22 yo male with abdominal pain for over a year.

[bhc1457]

My brother has been having generalized abdominal pain for over a year. He has not had any significant weight loss or gain. He has seen more then once doctor and nobody is able to diagnose him yet.. The pain is beginning to ruin his life as he is unable to focus on anything else.
He went away to college over 1 year ago and 4 days after being there he began having this pain in his stomach which has still not gone away. Roughly 6 months ago he was diagnosed with h pylori for which he was treated but never retested. Since that time the pain has stayed the same. He was found not to have an ulcer and the scope down his throat did not reveal any significant findings. His pain seems to be worse after drinking alcohol, or eating certain foods. He is currently scheduled for another scope at the end of next month with a new physician as his last one suggested it may be "nothing". The pain has not been getting worse, but it has not been getting better. The pain is not better or worse with pressure, he has no tenderness, rebound or guarding. He has no black, bloody or tar colored stools. However, he does feel better after having a bowel movement but the pain has never really "gone away". Rather the states after a BM it would feel as a 2/10 on the pain scale whereas it previously was a 6/10. He is a non-smoker, but does drink alcohol regularly and as I previously mentioned the following day after drinking the pain is always at its worst, but again he was found previously not to have an ulcer. He feels better when he is active, playing sports, working out, etc. One doctor mentioned it was interested that he feels better with those things, including BM because they all include him expelling toxic substances from his body via sweat or BM. He has since moved home from school and is going to school in the area and working as usual. He plays sports on IM teams weekly. Any advice would be helpful, we are really trying to find a solution as this pain has been going on for so long! I would appreciate any advice or stories from people with similar symptoms or conditions!!

[cmropen]

Sorry to hear that your brother and family is going through this. It's great that you are by his side as an advocate and trying to help him out.

It might be helpful to bring this checklist and questions to ask the doctor to his next appointment: http://www.medicinenet.com/abdominal_pain_questions_to_ask_your_doctor/views.htm

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Abdominal_Pain

You may need to get a second or third opinion from a therapists -- or rule out other conditions first. Either way, stay strong! He'll get through this.