:confused: Hello hope someone can help.

Have had lower left constant abdominal pain for 3 months now. Bowel movements seem fine, but I can no longer exercise as the pain gets worse and seems to spread upwards. I also ache around my middle and groin area. It is really getting me down now. Does anyone out there have any ideas as to what could be causing the symptons. I would very much appreciate any of your thoughts.

Hi

I have experience of abdominal pain and from what i have experienced so far is that it can be a long haul to find out what is causing the problem!!!

I Have been in chronic pain since last august, so bad that i have been unable to work since then and at times i am confined to bed. I am in the process if having tests done, already had loads done so i'm still waiting.

Unfortunately abdominal pain can be caused by many things and each one has to be ruled out and this is a lenghty process.

Probably your first step would to be to get an ultrasound done of your abdomen and then take it from there.

Good luck, i know how frustrating it can be.

Lower left pain is usually related to diverticulus or ulcerative colitis or something similar. Left sided pain, related to the digestive tract, is usually something with the large bowel.

However, as Sharon says, it is difficult to find the cause of pain and for most of us takes a long time. A VERY long time. A good first step is an ultrasound, I will second that :). It is probably one of the LEAST invasive procedures and can detect most abnormalties (usually).

You best bet is to find a good Gastroenterologist and get some diagnostic tests done. Or, sometimes a good GP will do the same thing. Basically, you just need a good doc you are comfortable with.

It is also possible though that what you are experiencing is more in the abdominal muscles as you say your bowel habits are not affected, and it travels upward with exercise and you feel an ache in the groin area.

Good Luck, and sorry I wasn't much help.

I have diverticulosis and when it flares up, the pain is always is in my left lower side. But, when I am not in a flare up and all seems to be going well, I don't have pain there. Have you thought of a hernia?

Lori

I have just had ultrasound and although I have not offcially seen the results the doctor when asked said there was nothing showing...

My GP says the pain is not caused from a hernia as there is no sign of a lump when coughing etc...

Whilst the pain is constantly an inch or so left side and below of my belly button I can sometimes have pain aswell higher up and in my sides and occasionally in my back.

Isn't diverticulitis a disease that mainly affects older people? I am 35 yrs old...

Before christamas I was fine and sportingly active. Now I can only watch life go by. It is really frustrating.

Could the pain be from an ulcer or would the symptons be totally different?

Thank you for all your thoughts...

>Isn't diverticulitis a disease that mainly affects older people? I am 35 yrs old...<

I think this is a common misconception. It may be prone to an older age group, but anyone, young or old, can develop this.

>I have just had ultrasound and although I have not offcially seen the results the doctor when asked said there was nothing showing...<

Doctors are only human. His idea of normal or "nothing" may indeed be off. It would not hurt to get copies of your tests, or even seek a second opinion. If nothing shows on an ultrasound, there is more complete testing that can be done, but are none too comfortable. This is assuming your problem lies somewhere in your digestive system. To me, it still seems as if you have more of a muscular problem, just from your list of symptoms, and the fact you say that your bowel movements seem to be fine.

>Could the pain be from an ulcer or would the symptons be totally different?<

Hopefully someone else will chip in here and help you out, as I am not too familiar with these. If you are concerned about an ulcer though, you should contact a doctor as left untreated an ulcer can cause bleeding in the digestive system or make a hole in the wall of the stomach or duodenum, making someone very sick. The tests are pretty simple, usually an endoscopy or an upper GI series. Symptoms include: loss of appetite; sudden, sharp stomach pains; nausea; frequent burping; weight loss; vomiting (if blood is in the vomit or the vomit looks like coffee grounds, which only happens with severe ulcers, call a doctor right away); bloody or blackish bowel movements (this could indicate a serious problem, so call a doctor right away if you notice this).

lol, I spend too much time reading. Although, alot of doctors I have seen have pushed me aside, and dismissed me, so I have tried to make myself as informed as possible, so I can ask the right questions ;). And when I don't know something, I research it to make myself informed. As do alot of ppl on here. Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands.

Good Luck.

I have diverticulitis and it started in my early thirties. From what you describe it sounds the same as what I experience, pain wise anyway. When it gets bad enough I will also get pain through the back. I believe this is due to colon spasms because it will sometimes hurt, although to a lessor degree on the right side where I have no diverticuli (not sure if this is the exact correct term). You did say you have no change in bowel habits? That is not the case with me or anyone else that I know who has diverticulitis. There is generally constipation associated with a flair up. Sometimes alternating between that and diarrhea.

Or.........

It could be something like IBS


good luck anyway

The only thing I have noticed in my Bm's is a bit of mucous. (I do not Know if this is normal or not). No lose stools or bad constipation.

Would the ultrasound have picked up any growths in the abdominal cavity? And would a problem there cause these symptoms.

The symptons can worsen if I overeat, but as said before they are there all the time anyway.

Could a partial blockage cause these symptoms or would I be physically sick? I get nausious from time to time, but have never been sick....

I am going to see a surgeon on Thursday, what do you think might happen?

Hi AK

You dont need to be sick to be suffering from a blockage, i have a constant blockage in small bowel but because it is not strangulated or gangrene i am waiting for an op, so they are not rushing to get my prob sorted.

The symptoms of a blockage happens in stages as the blockage progeresses. The first sign is usually pain around or on either side of the naval area ( just underneath it ) hyperactive gurggling noises from the abdomen. Eating makes it worse as the small bowel cant work effectively to absorb and distribute the nutrients.

If the blockage becomes worse then the symptoms get worse and usually need hospital care. This has happened to me twice. Vomitting starts as the large bowel also stops working, start to get feverish, and the pain is horrendous also at high risk of dehydration. If any of these are present or it happens in stages then hospital is needed.

Personally i dont think it is a blockage, but im no medical expert, only you know your body and what you are experiencing. Go and see a gastro doc and tell him all you concerns. By the way ask for an x ray as this would show up an obstruction in your bowel an ultrasound wouldnt.

Thanks Sharon.

Would you still have bm's with this kind of blockage? And would not eating relieve symptoms?

Eating does make me feel more uncomfortable and bloated. I have also noticed gurgling noises occasionally aswell.

I do not know whether it could be this, but this seems to be the closest problem that relate to my symptoms. I personally do not think my symptoms are due to a muscle strain as I would have thought that I would hurt if I moved or stretched a certain way for a muscle problem not constant pain/bloatedness/fullness on my left hand side.

Thanks

Eating would make the blockage worse as you are putting more stress and pressure on the small bowel to work properly. When my small bowel is obstructed or blocked i have to be nil by mouth til it corrects itself. Which means ony drinking small sips of water.

Sometimes when it has been really bad i have had to go into hospital for IV fluids as a person can become dehydrated rapidly.

As for the BMs, a person can still have BMs but not empty as much as they usually would, if the blockage gets worse then the BMs would stop and the pain would get worse. It all depends on what postion the blockage or obstruction is in and how bad it is. The gurggling noises or your bowel being hyperactive. It may not be blocked but you may have what is called dialated loops, usually they correct themself but it it gets worse the loop can twist.

I would suggest that you ask for an xray and a gastrograph follow through xray. These would pick up any obstructions or blockages.

Good luck, and keep everyone informed of how you get on.

I have been xrayed today and consultant says my problem is chronic constipation.

This has suprised me as i have regular bm's, but he states that there are hard motions showing on the right side colon where they should be liquid.

has anyone any experience of this? and do their symptoms match mine?

Also would an x ray have showed up any potential tumours etc?

thanks for your help.

AK1971- Your symptoms are exactly as mine are, only my pain is on my RIGHT side. Have the doctors put you on any type of medications for your "chronic constipation"? Has it helped you?

ak1971...my symptoms are the same as yours too. I have BM's every day too, so I never thought I had constipation. I'm curious how your doctor will treat you too and if your pain will go away.

This sort of sounds whats been happening with me. Only its on the right side for me. Sometimes I get a pressure that hurts a bit behind my belly button and to the right and a little lower. Sometimes it doesn't bother me and other times it does. I'm having BMs but they aren't what they usually are. And sometimes its mucusy.