LRQ abdominal Pain comes and goes.. after a year is progressed
I'm a 34-year-old woman, and I'm trying to figure out if anyone has had a similar experience.
For about a year, I've had intermittent lower right abdominal discomfort. In the beginning it would mostly happen if I ate too much, then it would pass and I'd feel normal again. Over the past few weeks, it seems like it's become more noticeable.
The discomfort is usually dull rather than severe. It seems to come and go instead of being constant. Sometimes I wake up feeling completely fine, but then the discomfort starts when I need to have a bowel movement. It often eases up afterward, although I can still have mild spasms or lingering discomfort.
I've also had periods of constipation where fiber seems to help. Eat boring meals with a lot of broth and protein and easy carbs... hard for me to pass stool My stools are generally formed, although sometimes they're smaller than normal. I haven't noticed blood in my stool or black stools.
One thing I've wondered is whether smoking cigarettes made everything worse. I had been smoking more regularly for a while, and it seems like my stomach problems became more noticeable around that time.
I'm planning to see my primary care doctor, but in the meantime I'm curious:
- Has anyone had IBS or constipation start this way?
- Did your symptoms gradually progress over a year?
- Did quitting smoking, changing your diet, or treating constipation make a significant difference?
I'm looking for personal experiences, not a diagnosis. Thanks!