Pain in lower left abdomen and back - what is it?

[bluebutterfliess]

For the last three days I have had pain in the lower left side of my stomach as well as pain in the left side of my back (just below my ribs) alongside nausea. The pain feels similar to period pain (only higher up than my period pain is) - so I guess I would say it's like a gnawing ache? I seem to get it around an hour after I first wake up, after lunch and then in the evening (9pm). I first thought it was the start of a stomach bug as it was mainly stomach pain and nausea, but over the last two days it's changed to mainly be back pain with no nausea.

I'm not on my period, no chance of pregnancy. I'm in my early 30s and otherwise healthy - no medication, no changes in weight. I have no signs of an infection (no temperature) and my wee is normal.

Does anyone know what it might be?

Not having a temperature doesn’t mean you don’t have an infection. You could have a uti or kidney infection or it could be something like ibs. It’s impossible to say. Ring 111.

Sounds like a kidney infection to me (a veteran of many bouts of pyelonephritis). Could you take a urine sample in to your gp surgery where hopefully they could send it away for testing? Or even to get the nurse to dip it, in case there’s blood you can’t see in it.

Watch out for increased flank pain, blood in urine, not being able to sit/lie still. All signs of a kidney stone which can come from a uti (again, from experience!!).

Hope you feel better soon x

The other thing to get checked is possible gut issues especially if this is happening after you’ve eaten. If it’s not a kidney infection or uti then I would keep a symptom diary and look for digestive changes.

Have you changed your diet recently?

Thank you everyone. I haven't changed my diet at all and no significant weight loss/weight gain either. I'm wondering if it could be related to the heatwave as I have struggled this week with the temperatures (my house gets really hot).

Weirdly after writing this post I haven't had the pain since so finger's crossed I'm on the mend whatever it was! If it comes back again I'll phone my GP first thing Monday morning and ask if I can give them a wee sample.