Left sided abdominal pain - colon?

[YourFunMember]

I had what is assumed was a viral tummy bug 6 weeks ago, diarrhoea mostly that lasted weeks.

I’ve been left with left sided pain like a stitch. Sometimes it’s really crampy like if I need a poo, other times it’s just an awareness. It doesn’t always improve after a bowel movement.

im suffering with gas, I can hear and feel it moving around, but not all day long and the discomfort has been there for weeks now (and is all day long!)

has anyone else had something like this after a bug?

I’ve seen a gastro and he’s referring me for more testing but didn’t want to commit to what it could be. My instinct tells me it’s just altered gut bacteria and it’ll settle in time but then My anxiety crops up and tells me it’s cancer and I’m gonna end up being told I’m riddled with it after scans.

Inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis or Chrohns are a possibility if this has gone on for weeks. Testing will find out more and check for the big worries like cancer - don't imagine it's definitely that, there are a range of possibilities plus then they can work out treatments. Have you been stressed in the run up to this starting?

The specialists are generally really good so it's reassuring that you're being referred for more investigations.

I’ve had the stool tests for what you’ve suggested and they’re negative thankfully.

I'm not dismissing your suffering at all, because I know how miserable it is having a history of digestive problems, and I hate to utter the words "have you tried..?" but I'm going to...have you tried peppermint tea / peppermint oil capsules?

Peppermint is a brilliant remedy for bowel pain and although has been used for generations, studies have show it works directly on the colon.

The bowel can take time to recover after a nasty bug, I would eat simply but to nourish your body - avoid foods which cause an exacerbation in symptoms and, if you can, try to incorporate easy-to-digest probiotic foods. Eg - kimchi & sauerkraut might be too much for your bowel, but live yoghurts & cheeses OK.

Keep a food & symptom diary - will help you see if anything you're eating is triggering symptoms

Thank you. I was on peppermint tea at first but then read peppermint oil is the best thing to use but haven’t got into a routine with it, only taken it once! But that’s a good idea, to try a routine dose and see what happens.

I’ve been keeping a food and bowel reaction diary but honestly not found much link, other than if I cut out fibre from vegetables I get loose stool again. Anxiety increases the frequency of stool but not necessarily colour / solidity. So I’ve just been eating well, for the most part. I’m wondering if I should try probiotics or just let my body sort itself out, but I am nervous about the testing finding something nasty.

Could be diverticular/diverticulitis

This was my first thought . I had similar pain and doctors suspected diverticulitis and it went of its own accord

Yes they did suggest it could be that, so I’m having a CT scan to see. But it doesn’t really match with location / pain description so I’m not convinced.

Hi..Just read your post, similar to another person with an ongoing problem with upset stomach, diarrhoea. Have you been anywhere or ate something that don't agree with your stomach? Eat bland food, but still add some veg and fruit.. maybe banana. I would avoid Cheese.. probiotics supplements good. I used Optibac in the past. Easy to find in the supermarkets, Kefir and live yoghurt. Not sure about your age, but I have read about stress poo, IBS poo in Perimenopause and Menopause, aches and pains on the left side. Check with your GP, doctor. x

@YourFunMember when is your CT scan? I think that's what I'll be having soon as I've also got left sided discomfort.

I’ve had it, just waiting for results. Good luck!

Ahh good look for your results! My appointment isn't until next week.

Let me know how it goes!

So my results were clear

doctor mentioned splenic flexure syndrome as a possibility, doesn’t think a colonoscopy is required at this stage.

can SFS cause discomfort down the descending colon too? I forgot to ask and won’t be seeing him again now annoyingly.

My CT scan was also reassuringly "normal" and GI doctor also said colonoscopy wasn't really required particularly as my stool tests (calprotectin and occult) were normal too.

However, I've been booked in to have a colonoscopy via the GP (my GI appointment was private) so I think I will likely have that done still.

Do you feel reassured from the clear scan? @@YourFunMember

Ah fab news. Interesting my private GI said the same, but GP offered colonoscopy. I’ve refused for now due to risks and how invasive it is (and don’t fancy the prep), and feel like if the GI feels not necessary then how does the GP know better?!

im obviously thrilled I don’t have a fuck off great tumour taking up my abdomen but no concrete diagnosis makes me a bit nervous.

might repeat my occult for reassurance.

did your GP give you an idea of waiting times?

@YourFunMember sounds like we've had really similar experiences!! I totally get how you feel, with being nervous by not having a concrete diagnosis. It might be worth repeating the occult test if you feel it would help ease your worries a bit more. They're so easy and cheap to get from Boots.

I've already had the call to book in the colonoscopy - I think it was marked as urgent as I saw an out of hours doctor when I was in a really bad mental state with it all, and they fast tracked it for me. This was before I saw the private GI who said to me if my stool tests came back positive then they'd recommend a colonoscopy. But then as the results were negative he didn't see the need, as the CT scan didn't show up anything at all.

The prep and invasiveness of the procedure scares me a lot, but I think I might have to go ahead with it anyway... But I feel very resistant!

@Penguinwaddler that was kind of them, I have found doctors to be really sympathetic to my anxiety about health issues.

something is really making me feel like a colonoscopy isn’t the right thing for me (the GI suggested it along with the CT at first appointment but I refused at that time), I don’t know why but I’m going with it.

you sound very similar to me! I think if my GI had said to do it this time around I would have done but the fact he changed his mind was reassuring. But a second FIT test would make me feel better as your risk of colon cancer is 1 in 1000 with two negative tests.

please remind me of your symptoms and timeline? Interesting if we have the same thing!

@YourFunMember sorry late reply!

I'm glad that you are feeling more reassured, and that doctors were sympathetic. GIs are the experts so it's absolutely reassuring that yours said no need for the colonoscopy.

My symptoms started a few months ago - I felt really sick for a full day then began to notice a strange discomfort in my left side, sort of diagonally to the left of my bellybutton. It didn't hurt at all, just felt odd. I thought it was a cyst as it coincided with ovulation but I had a transvaginal ultrasound which didn't show anything. All blood tests were normal too.

But the weird feeling never really went away and my anxiety got out of control and I attributed every little "symptom" to it being something bad! It just feels twingy at times but mostly just a dull discomfort.

I do feel a lot better after the CT scan, clear tests, seeing the GI etc. And I think the weird feeling I've got is gradually going away (I think).

I've actually ordered a food intolerance test to see if I've got anything that could cause the discomfort. And then I may try FODMAP diet to reset my gut - do you think that's something that would work for you too?

@Penguinwaddler yours sounds muscular I think. He said if there was anything significant it would have shown on the CT but I can have a colonoscopy if I want one. I’m going to think about it as I am still feeling quite anxious x

Ah we are the same as I am feeling quite anxious about it all too! I felt fine for a while but as the discomfort is still there I do feel uneasy about it all. Sorry to hear you are feeling anxious :(

My GI also said anything significant would show on the CT scan too.

Good point about it being muscular - I do notice that I sit slumped to my left side so I wonder if that's affecting it.

It may be worth going for it with the colonoscopy. We can get through it together!

Haha you’re not wrong! What’s putting me off with the colonoscopy is my GI hasn’t recommended it, so it’s not medically required, just an option if I want it and I don’t want to feed the anxiety by having a test that’s to safisfy my stress rather than a medical need.

the other thing is the potential risks, I’d be worrying about perforation, bleeding etc so I think it might make me worse!

have you got yours booked yet? X

@YourFunMember that's a really good way to view it, that you don't want to feed your anxiety by having the test, love that approach!

Mines in a few weeks.

How have your symptoms been? Mine are still strange, and the weird discomfort in my left side makes me nervous because I just don't know what is causing it! I get super aware of it and can't link it to anything in particular now (e.g. doesn't feel better or worse after eating).

My symptoms are still exactly the same which I agree like you I find unnerving. Mine is worse if I have junk food in that I can hear and feel the gas but the general discomfort never goes away.

Horrible isn't it! My general discomfort doesn't go away either :( I try to forget about it but it's difficult. I felt a weird bubble sensation yesterday actually when I was hungry. Is yours in the same location or does it move?
Ours do sound quite similar tbh after re reading your original post but mine is nearer my belly button on the left I think.

So I have general bloating on the left side, but mine sits more under the ribcage. It’s usually just before the splenic flexure so in the transverse colon but it also goes into the descending colon where it feels a bit more stitch like. Sometimes it’s right in my side and sometimes it feels like my front abdomen. Other times it feels like it’s in my back