HomeAnswersInternal Medicineirritable bowel syndromeWhat to do with my gut problems that I have been facing for seven long years?

Why do I have constipation and lower abdominal pain for more than seven years?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At April 8, 2022
Reviewed AtApril 8, 2022

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 24-year-old male with 138 lbs (63 kg) weight and 6'1 ft (185 cm) height. I have had gut problems for over seven years. I usually have constipation and feel like my intestines are wrinkled, unable to let anything pass. The area around my groin (lower part, not my stomach) stays bloated, tender, and painful nearly all the time. Even if I manage to empty my bowels, it does not relieve the pain. Sometimes, I can be painless even after not emptying my bowels for three days or more, so it does not seem to correlate with the amount of "material" the intestines carry.

I cleaned up my eating habits six months ago, but it did not help, so I visited my general practitioner. I had a colonoscopy and blood work done, and it did not show any intolerance. So my general practitioner says I can rule out IBD and intolerance, but I have no idea what to do now. I tried to link it to psychosomatic reasons. Still, it does not seem to correlate either because I usually get a worse mood after experiencing this discomfort. There are some safe foods I know that do not cause this, but it is hard to find more of them because the pain usually lasts for days, during which time it is impossible to tell whether the food I eat is safe or not. I do not know what to do or whom to visit because it is a finished thing for my general practitioner since we did not find any problem in the colonoscopy or blood work, but I am suffering all the same. Kindly help.

Answered by Dr. Arpit Varshney

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. I want to tell you that your symptoms fit into the diagnosis of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Your frequent mood swings also correlate well with IBS, as the gut-brain axis plays a significant role. I would suggest treatment for IBS, and I am sure you will feel much better after that.

The treatment includes antibiotics, probiotics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and anticholinergic drugs. The treatment usually continues for three months, and the medicines will be tapered off gradually over six months. The treatment has to be individualized as per every patient, so you can visit your general practitioner or follow up with me for suggestions.

I hope you get well soon. Kindly revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Arpit Varshney
Dr. Arpit Varshney

General Medicine

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