]

It really doesn't sound like an appendicitis because of the type of pain, the pain isn't getting severely worse, there are no other symptoms, and an appendicitis would show on a CT scan (not like black blobs).

[ggreg]

Npane, go to this website:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/appendicitis/DS00274

[patient915]

I would say that it is more about how much you take rather than how long and I would say that one bottle (10 oz) should be enough if that is the problem.

[Presidiobanks]

Patient915

How long, i.e. how many days, should I continue using laxatives? I've used it only for one. Like I said, though, I still feel that pressure in the lower right abdomen.

[patient915]

On an x-ray stool always looks like black blobs, so I wouldn't be concerned about tumors.  Also in the past, I have managed to get very backed up and full of stool even though I was having a bowel movement every day.  I don't know exactly what it is but because your pain is so localized, you might want to talk to your doctor about a ct scan if this continues.  Sorry I can't tell you what it is exactly.