Stomach Issues & Nausea / Question
Published: October 29, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am a 19 year old girl and I have been having frequent stomach problems for the last 3 years. It all started with heartburn almost every night and now I have irregular bowel movements, from not being constipated to being constipated, and a tender touch to the stomach. I have visited with my doctor frequently about these problems, but all he has found wrong with me is internal hemorrhoids. I have changed my diet to a high fiber one with no red meat, but I am still having problems with heartburn, pain, etc? I'm so very scared that I have some form of stomach or colon cancer, but my doctor's not worried about it being cancer so much as I am. Help. I'm scared to death and these problems won't go away.
Signed: Doctor Not Concerned About Stomach Problems
Dear Doctor Not Concerned About Stomach Problems,
TeenHealthFX hears how concerned you are; it can be frustrating not to have clear-cut answers to your medical problems. You are smart to have gone to your doctor to try to find out what the root of the problem is.
Stomach and other digestive disorders can be the result of many different things and although TeenHealthFX thinks cancer is unlikely, it would be a good idea to get checked out again. The type of doctor who deals with digestive problems is called a gastroenterologist. If you would like to meet with a doctor at the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health in Morristown, New Jersey, you can call 973.971.6475 for an appointment. If you don not live in the area, try calling your local teen health center for an appointment.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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