Hi, I am an 18 year old woman and woke up with what I thought was stomach pain today. It seems I have pin pointed it out to be lower left abdomen. I am in college and under a lot of stress. I rarely get a good night of sleep and may have small anxiety problems. I have been having tight chest pain also symptoms of acid reflux, heartburn, or an ulcer possibly. I am on birth control. Getting my period this week but doesn't feel like cramps. I have looked up IBS and have those symptoms but the pain persists even after defacation. Any; idea on how to treat? Or what it could be? Thank you

There are so many possibilities, and a manual pelvic exam is the first thing that would probably be done, to feel your abdomen inside and out while you report how it feels. 'Lower left' also isn't very specific, since the ovaries are there but also the last bend in the bowel, the femoral vein and artery, muscles going at an angle toward your thigh and pubis, and of course many major nerves. Sometimes before your period the water retention is enough to cause pain as the uterus fills, the bowel fills, or muscles are strained. You could be getting fibroids or have a cyst. You could have middleschmertz even if it isn't the middle of your cycle. Women often have a tough time getting abdomenal pain diagnosed. I had it for 30+ years! Turned out to be my sacral nerve, originating in my lower back with no pain there, but I think that was rare. But that's the trouble with pain - it can originate elsewhere.

Don't you have a college infirmary and health coverage there? You need that exam.

As for heartburn, start with 750 mg Tums type antacids (they are all calcium carbonate), and if you need too many in a day, every day, try a longer lasting one, and finally a prescription. If you can avoid taking them by standing up and stretching and bending until you burp, that's better. And drink enough fluids.

Stress and lack of sleep of course make every ailment feel worse (or make it worse). I never got any more work done by staying up late when I could rush right through it when rested.