Constant pain in left side of abdomen for weeks...
Posted , 13 users are following.
I've been having pain on my left hand side of my abdomen below my ribs for 7 weeks now, ive had blood, urine, stool tests that have all come back clear. An ultrasound has also not detected anything. The pain is there 24/7, it does not go and return... it is constant. I feel sick a lot, have been sick a few times, pain has recently spread to my pelvic area. Currently waiting a ct scan. Any advice would be great. X
0 likes, 25 replies
Aubreymae leanne2402
Posted
Well, please be patient. The symptoms often reflect symptoms of quite a few things. Diverticulosis, crones, colitis, stones, hernia, nerve impingement etc.
Try to keep a good record of your episodes and if anything makes it better or worse.
It most likely isn't one of the awful choices listed, just be vigilant.
leanne2402 Aubreymae
Posted
pippa58442 leanne2402
Posted
I had constant, non stop generalised stomach pain in 2015 for three and a half monrhs. The pain varied in intensity but never disappeared. I had on off nausea although I was never sick. I had constipation and then loose, urgent stools. All my tests were negative and in the end I was diagnosed with IBS. IBS patients often feel their pain on their left side. After diagnosis, my bowel habits settled down and so did my pain. I now have long periods of remission. Stress triggered my IBS.
leanne2402 pippa58442
Posted
Hi Pippa.
Bowel movements are the same as always, the pain is in the same area 24/7... eating makes it worse but only because if my stomach is full it feels like it's pressing on something, not in my actual stomach. I've had a pelvic ultrasound too. IBS was mentioned and tablets given but no improvement, i also dont have bloating, constipation/ diarreah or it getting worse with certain foods. I have the pain wether i eat or not, drink water or wine or eat spicy or bland. I have also been given gastro tablets for stomach acid .... but I really feel it's not digestive. However I think I will keep a food diary just incase. X
pippa58442 leanne2402
Posted
A gastroenterologist would help though to rule digestive problems in or out. IBS patients don't always have problems with food; food causes me no problems. When my pain started, I didn't assocoate it with digestive complaints either. It was there whether I ate or not. My first IBS medication, Mebeverine, made me a lot worse, but Buscopan made me a lot better.
Nausea and vomiting would suggest that the stomach is irritated with something and is digestive related. Not everyone with IBS gets bloating. IBS varies a lot from person to person. However, bowel habit change is a key symptom and if you don't have this, it may be something else. On the other hand, maybe you are having very subtle bowel habit changes that are too slight to notice. There is such a thing as atypical IBS which means you have IBS but your symptoms are not typical of the condition.
Another possibility is to have a celiac blood test. I requested this test because no one could find out what was wrong with me and I was trying to give my doctors more to work on. I tested negative for celiac. Were you ever tested for h pylori or gastrits? The more you are tested for the better.
leanne2402 pippa58442
Posted
You seem very knowledgeable, I have never been ill in my life (apart from the odd cold etc) so don't know much about illnesses. Understandably you've done a lot of research since being diagnosed. I've been tested for coeliac disease and it came back negative. I had mebeverine too but this made no difference at all, good or bad. I've also got pain in my mid back - also a constant pain. I've had so many different suggestions from various people, I just want and answer... and when you Google your symptoms you end up with 4 cancers, a life long illness and needing to see a dr urgently! Haha
pippa58442 leanne2402
Posted
I also had back pain but lower down. I found out later, this is related to IBS. With me, this pain was intermittent. However, I do have a lower back injury which flares up now and again. Maybe ask for an endoscopy and colonoscopy to see if that turns up anything.
leanne2402 pippa58442
Posted
Luckily I'm not an anxious or stressy person or I could be in more pain due to this. I'm hoping a ct scan will show up something before I have to venture down the endoscopy or colonoscopy route, ive never had any kind of invasive tests so am hoping I won't need to bit obviously will if needs be.
Thankyou for all your advise, defo a new insight into what you read about IBS online.
pippa58442 leanne2402
Posted
It's always useful to be as informed as possible for yourself as well as helping others because getting a diagnosis can be so difficult. I really hope you can get answers soon before you need invasive tests. Things like kidney stones would show up on ultrasounds.
val40792 leanne2402
Posted
When you say you have a pain, do you really mean, discomfort and annoying interference? Not saying you don't have pain, but pain is really a severe word and some people call it that, although it's a really interfering and nasty experience with their everyday life that doesn't let you do things you would usually expect to be able to do.
leanne2402 val40792
Posted
It's definitley pain, I have a very high pain threshold but this one's got me! Not only in my abdomen but in my back too...I can't go running anymore and have had to stop playing netball. I have to carry on with everyday stuff as have no choice, as a single working mom I can't just stop - I'm just looking for any possibilities.
josephine90941 leanne2402
Posted
Other than a kidney stone or Chostconditris, I can't think of what it could be. Try not to worry to much and wait for the results of CT scan.
leanne2402 josephine90941
Posted
Jojoann leanne2402
Posted
I hope you get some answers soon. I can't imagine having that kind of pain 24/7! Have you ever had an endoscopy/colonoscopy? The ct scan should be helpful, hope they can schedule you soon!
leanne2402 Jojoann
Posted
I've never had either, ive never been ill apart from the odd cold etc. I'm a reasonably fit 34year old so never had any invasive tests etc..... hoping not to if I'm honest. I'm just gutted I've had to stop running and netball. .. as you say, hopefully I'll get a ct scan soon. X