Friday, August 10, 2012

Abdominal Complaints in a Healthy Young Male

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I am a 24 year old male smoker with a clean bill of health, no known allergies, and no family history of cancer or illness.

For last 6 months I have had general weakness and ongoing discomfort in my lower/middle left abdomen area: sometimes its enough to wake me up; I feel better after a bowel movement and or urination.


I also have...

-joint pain
-slight numbness in my left leg, left testicle and lower back.
-when I urinate I have a burning sensation on the tip of my penis that comes and goes
- when I push hard on certain area on my lower left abdomen I have a quick sharp pain that I can feel in my anus
- frequent loose stools
- frequent diarrhea
- I've also lost ten pounds recently but I have had a more active life style and I've been going to the gym

My GP can't seem to figure out what is wrong. I've already had...

-full blood and urine work
-an MRI of my spine
-a three day stool study
-an ultrasound of my left testicle and lower left abdomen

I forced them to schedule me for a colonoscopy next week..


Everyone tells me its just stress/anxiety but I just don't feel like myself anymore and I think something is wrong.

Can all of these symptoms be explained by something benign... ie gas, ibs, stress, pinched nerve, etc

All these tests are depleting my savings...

What should I do? Whats wrong with me? Are there any other tests you would recommend.


Gender: Male
How tall are you (feet and inches)?: 6'1''
What is your weight in pounds?: 172
How old are you?: 24
How long has this been going on?: More than a month

Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing:
Abdominal Pain
Palpitations
Diarrhea
Musculoskeletal Pain

Please list any medication allergies that you have : : none

When was your last menstrual cycle?: I'm a man, baby!
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: Yes
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Daily

Can all of these symptoms be explained by something benign... ie gas, ibs, stress, pinched nerve, etc?

what should I do?
______________________________________________________
 
Wow, tough one. First of all, when you get your colonoscopy, which I'm glad you are getting. Ask the GI physician if he would recommend anything further. The one miss that I see is that you have not had a CT of your abdomen and pelvis, but, honestly, your symptoms wouldn't prompt me to order that test right away. Certainly this could be something benign and it most probably is. The worrisome symptoms you mention is the abdominal pain which is produced with pressure on your left lower quadrant of your abdomen. Make sure the GI doc knows about this. So far I think your GP has done a great job ruling out the bad things that can happen to a 24 year old who is otherwise healthy. Testicular cancer, lower spine issues like nerve impingement from a mass or tumor, and there's other things, no doubt that have been ruled out. I do wonder if stool studies have been sent, not just looking for blood, but looking for infection like Giardia Lamblia... a pretty common parasitic infection of the colon that is picked up by drinking stream or creek or lake water in many parts of the US. Make sure to ask the GI doc about this as well. I think you are being well taken care of. I know this is late in coming, so please do write and tell us what is going on. You can do this in the comment section. Thank you for the question and sorry for the delay.