Diagnose me: Sharp pain in lower left abdomen.

[JackThePumpkinKing]

Not pg. Definitey not pg (I was, MC about 10 weeks ago at 4.4). Have since had a BFN.

Have got sharp niggly pain right where I think my ovaries are, maybe slightly to the left. I've had a scan and they couldn't see anything unusual though.

It was coming in waves, but it's been getting worse all day. It's perfectly bearable but seems to be getting worse. If I press on it hard its a really sharp pain that makes me yelp. It's not sending weird shooting pains down south

Have just started AF, just to complicate the issue.
So, any ideas? Am I going to die? DP keeps telling me its a grumbling appendix (he's had appendicitis). I keep telling him to feck right off.

Yelp!

Jack could it be irritable bowel syndrome-related gas/constipation? Though I agree endo is also a possibility.

Hope you feel better soon. And I'm sorry but your BHS direct nearly had me snort tea all over the keyboard. what a wonderful typo.

Just out of curiosity, do you take mefenamic acid for period pains? It's well-known for really exacerbating even mild IBS... the last time I took it, I got cramps so bad I ended up on the floor in a really nice Chinese restaurant, with everyone looking at me.

I'd be tempted to phone your emergency GP rather than NHS direct, who invariably tell you to go to A&E for anything more serious than the common cold.

At ours, they have a GP in the local A&E and give late-night appointments there. Lot quicker than if you just walk in as an emergency and they can shuffle you sideways into the hosp if need be.

Good luck!

It doesn't feel gastro, feels gynae.

I hate these threads. The OP posts something that clearly needs rather urgent medical attention, OP says 'nooo, I'm fine, I just want to go to sleeeep' etc.

I am a sensible type and I will phone. Our A&E is 15 miles away. DP has had a couple of beers so can't drive, and I wouldn't trust myself to.

I'm treating it like labour. If I can't talk anymore I'l go to the hospital

I don't take anything for period pains. They're usually not too bad... have noticed them getting worse over the last year or so though incidentally.

Does endo flare like this and cause this kind of pain? I'm on early level labour type pain now.. just in a very small concentrated area. When I'm sitting down I can't feel it much at all, it's just when I'm upright :(

Hmm that might be muscular then, if it's related to position.

I don't expect it to be much help, but when mine kicked off 10y ago, I ended up being referred to a gynae bod as it felt like massively dragging p pains all the ruddy time. I was thoroughly pummelled and poked and consensus was IBS.

Your colon starts at your appendix, goes up, across your tummy at the level of the base of the ribs and then down the left side. It takes a sharp bend towards the centre near the left hip, and also bends back a bit too. Great place for trapped wind and the like, and isn't a million miles from L ovary.

It actually feels like a really severe version of round ligament pain, like you get in early pregnancy. The left bend that your describing isn't too far from where the pain is. I reckon half way between that and ovary.

Argh.. it's all getting v annoying now. I'm going to have a beer, go to bed and hope to fuck it's improved by morning. I want to take codeine, but wont just in case it's gastro-related.

I had something v v similar early this week. Got really bad. Tuned out it was constipation so don't unserestimae the pain it can cause. Hope you feel better in the am.

I had that a couple of years ago, horrible.
After a shuftiscope up the bum was found to have diverticulitis.

Jack hope you feel better, but either way, please phone GP today to get it checked out anyway.

Ovarian cyst maybe..please get checked out.

Kidney stone? Sounds too low down, but they hurt so much it can be hard to pin-point location of the pain, iyswim. Kidney stones worst pain i've had, worse than labour. Hope you are ok, whatever it is!

Managed to get an appointment this morning so will report back :)

Sounds cyst-y to me. I'm a regular on the cyst front and you can have one that gives zero gyp until period time and then the contractions push on it and it hurts like mad. A transvaginal scan will show it if that's the case.
Good luck jack!

GP says cyst and that its popped. :(
At least it should ease in the next couple of days. Soooo painful though

OP - I was just about to say that it sounds very similar to when I had an infected ovarian cyst whihc then burst. I was in agony but worse was the temperature from the infection. I had a long history of ov cysts and endo, culminating in a hysterectomy two years ago - now I am brilliant! .

if it has burst then you may get an infection - I would have to take strong ABs when this happened. Keep a close watch please.

Jack did the doctor not send you for a scan? It's v important that you find out if the cyst is shrinking, hasn't twisted back in itself, and if the fluid is lying around your organs. I have had v severe infections from mine in the past...pls go to your nearest A&E for a scan

yes, agreed..and i hope she also gave you some decent painkillers too.

I've got proper painkillers. I'm not going to A&E for a scan - GP isn't concerned as I don't have a temp or any other symptoms. If I start to get a temperature I'll get on to the surgery though, don't worry.

and yes, I have codeine now

was going to suggest either cyst or diverticulitis, but I see you're sorted now! May be worth still phoning NHS direct - I'm surprised doc has just left you without a scan etc. wishing you a speedy recovery!

Hmmm I will definitely keep an eye on it. DS is off to the GPs at the weekend, so if I do need to go to hospital (and I will go if I get a temp or the pain gets worse) then it shouldn't be a problem.

lady - yes, I will give them a call thank you.

thanks donnie too, I will keep a close watch.

I have an ovarian cyst which fills and ruptures every couple of months. It sounds exactly like this. Ask to be referred to a gynae though, in case it's not a one off.

Phew.. finally starting to feel a bit more human. Pain is easing and no sign of a temp so hopefully I won't get an infection.

Codeine makes me feel like a fucking space cadet though!