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.

Google diverticulitis- it can perforate the bowel, which is very dangerous and usually means at least 2 operations. 1 to remove the bad section and place an ostomy, and later a second surgery to reconnect the bowel.

I had a tiny perforation and avoided surgery, but I was in the hospital for 8 days of IV antibiotics and then nearly a year of oral antibiotic rounds before it healed.

For a month beforehand, I was having twinges on the left, (sometimes bloody) diarrhea, and so much gas and bloating. And then one morning, an intense burst of pain that left me crying on the floor, which was when the bowel perforated. I wasted a lot of time thinking it was IBS.

@beenwhereyouare I so sorry you’ve been through that, it sounds awful! My CT scan ruled out diverticular disease thankfully. I hope you’re ok now.

Ah I see! They do say that that particular area of the colon can be problematic with discomfort I think?

Yes he said gas rises so it makes sense it can get trapped there, I just don’t understand why in my 30’s and not before?!

is this the general area you think yours is too?

Yeah I'm in my 30s too and I've been thinking the same thing, I'm like why am I experiencing this now? Which is why I worry about it being something else!

My discomfort/weird sensation is in a different place, and the GI said it was more in the location of the small intestine! Which wouldn't be picked up on a CT scan really but then he said I'd also likely have other symptoms to accompany it.

It's frustrating.

Much better, thanks.
I'm glad you have ruled it out, and I hope your issue is resolved soon.

I’m interested in this. I had a tummy bug way back in April and been off since. I get a funny kind of pain/ pressure under my left ribs and gallbladder style pains under my right ribs. It hurts to breathe deeply sometimes. It turned out I was massively anaemic and everyone assumed a GI bleed but test was negative for blood and colonoscopy / endoscopy was fine. Had a scan and awaiting results. It’s the not knowing which is stressful.

@Lovelysummerdays how interesting! Pretty much the same except I don’t have rhs involvement. I was the same waiting 3 long weeks for the results of my scan.

do you ever feel gas bubbling somewhere? I have the general discomfort all of the time but sometimes i can literally feel and hear the gas stuck up on that left hand side.

@YourFunMember how are you doing? I had the colonoscopy today. It went fine and didn't show anything at all wrong!

Oh yay! That’s fab news. How was the prep? That’s what puts me off the most. I’m much the same

@YourFunMember the prep was bearable.. it is a bit of an ordeal as the drinks are rank, but there's lots of ways to get through it (drinking it super cold and slowly through a straw, washing it down with lots of water, eating low fibre in the days leading up so it's easier to clear yourself out etc).

I found the effects of the drinks not so bad though. I didn't have stomach cramps or need to be on the loo as much as I expected. It's a weird experience but not nasty and overall I mostly felt tired, a bit hungry and fed up.

And then the procedure was fine. No pain, very minimal discomfort, and it helped that the staff were friendly and kind.

Whilst I'm glad I had it done, I suspected that nothing would show up due to the other tests I'd had done. But my anxiety has been pretty severe, and there's always a small part of me that thought "well, what harm can it do to get it done.."

So I would totally get why you would choose not to have it done as your test results and GI opinion was really similar to mine, and you've felt all along that the colonoscopy hasn't been needed :)

I’m pleased it all went well for you and I’m really glad you did it to put your mind at rest. I’m having a bit of an uncomfortable night and wondering if I should just do it to be 100% sure.

hi all how are you doing now. Did you manage to get a diagnosis? I have ibs and your symptoms sound quite similar. usually, if all tests came back fine then it may be irritable bowel syndrome, which can commonly develop following a bowel infection. Hopefully your all doing better now.

@carsty ah thanks for checking in. I’ve asked to go ahead with the colonoscopy to be sure it’s nothing serious. I spoke to another doctor who said it’s reassuring I’ve had the clear FIT and calprotectin is normal, but no test is infallible so if I want to be 100% then to have it done.

I know the bus guidelines have changed now to give an IBS diagnosis without colonoscopy but I haven’t even been told it’s IBS.

@YourFunMember good luck with the colonoscopy! My weird discomfort comes and goes still, but knowing my colonoscopy results helps calm my anxious mind. So hopefully it'll be good for you too x

Thanks for the update i hope the colonscopy will go well and you feel more reassured🤗. I thought of also having one too but at the time i was diagnosed with ibs they never even suggested it.

Just to update colonoscopy was normal so assume I’m left with the blanket IBS diagnosis!

@YourFunMember well done for getting through the colonoscopy! How do you feel now?

I actually went back to the doctor because my weird discomfort came back (then went again!).
They said all the tests id had were very reassuring and suggested I track my symptoms (alongside my period/cycle) and see if there's any connection with anything.

Relieved for sure but confused about what’s going on and why it came out of no where!

that’s a good idea. My digestive problems are always worse first day or two of my period. Apparently it’s the prostaglandins

@YourFunMember it is a relief isn't it! But it is confusing and annoying to not have answers or know why it's suddenly appeared - I totally relate to this!
Fingers crossed things settle :)