Abdominal pain and more...

[hilikus]

I am a 25 year-old male, who up until this last August was fairly healthy.  I am about 30 lbs over weight but that's it.  I have been having abdominal pains (more like pressure, not severe)sometimes in specific locations: just left of the belly button, upper left and/or right colon area just below the ribs, just below the sternum, and general discomfort throughout the abdomen at times.  Over the last 2 years I have had short bouts of constipation and diarhea, none lasting longer than 3 days and not that often.  I also have anal itching after a bowel movement, this started around the same time as the abdominal discomfort in August.  I feel pressure around the pubic area sometimes but am still able to urinate fine.Eating seems to bring it on, so does thinking of it.  I have had CT scans, ultra-sound, barrium enema, prostate exam, urine tests, x-rays, and blood tests.  Everything came back normal except I had borderline levels of bilirubin in my liver (dr not concerned).  I have no visible blood in my stool, no blood after a movement in the anal area, I have done a hemoccult test and sent it in and am waiting the results.  Some days are better than others, yesterday was my best day.  My dr referred me to an accupuncturist and I had my first treatment and I was doing really well all day until just after dinner. Then this morning I was awakened by severe cramps and diahrea.  I want to believe that this is IBS, I have a high stress job and had a cancer scare in august, the pains appeared 3 days before my surgery consult (tumor was benign).  I'm at my wits end.  Please help.

[ttfn]

Did your cramping in your upper stomach area/belly ever go away?
I"ve had pretty much the same thing now for a week.
Started with cramping about the solarplex area and now seems to
center just below that and radiates out to either side about
four inches.

[JDavid]

Your symptoms sound like those my wife, age 57, has had before she realized she had Celiac Disease (often called celiac sprue). She virtually went nearly 20 years not feeling good until someone suggested she be tested for food intolerance.  The CD test is a simple blood test and certainly would warrant ruling out.  There are numerous sites on the internet that are celiac-related, the major site being Celiac.com.

The real good news is that with proper diet control all symtoms should disappear in a relatively short time. A no wheat or gluten-free diet sounds rough; but really there are special foods you can purchase and the basics:  meat, vegetables, fruits are all okay.  She is doing fine now.

[Laurasfire1]

I'm not a doctor, but I bet it is gas that is not getting out of your system, brought on by the extra fiber you are taking. I would suggest taking an anti gas agent such as gas ex or beeno 1-2 hours after the fiber replaceent, just see what it does for you and let me know. I have suffered from some of the same things as you.

[hilikus]

Update:

I got my hemoccult test back, no traces of blood in my stool either.

What can this be!?!?!?!?!?!

[hilikus]

A few more things...

For the most part I have very normal stools.  Not too soft, not too hard.  There's been no change in size, they seems "healthy" however I can't say I examine them THAT closely.  No chunks of undigested food or blood.  I have been taking Metamucil once a day because I know my body doesn't get enough fiber and the dr suggested it might help.  I want to say the pains aren't as frequent but I just don't know anymore.  

My dr also prescribed xanax even though I really didn't want to.  He and a therapist have suggested I may have some post traumatic stress following this cancer scare.  I would tend to agree.  Just imagine being told you have this rare form of cancer that can come back next year or in 50 years even if they remove it all and the next time it comes back it's spread.  Great...Well I after having one surgery that determined it was cancer, the dr sent the specimen to Mayo they said it wasn't and another pathologist at the U of MN conferred.  So I don't have cancer but I thought I did for about a month.  Scariest thing ever.

So that's my story.  Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks