Question for doctors or anyone else (colonoscopy, pain, blood pressure, diabetic)

[lastra]

Hi everyone. Me and my husband are hoping to hear what doctors or anyone else who had this types of problems can tell us what is "wrong" if anything...This is the post that my husband made, I am just copying and pasting it...

So for the past month or so i've had this chronic discomfort in my lower left abdominal area. At certain times of the day, usually a while after i eat, i get this very light dull pain in the area. Then at some point it just goes away. Any takers as to what it could be and if i should be concerned? Last time i mentioned this to a doctor she said that it's in the area of the exit of my intestines and that i shouldn't be that worried.

Little Background:
I'm 24, 6ft tall, 210lbs, hispanic male. About 6 weeks ago i was also diagnosed with a mono like virus. Basically my mono blood test came back negative, but i had a showing of lymph something or other in my blood, which indicates some sort of mono virus according to the doctor. Also last semester i was having problems with heart burn. I would get it about once a day before sleeping. I would also pop rolaids like candy so that it would subside and i could sleep. Doctor said that it was a result of bad dietary habits and eating late at night before sleeping.

Also, i should have elaborated on this earlier. When i say lower left area, that is from my POV, which would actually be the lower right area from the outsiders POV looking at me. I thought i would mention this just to make sure we are on the same page.

Family history:
Great grand parents where strong as bulls and died of natural causes as far as i know. Grand parents; one died of heart attack (smoking and drinking heavily), the other lung cancer (second hand smoke from #1), one is still alive but has high blood pressure and panic problems (i got the panic part), and the last i don't remember what he died of. My mother was told that she is borderline diabetic but not quite there yet, my dad has an irregular heart beat but is otherwise healthy as can be. Also, with the diabetes, i have uncles, aunts, and a cousin with diabetes problems all coming from my mothers side. There were also one or two instances of cancer other than what's mentioned above but on my mothers side involving distant relatives.

I haven't gotten blood work for a general check up in a while (about a year or two) but it's always been at or near perfect when i did get it.

Thank you.

[eddiek]

Have you considered a colonoscopy to check for diverticulitis?

[lastra]

Originally Posted by eddiek

Have you considered a colonoscopy to check for diverticulitis?

Actually, we have. We thought that that is a "disease" that affects older people, and not 20-year - olds. But, we are considering it. Thank you for the advice. If anyone else has any ideas, please feel free to post them.

[PinkString]

Sometimes gas bubbles will cause pain and discomfort as they work their way down to the exit. Some can cause severe pain.

Antacids do more harm than good especially if he is popping them like candy. Try raw almonds instead, slowly chew them until thoroughly chewed before swallowing. 6-10 usually do the trick.

A colonoscopy should only be used as a desperate last resort as far as I'm concerned.

There is a really good site you can try to find the true cause. It goes over virtually everything in great detail, cross referencing,etc. It's a very long survey, and you can quit and go back over several days and it will remember where you left off. It's at diagnose-me.com.

[jeannie216]

The only other thing I may add is note what you are eating and if it is only specific foods that give the discomfort. It definately could be gas pain and if certain foods are doing this, try cutting them out and see if that helps. Is he stooling normally? Jeannie

[southward bound]

Jeannie has a good idea. Keep a daily food diary for a while, which may be helpful in pinpointing any food related discomfort.

[eddiek]

"A colonoscopy should only be used as a desperate last resort as far as I'm concerned. "

A colonoscopy is not a bad test. It has a bad reputation in many people's eyes, but it is excellent for pinpointing problems in the colon. Only takes about half an hour, and you can get sedation if desired. It is minimally invasive and well worth while, particularly above the age off fifty.

lastra: diverticulitis can occur at any age. it is more prominent as we get older.

[lastra]

Originally Posted by jeannie216

The only other thing I may add is note what you are eating and if it is only specific foods that give the discomfort. It definately could be gas pain and if certain foods are doing this, try cutting them out and see if that helps. Is he stooling normally? Jeannie

Hi...Well, his uses the bathroom almost every day. But some days he uses it twice or more!!!

[lastra]

Thank you for your advice Pink String, as well as the others.

[Mattie Jo]

A colonoscopy should only be used as a desperate last resort as far as I'm concerned.

Pink, I remember your fear of this in another thread, and I said Never too. But a month ago I went and had one done. The fast was easy because I could drink juice all day along with jello. Then the wait was long because the doctor slept in. But as soon as he walked into the room I could only say, "That is okay that you are late as long as you are fresh and wake." Next thing I knew I was waking up. I went home and ate. So when it comes time you should go. I don't have polyps, but I have one spot of diverticulitis that I didn't know I had, and he just said to take fiber, which I do. So I was very glad that I was asleep before the doctor started his procedure, which was one of my fears, pain was the other, but like I said, I knew nothing. At least I didn't have polyps like other members in my family have had.