“Stomach pain?”
I have lately been having a lot of pain on my lower left part of my abdomen. Sometimes the pain is as though there is something hard there and other times it's like something is sucking me in, I don't know how to properly explain it. Then, the past few weeks I have been getting a lot of migraines, particularly on the part above my eyes and the bottom of my head near my neck. I'm not sure whether this is appropriate but the color of my stool also darkened and a few days ago it was nearly black. I don't really want to bother my parents to go to the doctors if this is not worth worrying about, which is why I am asking for advice and possible diagnosis or help from an online doctor such as you.
Female | 16 years old
5 Answers
AbdominalSurgeonAbdominalSurgeon
Hi,
The abdominal symptoms that you describe could reflect a component of constipation, especially if the dark stools are hard or difficult to pass. If that is the case, a trial of Miralax which is available over the counter may help. The dosing that you would take would follow the recommended doses for an adult. If your symptoms persist, a visit with your primary care provider is a very reasonable next step. Fever, vomiting or progressive pain would all be reasons to be seen sooner rather than later.
The abdominal symptoms that you describe could reflect a component of constipation, especially if the dark stools are hard or difficult to pass. If that is the case, a trial of Miralax which is available over the counter may help. The dosing that you would take would follow the recommended doses for an adult. If your symptoms persist, a visit with your primary care provider is a very reasonable next step. Fever, vomiting or progressive pain would all be reasons to be seen sooner rather than later.
Black stool always raises the concern for bleeding from the stomach or other parts of the upper GI tract. You should at least mention the issues to your parents and consider getting a blood test to find out if you are anemic, which would be consistent with possible bleeding from the upper GI tract.
A complete ophthalmologic exam should be performed to determine the cause of your symptoms.
This situation could be serious. May I suggest that you see your family doctor? If you do not have one, you can go to a community clinic or even the Emergency Room of your local hospital.
I need to explain to your parents what is going on and I need to see a gastroenterologist. I want to make sure that you don’t have ulcerative colitis, your old pal syndrome, Crohn’s disease, a diverticular problem, and a multitude of others. When your stool turns dark like that you want to make sure there’s no blood in it. Do you want to be evaluated by a specialist? Yes, you should see a doctor, the differential is far and wide, and we’re not even talking about your gynecological history as well. So with that in mind, let your parents know what you need to do and where you need to go and that is to a gastroenterologist to get a better evaluation and also blood test urine test stool exams to make sure and find out what it is and more importantly for you what it’s not. Thank you for asking me and I wish you well.
Be well, Brent Reinheimer, MD
Be well, Brent Reinheimer, MD
