OpenHealth Q&A

Seeking Answers for Ongoing Health Struggles

**Overview of My Condition** I’m a 23-year-old male, standing at 170 cm and weighing 46 kg. I would greatly appreciate it if you could take the time to read my situation. Thank you. For quite a while now, I have been grappling with mental health issues, particularly anxiety and depression, as well as severe constipation. My appetite has diminished significantly, and I find myself having only one to two bowel movements daily. Oddly enough, the urge tends to trigger in my anus rather than in my stomach. When I attempt to relieve myself, I frequently stop mid-way, feeling as though there is more left inside. Pushing results in nothing but thin, pencil-like stools, and if I don’t heed the initial urge, I become increasingly constipated and left waiting for another signal. The consistency of my stools often varies, sometimes appearing mushy and undigested, flecked with white spots, and occasionally containing food remnants. Although I usually experience either hard or loose stools, my only bouts of diarrhea occur after consuming food from restaurants, which I have since ceased to do. The color of my stools shifts from yellowish-brown to dark brown, and there have been alarming instances of bright red blood as well as dark and light grey stools. Four years ago, I weighed approximately 60 kg, but since then, I've dropped significantly, now fluctuating between 45 kg and 48 kg. I seem unable to gain weight or build muscle and I’m habitually fatigued, feeling weak and drained of energy. **Frustration with Medical Professionals** What compounds my distress is the lack of understanding from healthcare providers. Despite my efforts to articulate my issues to numerous doctors, their responses leave much to be desired. The medications they’ve prescribed, including prebiotics and probiotics, have caused unwanted side effects like heart palpitations and sleep disturbances without addressing my core symptoms. Frankly, I am at a loss for how much longer I can endure this. Alongside these gastrointestinal challenges, I endure persistent pain on my right side, particularly in the groin area, which has gone unexplained by any doctor. Repeated blood tests have mostly yielded normal results, with only slightly elevated bilirubin levels noted during liver function tests. I've been found to have both a vitamin and calcium deficiency. An ultrasound last year identified an inguinal hernia and enlarged lymph nodes in my right groin that aligned with my pain, yet a follow-up ultrasound this year yielded no signs of a hernia. Regardless, I still experience constant discomfort in that area, along with pain localized in my right upper quadrant beneath my ribs. **Overview of Symptoms**: Throughout the years, I have faced various troubling symptoms, including: 1. A feeling of constant shortness of breath, akin to suffocation where I struggle to breathe deeply like others do. 2. Food hardly seems to digest properly, leading to discomfort after meals. Strangely, I feel better when I don’t eat for extended periods, only to feel dizzy when I do. Guilt follows whenever I consume food, as it feels stationary in my upper left abdomen rather than digesting properly. My appetite has been virtually nonexistent for years. 3. My right nostril is persistently blocked, creating discomfort and occasionally leading to a runny nose. I tend to feel more breathless on that side. 4. Consuming anything spicy or salty often results in throat soreness, with a sensation of something lodged in my throat during swallowing. 5. Burping has become a challenge, as the burps seem to get trapped in my throat. 6. When urinating, I struggle to feel fully relieved, similar to my bowel issues, needing to exert slight pressure and experiencing a burning sensation in my bladder and right lower back. These issues have begun to interfere with my engineering studies. My parents dismiss my predicament, suggesting sleep is the cure-all without offering any support or arranging a consultation with a gastroenterologist. I feel overwhelmed and frustrated, helpless against my gastrointestinal complications. Doctors often prescribe medications without conducting comprehensive tests and respond dismissively when I relay my concerns. I’m left wondering how they can claim I’m fine when I am clearly enduring substantial suffering. Am I mistaken for seeking help? After detailing my experiences, I seek guidance on what to suggest to my physician that may have been overlooked. Could this be indicative of IBS, IBD, gastritis, gastroparesis, or another condition? The healthcare process here seems archaic, and many doctors appear uninterested. Additionally, while I was not naturally anxious, the weight of unresolved health concerns combined with the pressures of college life have led me to develop significant anxiety. This field is my passion, and I have devoted years to educate myself in it. I fear that the current state of my health jeopardizes my ability to pursue my dreams.

Answers (1)

8/5/2025, 9:50:51 PM

OpenHealth AI

I'm really sorry to hear about the multitude of health challenges you're facing. It's clear that your symptoms are having a significant impact on your daily life and studies, and I want to help you find a way forward.

Main Points:

1. Your symptoms and ongoing issues may indicate a combination of gastrointestinal disorders, malnutrition, and anxiety.
2. It's essential to clearly communicate your symptoms and concerns with healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive evaluation and appropriate care.
3. There are specific next steps you can take to advocate for better medical attention and manage your symptoms.

Explanation: Your description of bowel habits, pain, and other gastrointestinal symptoms suggests possible conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), among others. Additionally, your weight loss and malnutrition are concerning and can contribute to fatigue and anxiety. The challenges you're facing with doctors can often be frustrating, especially when symptoms persist without clear explanations. It’s vital to ensure that all aspects of your symptoms are considered when discussing your health history with new providers.

Next Steps:

1. Prepare for Your Next Appointment:

   • Create a detailed journal of your symptoms, including frequency, intensity, and circumstances (e.g., what you eat, stress levels). Bring this to your doctor.
   • Record your dietary habits, bowel movements, and any significant lifestyle stressors or changes.

2. Discuss Comprehensive Testing:

   • Consider asking for additional testing to rule out conditions like celiac disease, infections, or food intolerances. Suggest tests such as a stool analysis or endoscopy if your provider is open to it.
   • Discuss the need for vitamin and mineral level testing due to your deficiencies.

3. Seek Referral to a Gastroenterologist:

   • Given your ongoing symptoms, request a referral to a specialist who can perform in-depth assessments and potentially conduct diagnostic procedures like endoscopy or colonoscopy.

4. Focus on Nutrition and Hydration:

   • Aim to gradually increase your caloric intake with nutrient-dense foods, such as smoothies or small, frequent meals. Keeping a food diary may help identify any potential food triggers.
   • Stay hydrated, as constipation can be exacerbated by dehydration.

5. Address Anxiety and Mental Health:

   • Consider consulting with a mental health professional who can provide strategies for managing anxiety, especially as these feelings can complicate physical symptoms. Therapy can be very beneficial in sharing coping techniques for stress related to health issues.

6. Engage Support Systems:

   • Communicate your needs to those around you, including family and friends, to seek their understanding and support in your health journey.

Making sure you advocate for yourself in interactions with healthcare providers is crucial. You deserve thorough care that addresses all facets of your health. Don't hesitate to reiterate the impact these conditions have on your quality of life. Keep pushing for answers, and lean on supportive friends or resources to help you navigate this challenging time. It's okay to seek help and ask for it until your concerns are taken seriously.