[50F] Experiencing abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel habits

What might be happening

Based on the information you've provided, possible explanations for your symptoms include:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long term.

  • Treatment of IBS typically involves long-term strategies to manage symptoms, including changes in diet, medication, and stress management.

• Gastroenteritis: This is an inflammation of the digestive tract, often caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasites. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

  • Treatment usually involves rest, hydration, and over-the-counter remedies. It's important to replace fluids lost through diarrhea or vomiting.

• Gallstones: These are hard deposits in the gallbladder that can cause abdominal pain. If a gallstone blocks your bile ducts, pressure increases in the gallbladder, causing a gallbladder attack.

  • Treatment may involve medication to dissolve the gallstones or surgery to remove the gallbladder.

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): This is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria, but some are caused by viruses and fungi. UTIs are among the most common infections in humans.

  • Treatment usually involves antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection.

• Anxiety Disorder: Given your history of anxiety and the description of your abdominal pain as a "nervous feeling", it's possible that your symptoms are related to anxiety. Anxiety can cause a wide range of physical symptoms, including stomach discomfort, palpitations, and changes in appetite.

  • Treatment for anxiety disorders can include therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all possible conditions, these are just the most common ones.

What you can do

1. Keep a symptom diary: Note down when your symptoms occur, what you're doing at the time, and what food and drink you've consumed.
2. Stay hydrated: Especially if you're experiencing diarrhea, make sure you're drinking enough fluids to replace what you've lost.
3. Try to eat small, light meals: If you're finding it hard to eat, try having small, light meals throughout the day rather than three large meals.
4. Rest: Make sure you're getting enough rest. Your body needs energy to fight off infections and to recover from bouts of diarrhea.

What you should look out for

Please seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Blood in your stool
• High fever (temperature over 100.4°F)
• Persistent vomiting
• Signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, extreme thirst, little to no urination, and severe weakness

Remember, while I strive to provide accurate information, I'm not a doctor. Please consult with a healthcare provider for a formal diagnosis and treatment.