Health anxiety + Change in diet = New symptoms?

[bulan]

An amusing side-effect of my anxiety is that I'm becoming a 'health nut.'

That means, whatever cancer I happen to fear at the moment (pancreatic, melanoma, colon, etc.), I research foods to avoid and other foods known to fight that specific cancer and then I make those changes to my diet.

What does this look like?

Among many other things, it looks like heaps of high-fibre cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, bok choy, etc.). And, happily, they are also known to cause bloating, gas, and other forms of discomfort in some people.

So now I'm wondering if the pressure and pain I feel throughout my abdomen (mostly on the left side) is a result of these diet changes. I'll be asking my doctor about it tomorrow.

The symptoms I feel now include sharp pain in my lower left abdomen (next to my belly button), and pain in my lower back, also on the left side. Both are painful to the touch... I'm also dealing with constipation and bloating. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Meanwhile, has anyone else made significant diet changes, only to have new and unsettling symptoms appear?

[Fizzkins]

I get alot of those symptoms also! did your dr say anything about the pressure and pain on the left hand side (it often stops me from sleeping normally lol) hope he was able to give you some answers - mine just looked blank at me lol

[bulan]

Hi Fizzkins,

My doctor didn't offer any suggestion about what might be causing my symptoms.

But he ordered "a lot of blood work" (his words) and a urine test. He also referred me to a GI specialist for a colonoscopy and endoscopy.

I'm so tired of worrying about this constant pain and discomfort, that I actually can't wait to get the scopes done.

My blood and urine tests came back fine, which is good. But those don't reveal all the types of problems that a scope might find. So, I'm looking forward to these tests.

Did your doctor order tests for you?