Reference no: EM133521770

Assignment:

Patient complains of left-lower abdomen pain for the last 6 months associated with immediate and frequent urges to have a BM. She states she usually has three or four loose BMs a day. Her symptoms are usually worse when she eats fried foods or dairy. No blood in stool. No recent travel outside of the United States, and no cramping. She reports she recently broke up with her boyfriend of 6 years and has been under a lot of stress at work. She denies any unusual weight gain or loss. No fever. She denies trying any medications to ameliorate the symptoms.

Exam reveals a thin, Caucasian female with mild diffuse tenderness in the lower abdomen, moderate in the left-lower quadrant. No hepatosplenomegaly. Bowel sounds are hyperactive in all four quadrants. DRE is WNL.

1. Provide the most likely diagnosis based on the HPI and PE. In addition, provide your interpretation of the cues found in the assessment.
2. List possible differential diagnoses and justify your rationale.
3. Develop therapeutic plan options based on quality, evidence-based clinical guidelines. Plan must include cost-effective and least-invasive techniques, counseling and patient education, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, and additional diagnostic testing as needed.