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What Causes Sharp Pains In Lower Abdominal Area?
Question: For a week I have been getting sharp pains in my lower stomach. I want to get an idea of what is causing it. I currently take Dicyclomine for IBS but it isn't helping the pain. I had a hysterectomy almost 2 years ago now. I'm not sure if the pain is cysts or ulcers. I talk to my doctor about pains but they do nothing to try and figure out what is causing it.
Brief Answer:
Can be IBS- You need to have investigations.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Read and understood your problems. To recapitulate: Female / 34 - sharp pains in the lower stomach for a week - currently taking Dicyclomine for IBS - not helping - Hysterectomy 2 years ago - wants to get an idea of the cause - talked to the Doctor about pains - do nothing to try and figure out what is causing it ...
The probable causes of your pains in lower abdomen can be :
- IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Dicyclomine is not the medicine of choice in IBS.
- Other causes can be confirmed or ruled out by :
Investigations:
*Routine blood investigations like Complete blood picture, blood sugar, urea, creatinine, liver function tests, thyroid function tests.
*Urine -routine and microscopy
*Stool: routine, microscopy, occult blood, culture and sensitivity.
*Ultrasonography of abdomen and CT scan of the abdomen.
*Colonoscopy
All these investigations should be within normal limits for one to say you have IBS.
These investigations can help to get the causes.
I hope this answer helps you for further investigations and proper diagnosis , please discuss this with your Doctor.
Please feel free to ask for more if you need to or if you feel there is a gap of communication.
Can be IBS- You need to have investigations.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Read and understood your problems. To recapitulate: Female / 34 - sharp pains in the lower stomach for a week - currently taking Dicyclomine for IBS - not helping - Hysterectomy 2 years ago - wants to get an idea of the cause - talked to the Doctor about pains - do nothing to try and figure out what is causing it ...
The probable causes of your pains in lower abdomen can be :
- IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Dicyclomine is not the medicine of choice in IBS.
- Other causes can be confirmed or ruled out by :
Investigations:
*Routine blood investigations like Complete blood picture, blood sugar, urea, creatinine, liver function tests, thyroid function tests.
*Urine -routine and microscopy
*Stool: routine, microscopy, occult blood, culture and sensitivity.
*Ultrasonography of abdomen and CT scan of the abdomen.
*Colonoscopy
All these investigations should be within normal limits for one to say you have IBS.
These investigations can help to get the causes.
I hope this answer helps you for further investigations and proper diagnosis , please discuss this with your Doctor.
Please feel free to ask for more if you need to or if you feel there is a gap of communication.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have never had any of that done. I tell the doctor about pains, they push on my stomach is all. I talk about how I am constipated a lot so I get told to take daily fiber supplement. I talk about how food makes me sick to my stomach and I'm told it's allergies and IBS. I am taking medication that you said isn't even for IBS and yet nobody has ever run tests of any sort to see if in fact I do have IBS. Do I quit taking the pills then?
Brief Answer:
There are other medicnes also / take second opinion
Detailed Answer:
Please let me correct; I said Dicyclomin is not the "medicine of choice". This means there are other medicines also that can be tried if Dicyclomin alone is not working. Dicyclomin is anti-spasmodic (relives the pain of the intestine origin) and helps in some cases of IBS. So nothing wrong to continue if it is helping; if not helping you may need additional or change of medicines.
Diagnosis of IBS is done by history to start with. Then the investigations are done to decide whether this is IBS or some other disease is hiding inside.
All the relevant investigations should be normal for one to say IBS.
So please discuss this with your Doctor and get the appropriate investigations done and get the additional medicines or get a reference for a Gastroenterologist so that you get a second opinion, order for investigations and proper treatment as per the reports of the tests taken in consideration with the clinical history and examination by the Gastroenterologist.
I hope the points are now clear to you.
Please feel free to discuss more if you need to.
There are other medicnes also / take second opinion
Detailed Answer:
Please let me correct; I said Dicyclomin is not the "medicine of choice". This means there are other medicines also that can be tried if Dicyclomin alone is not working. Dicyclomin is anti-spasmodic (relives the pain of the intestine origin) and helps in some cases of IBS. So nothing wrong to continue if it is helping; if not helping you may need additional or change of medicines.
Diagnosis of IBS is done by history to start with. Then the investigations are done to decide whether this is IBS or some other disease is hiding inside.
All the relevant investigations should be normal for one to say IBS.
So please discuss this with your Doctor and get the appropriate investigations done and get the additional medicines or get a reference for a Gastroenterologist so that you get a second opinion, order for investigations and proper treatment as per the reports of the tests taken in consideration with the clinical history and examination by the Gastroenterologist.
I hope the points are now clear to you.
Please feel free to discuss more if you need to.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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