If you had lower left abdominal pain....

[Leftylucy85]

What was the cause? I feel I’m losing my mind.

Started about 3 weeks ago, sore enough to interrupt my sleep and make me want to lie in bed all day (have young children so can’t!). Abdomen was really tender to touch too.

Was given busupan & co-codamol, then moved to tramadol. Nothing helped. Sent for internal gynae scan which showed nothing, bloods fine although bilirubin slightly elevated they weren’t concerned with that. Also have pain left should blade area (and gallstones if relevant).

Eventually another GP took pity on me and went down the strong antibiotic route just incase was diviticulitus, even though nothing in bloods. Started them Wednesday evening & pain started easing on Friday, but it’s came back the last 24 hours. Slowly getting back to the pain level it was previously, antibiotics will finish Thursday.

I’m torn between going back to GP and asking for an abdo scan as I’m desperate, or giving it a few more days or misery first.

All the dr’s I’ve seen have said no idea what’s causing it

Wary of asking to see gynae as they were so dismissive a couple of weeks ago, in my dishcharge notes he’s finished off with proable constipation, scan unremarkable.

No kidney damage as far as I’m aware, although I suffered with interstitial cystitis for years as a teen so is possible I guess if infection ever travelled to them.

Only thing is phone call is due right around school run so in the chaos I’m likely to gloss over things.

@Leftylucy85 you really don't have to put up with feeling dismissed. If you don't feel the gynae is taking you seriously you are perfectly entitled to a second opinion. Go to your GP and say you would like to see a different gynae, quickly.

You can even research one you'd like to see. If they can't get you to one quickly you could consider just going to A and E and seeing if you can see someone different there.

Ok I’ve got an appointment tomorrow to see the dr that gave me antibiotics last time - so I’ll write a list down of all symptoms and a time line before I go in, as I tend to get all flustered and don’t give them all the info, which doesn’t help.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I’ll report back!

Docs are always impressed when you present a spreadsheet with times and dates :) Some love it, some... don't. Discard the second type.

Today’s GP started with its obviously ibd/s and constant pain is just the way it goes 🙄

When I mentioned my endometriosis he changed his mind and said could be that on bowel. He’s put me on combined pill and see how next few weeks go before further referrals are made.

Might have lost my mind by then though!

Endo doesn't have to be on the bowel for those symptoms, it could be because blood from the cells elsewhere is getting into the abdominal cavity.

And whether the symptoms respond to the combined pill or not within two weeks is not going to provide a conclusive diagnostic.

Can you insist on the referral now given that it definitely won't come up before two weeks so at least you won't have wasted any time? Either way - whether it responds to the combined pill or not, and fully or partially - you still need to be seen by a consultant.

My DH has excruciating pain around the area where his appendix was (removed 20 years ago).
Apparently it's caused by a trapped nerve near the bottom of his spine according to MRI scan.

The thing is if they did a referral now who would it be too? Then again who do they refer me to in a few weeks?

They’d have to pick gynae or bowels. Gah I don’t know who to push for.

I did actually have an mri 2-3 years ago on my spine as I have suffered from back pain for years- didn’t find anything really. Bulging disks was about it.

@Leftylucy85 you can insist for a referral to both, now, on the basis that two weeks on the combined pill isn't going to give any conclusive info to make that decision.

Basically your GP is hoping the combined pill suppresses the symptoms enough for you to go away for a while.

@Leftylucy85 hi, know this thread is old but I’m having very similar ongoing issues with lower left pain. Did you ever find the cause of your issues? Any answers/ advice would be so welcome! Thanks x