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What Causes Pain And Tenderness In Lower Abdomen, Gas And Weight Loss?
Question: I am very concerned. I have a lot of health anxiety, in particular, and ive been having some problems that have been worrying me a lot. Ive been having pain in my lower left abdomen. Its tender. If i press down on it, it feels like a dull-pressure like pain that seems to resonate into my stomach. Ive been having a lot of gas and ingestion, and some trouble with food adhering to my throat like rice and beans. Most concerning, to me is that in conjunction with those things, ive been losing appetite and weight. I've been trying to eat as much as i can, but i get full easily now and ive list 7 lbs in theast two weeks. From 220 to 213. I am concerned this is something serious like cancer. I went to a GI doctor who is foing a endoscopy and colonoscopy on Wednesday, but my intense anciety makes it very hard fof me to wait that long, and every time i notice ive lost more weight without trying, or that the pain in my adbomen hurts, i get more panicked. I can't talk to my doctor about these concerns until Wednesday, so i am left being almost immobilized by anxiety for 5 more days, when hopefully the tests show everything id okay, though i am also terrifed that they won't.
Brief Answer:
From the symptoms you have mentioned it is not cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello welcome to HCM
I can understand your concern and it is common to develop health anxiety in a number of individuals. First of all I would like to reassure you that the symptoms you are having like dull pressure like pain in lower abdomen and stomach, lot of gas etc don't dentate any serious abdominal pathology. You have lost appetite and are losing weight due to anxiety only.
Fullness of abdomen can be explained by severe anxiety also. First of all if we consider cancer as cause of these symptoms even then at your age stomach cancer and intestinal cancers are not common. Commonly Gastric Cancer is seen in people of more than 60 years of age and in younger people the cancer is not common. The clinical presentation is usually epigastric burning along with reduced appetite especially with meat. But you have not mentioned these symptoms.
The reduction is weight is also not a significant reduction in weight. 7 lbs over 2 weeks is not very significant.
If we consider intestinal cancer then you have not shown any symptoms related to this. There is absence of symptoms like blood in stools, alternating diarrhoea and constipation apart from other common symptoms.
So please don't panic for these symptoms and wait for your investigations done. From the symptoms you have mentioned this is not cancer so no need to worry.
Thankyou
From the symptoms you have mentioned it is not cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello welcome to HCM
I can understand your concern and it is common to develop health anxiety in a number of individuals. First of all I would like to reassure you that the symptoms you are having like dull pressure like pain in lower abdomen and stomach, lot of gas etc don't dentate any serious abdominal pathology. You have lost appetite and are losing weight due to anxiety only.
Fullness of abdomen can be explained by severe anxiety also. First of all if we consider cancer as cause of these symptoms even then at your age stomach cancer and intestinal cancers are not common. Commonly Gastric Cancer is seen in people of more than 60 years of age and in younger people the cancer is not common. The clinical presentation is usually epigastric burning along with reduced appetite especially with meat. But you have not mentioned these symptoms.
The reduction is weight is also not a significant reduction in weight. 7 lbs over 2 weeks is not very significant.
If we consider intestinal cancer then you have not shown any symptoms related to this. There is absence of symptoms like blood in stools, alternating diarrhoea and constipation apart from other common symptoms.
So please don't panic for these symptoms and wait for your investigations done. From the symptoms you have mentioned this is not cancer so no need to worry.
Thankyou
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you so much for Nswering. I hate that my health anxiety is so severe. A few more things.I have been experiencing some heart burn and acid indigestion as well. One of the reasons that the doctor wants to do an endoscopy is to determine if i have been having acid reflux or GERD, and whild i have not had any blood in my stool, i have had recral burning sbout 1 hour after a bowel movement with occasional bleeding on the outside of the anus (on toilet paper, etc). I am undure if these symptoms are connected or not.
Brief Answer:
Epigastric burning and hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up .
Epigastric burning occurs commonly with GERD or acid reflux.
The epigastric discomfort of carcinoma of stomach is different from burning of GERD .
It is usually associated with proper clinical spectrum like age of onset , fullness of abdomen after meals , recurrent and persistent loss of appetite fro months , blood in vomitus , significant loss of weight , low grade fever , easy tiredness are symptoms .
In a person with similar presenting of your age , diagnosis of cancer is unlikely .
Blood after stool can occurs due to hemorrhoids , detailed examination is needed to make diagnosis .
Blood from intestinal cancer is profuse in amount and not just stool soiling.
So be assured most likely you are not suffering from cancer.
These measures may be useful for you in acid reflux .
Try raising the head of your bed about 4 inches with blocks. It also might help to avoid eating or drinking for 2-3 hours before you lie down, To help control stomach acid one should not drink alcohol or drinks with caffeine in them or eat chocolates or pizza or burger or greasy or fatty foods.
Take antacid but if symptoms are severe , you may need drugs like pnatoprazole-d .
Good luck.
Epigastric burning and hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up .
Epigastric burning occurs commonly with GERD or acid reflux.
The epigastric discomfort of carcinoma of stomach is different from burning of GERD .
It is usually associated with proper clinical spectrum like age of onset , fullness of abdomen after meals , recurrent and persistent loss of appetite fro months , blood in vomitus , significant loss of weight , low grade fever , easy tiredness are symptoms .
In a person with similar presenting of your age , diagnosis of cancer is unlikely .
Blood after stool can occurs due to hemorrhoids , detailed examination is needed to make diagnosis .
Blood from intestinal cancer is profuse in amount and not just stool soiling.
So be assured most likely you are not suffering from cancer.
These measures may be useful for you in acid reflux .
Try raising the head of your bed about 4 inches with blocks. It also might help to avoid eating or drinking for 2-3 hours before you lie down, To help control stomach acid one should not drink alcohol or drinks with caffeine in them or eat chocolates or pizza or burger or greasy or fatty foods.
Take antacid but if symptoms are severe , you may need drugs like pnatoprazole-d .
Good luck.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thanks. I generally avoid greasy things anyway. Im vegetarian. But it is goid to know that you think cancer would be very unlikely. I just have a hard time of thinking what rlse could be causing these problems, because of my anxiety. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Thanks
Detailed Answer:
Once again thanks that you became tension free, it is my pleasure , good luck , god bless you.
Thanks
Detailed Answer:
Once again thanks that you became tension free, it is my pleasure , good luck , god bless you.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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