Left abdomin pain, other symptoms

[robmpulse]

Okay.  I have had cramps and/or pains in my left abdomen for months now.  They come and go and have never been severe or lasted more than about 10-15 mins.  Very in frequent, maybe only about one a week if that.  

About 2 weeks ago, I was given a script for Paxil.  This was given to me because of what I am being told (after a year of cardio and various other tests) are panic attacks.  First attack started about a year ago, but this is a different subject, so I'll move on to what is happening now.....

I took  1/4 of one pill and did not like the way I reacted to it.  So I didn't take any more.  Well, I became constipated that following day.  No bowel movements for a few days.  I took a mild stool softner, and within a day was able to pass stool.  

Ever since, I have had ribbon like clay colored stool.  I always feel like I have to go, and my bowel frequency is also way down.  I used to pass a (what seems to me) large amount of stool daily.  Sometimes twice a day.  Now it's mostly clay colored ribbon like soft stool and a very minimal amount.  I do get about every two days, pebble like really dark colored stool that is much more solid in appearance.

Now when I go, I have to work really hard to get what little comes out each time.  I also have spotting when I wipe.  Sometimes light, and sometimes more so than others.  The best way I can describe this, is that it feels like my intestines are full, and I am only able to pass a little each time, only to make room for what I ate that day.  My stool has become increasingly ribbon like since this all started.

I also have bloating, and cramps, and more gas than I usually have.  Well, the cramps over the past couple weeks were coming and going.  Starting today, it's constant.  Started last night when I went to bed, and stayed with me the entire day.  It does seem to get a little better after what little movements I have made today (twice) but never goes away.  The pain has now spread to he front of my hip, and also wrapped around my side and into my lower back.

I also like to add that I have numbness in my left arm and leg, and sometimes the left side of my face.  This all started about 6 months ago, and various MRI's and EMG testing, has revealed no cause for this numbness.  Sometimes I don't notice it, but it never really goes away.  I have pretty much learned to live with it for the past 6 months or so.  

One thing is for sure, when I drink, the numbness increases in relation to how much I had to drink the night before.  I drink socially, but for years was a binge drinker of about once a week sometimes twice a month.  If I only have about 6 beers, the numbness is immediately noticed as soon as I wake up, and stays with me for most of the day.  If I drink heavily, the numbness is severe and still stays with me for the entire next day, and is also noticed immediately upon waking up.  

I am starting to think these two things may be related.  I am awaiting my insurance to start at work, which is not for another month, and I can not afford to go to the doctor.  However, I am starting to think that this may be some severe swelling of the left kidney and that maybe that is what is causing the partial blockage of the descending intestine, which is what i causing the ribbon like stool, and so on and so on.  That said, I am no doctor, and really, this is all guess work to me.  

In the end, I am worried that I may be ignoring some tell tale signs of a serious problem that needs to be caught earlier than later.  

If I go to the ER, will they even do any tests, or just give me a laxative and send me home?  OR will they actually investigate what is causing this?  I am not in enormous amounts of pain, but it is getting worse by the day, and I am afraid if I wait too long, I could suffer severe consequences.......

HELP?  thanks in advanced!

[robmpulse]

bump

[robmpulse]

And also, when I lean to the left, I can feel what seems lift soft tissue pinched by the bottom rib and it seems that the pressure is relieved when that soft tissue finally gives way and moves under the rib cage.  Hope that makes sense.

p.s. - sorry for the book

[robmpulse]

Oh, I also want to add that I noticed what seemed like spasms in my abdomen in both the center lower and upper left (where the pain is ) both yesterday and today.  But they came on and only lasted about 5 mins each time.  Happened about three times and only over the last couple days.