Irregular digestive problems

[Johnney]

Hello,


I've been having irregular digestive problems for several years now, but I have yet to have myself diagnosed. I am going to go to a doctor, but I also want a second opinion on the symptoms. By the way I'm 21.

The symptoms are basicly episodes of mild to severe momentary lower abdominal pain, sometimes relieved by defecation (normal, diarrhea, hard stool, you name it, it varies, but it has never been bloody). These abdominal pains may last from 30 seconds to around 5 minutes max. at a time, and they may occur several times within a few hours and between the pains there's usually a feeling of mild discomfort.
These episodes can occur randomly (sometimes once a month, sometimes once in 4-5 months) and usually only last for a couple of hours at a time, but I have found that they occur in higher frequencey when I don't eat and drink as much as I usually do (ie. if I skip a meal for a few days) and also when I think to myself "Hey, I haven't had any abdominal pains in a long time", then they sometimes occur within a few hours or the next day.
Oh, and lately I've passed lots of gas, if that's relevant.

I've read a bit about these digestive disorders lately, and although I'm not an expert, the psychological connection leads me to believe it might be IBS ...

However I also sometimes have ulcers on my lip which could point towards ulcerative colitis, but they've never really appeared in connection with any digestive problems or other symptoms, and I haven't noticed any bloody stool.

The cramp-like pain might point towards Crohn's disease, but I haven't had any other common or uncommon Crohn's symptom than the abdominal pain and diarrhea. No weight loss (actually I've gained a few kilos but I think that's due to my lack of exercise), no poor appetite, no nightsweats, no rectal pain, none of that stuff.

Basicly these symptoms occur far less frequently when I'm eating decently (average 3 meals a day), exercising and not thinking about the abdominal pains. Although they don't even have to occur when I'm not eating decently, like this summer when I traveled around Europe for a month with a car, I mostly ate sandwiches and other junk food bought from petrol stations and my stomach was fine.


I would appreaciate any input on this. Thanks.



Best regards

[Johnney]

An update on this situation.

Since last monday the situation has gotten worse. For the past three days I've experienced much more constant discomfort in my stomach throughout the day, with it occasionally turning into pain, antacids aren't helping. I also noticed that my stool has a bit lighter color than usual. I checked my symptoms and they seem to partially match that of gallstones, except the pain isn't sharp, more like a cramp, and I don't have jaundice, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, fever, chills or intolerance of fatty foods.


Basicly my symptoms are:

- Discomfort in the stomach everyday (for 3 days and counting), and often throughout the day. Occasional spikes of pain, but not sharp, more like a cramp, usually after the cramp there's some flatulence.
- Belching and gas, lots of gas, less belching/burping but still more than normal.
- Slight abdominal bloating.
- Hunger. Like 15-20 minutes after a meal I'm still hungry.
- My stool has a slightly lighter color since monday. Something between normal brown and clay.

Oddly enough beer and coffee seem to provide some temporary relief.

I'm going to see a doctor next week, but I'd appreciate some second opinions.



Thanks!

[crumy]

It sounds to me as though your system might just be changing, as we get older our bodies do not act the same as when we were younger, there are all sorts of changes that we go through and sometimes something that we may have been able to do or eat 2 years ago we may not be able to handle now, and when we start to get older, even though your only twenty one, you now have different responsibilities than when you were 15, 18 and so on, your an adult now and are responsible for yourself and that can put alot of stress on someone even if it dosen't show itself for a while, try to take life slow, continue to eat well, thats the best medicine for anyone, try sticking to a routine when it comes to eating and see what happens.  good luck, keep in touch.

crumy

[Johnney]

Oh, and the discomfort also occurs in stressy situations, which might lead to the abdominal pain.