Ongoing lower left abdo pain....any ideas????

[Lagoonablue]

Name change but am an old timer on here.

Please be aware I also have bad HA so be gentle.

I am 54 And Coeliac. Diagnosed only 5 years ago. I am used to belly aches but I stick to the diet and am fine normally. Earlier this I got niggly lower left abdo pain and went to GP. Did full bloods which were fine, OV cancer blood test and got a pelvic US in Sept. all fine. Got an upper ab US too which was also fine.

Pain feels like a cramp but low, then seems a bit higher occasionally. It went but came back 2 weeks ago and have since had it every day. GP now thinks bowel related but I have no other issues. BMs regular and fine, no blood, no weight loss. Had more bloods and everything fine. No inflammation, Anaemia etc. I even did a home DIY poo test and no blood in that.

I am going back in Jan to ask for a colonoscopy but all the usual things don’t sound like what I have. IBS is crampy, diverticulitis gives you loose stools etc. GP thinks possibly IBS....but pain every day????? Plus scarier things would produce other symptoms surely?

Maybe it’s related to Coeliacs? Or muscular maybe. Can women get hernias? There’s no lump though.

Any words of wisdom? I am freaking out a little bit if I am honest.

Kidney stones?

I did a urine test which was also fine.

Thanks for answering. It might be an issue but I don’t know how long they can cause problems before they pass through.

Tbh, this niggly pain all day every day is getting me down.

I will look up symptoms, nut I though I would get a fever if was kidney stones.

Sorry for typos.

They don't always pass on their own. I would go get that checked asap, not to scare you but I know someone who had limbs amputated because of an infection due to kidney stones.

I never had a fever with kidney stones. Urine just showed microscopic blood and a very slight raised white blood count

Yikes.
Urine Test was fine though and I have no infection.

It’s a bit of a mystery.

I at least have a GP appointment in the NYso feel I am not just putting things off. I will go to walk on if I develop a fever.

Thanks for your replies.

Sounds like diverticulosis, which commonly presents with lower left-sided abdo pain, and not necessarily with loose stools. As we age, diverticulae tend to become more common, e.g. 80% of 80 years olds will have them, but mostly they give no trouble. As you are Coeliac, maybe there is a greater tendency? I don't know, but a colonoscopy would certainly rule it in or out.

Thanks. The GP did mention that.

I have exactly the same symptoms at the moment OP. Have had left lower abdo pain for over a week - sometimes it feels like it is in the groin, other times towards the hip and sometimes more ovary-related. With me, it’s the fifth time in 10 years and each time has lasted at least a couple of months. It’s pretty constant.

I went to the doctors when I had it the first time (after three months of suffering - I also have HA and am scared of doctors) and went for an ovarian, bladder and kidney scan but all was okay. I was convinced they would see something on my ovary. Shortly after that, it went away. Last time I had it before now was summer 2017 and again, it lasted 3 months.

I have done lots of googling (I know, not good!) and one thing I have come across is referred pain from a prolapsed disc. I do suffer from prolapsed discs as well, so this may be a possibility.

In the interim, I’ve also had kidney stones on the left side, but honestly that pain was nothing like this - it was far more painful. I have also thought about diverticulitis, but like you thought there would be other symptoms.

Thanks for reply. It’s a mystery! Pushing for a colonoscopy next. I feel fine apart from this. Ugh.

@Lagoonablue hey! Know this was posted ages ago but just wondered if you got to the bottom of the issue? I’ve been suffering with lower left sided pain for a long time now!

No. Never got to bottom of it! Had lots of tests. Think it might be IBS. Still get it intermittently.

Thanks so much for responding. I’m having the same issue. Only thing that’s been suggested to me is also IBS. Yet I can’t pinpoint food triggers or it necessarily being related to toilet habits. Started in January 2021 so almost 2 years ago. Just trying to reassure myself that if it was something more worrying I’d know about it 2 years later! Hope you’re doing okay.

@Lagoonablue Thanks so much for responding. I’m having the same issue. Only thing that’s been suggested to me is also IBS. Yet I can’t pinpoint food triggers or it necessarily being related to toilet habits. Started in January 2021 so almost 2 years ago. Just trying to reassure myself that if it was something more worrying I’d know about it 2 years later! Hope you’re doing okay- did you have any scans? I’ve have pelvic and abdominal and a colonoscopy. Wondering whether to push for a CT/ MRI or something!

MRI is a huge thing tbh. If you are otherwise ok it is sometimes easier to put it down to ‘one of those things’. I just accept that it’s IBS or similar.

if it were serious it might have worsened or have shown more symptoms by now? I have HA and so try not to worry.

it could be referred pain from a muscular problem. That was suggested to me too.