Anyone had upper left abdominal pain and/or hot ‘liquid’ sensation down left side?!

[EmberStar]

For the last few years on and off, I get a sharp pain in my upper left abdomen. I think it gets worse during stressful times. I have come to suspect it might be some ulceration.

It can go away for weeks/months, then return.

I’m moving house at the moment so pretty stressed and it’s back!

Weirder though, I also get this sensation of hot liquid pooling down my left abdomen, from high to low….?!

I have suggested to 2 different GP’s that it could be perforation through my stomach leaking fluid into my abdomen, but they assured me it could not be that, as I would be in hideous pain and on the way to hospital urgently! They basically shrugged and said, you seem fine. Fecal stool sample was clear.

Do either of these symtoms resonate with anyone: Sharp upper left pain/ sensation of hot liquid down left side?!

I am on HRT for 1 year, but these symptoms started before the HRT. I’m 42.

Could be ovarian cysts bursting? I had this happen and it felt a bit like you’ve described.
Does it happen when you’re ovulating by any chance?

Thanks for the reply - definitely not ovarian cysts; this pain is much higher up, just under left ribs.

(incidentally I think I may have had ovarian cysts bursting before, to the side in the lower abdomen, way below tummy button level. I woke up in the night with the pain, but that was a one-off.)

The left side is where the bladder is, I used to get a dull pain that cleared up with antibiotics. A sharp pain in the left side can also be appendix-related.
Any kind of inside perforation would make you so ill you’d need an emergency admittance to hospital so the fact it’s been going on for ages seems to indicate it’s unlikely to be that.
I had a liquid feeling in my legs, Google suggested it was something to do with varicose veins but it has stopped now. I think you can get varicose veins in your abdomen?

Obviously do rule out any actual medical cause but liquid/trickling sensations of the sort can be caused by stress. I went through a long on/off period of having the sensation of liquid pouring down the sides of my head. Another time the sensation of a fan blowing on the back of my head. The GP told me these were common stress sensations.

I’ve had this exact thing too for a few years now (the pain in the upper left abdomen, but not the hot liquid feeling) and I’m late peri. I used to be paranoid that it was something terrible, but I’m still alive so I guess not. I also couldn’t figure out whether it was something behind my rib or my actual rib. I reckon mine is trapped wind - it’s def worse when I’ve had carbonated drinks or dairy on an empty stomach and sometimes after a very fatty meal. And yes I notice it more when I’m stressed.

I used to have something similar, as well as a hot feeling on the skin of my left shoulder. Lasted a few years before it eventually went away.

Insist on investigations and blood tests.
Acid reflux is so an endoscopy might be helpful and an ecg etc to check your heart is ok.

I have this, turned out I had shingles without realising..

Ok that’s interesting thank you - what were your symptoms; the hot liquid sensitisation or the upper left sharp pain? (on both!)

Thank you.

blood tests look ok, apart from low iron and fairly high cholesterol.

The reflux thing has plagued me on and off since having babies ten years ago though - I really wouldn’t be surprised if it was somehow connected to reflux - it feels like burning acid is trickling down… but as I say, the doctor said nope it can’t be that 🤔

You could have a hiatus hernia which is a physical condition - look it up. You may need long term meds or even minor surgery to close the gap where your stomach isn't fully closing. You need to insist on referral to a gastroenterologist.

I used to get a sharp pain in upper left abdomen but not the liquid feeling. I described it as feeling like something was trying to pass through a tight kink in my intestine. It happened sporadically for a few years, around the age of 40.

Both. Started with the strange sensation along left side of torso and then stabbing or shooting pain in left waist area / front of torso lower down, top of abdomen. Then it became a more consistent ache. Turns out it was all nerve damage - had an MRI as the consultant neurologist thought it might be MS. Still have the weird liquidy sensation when I am tired or stressed or run down and very occasionally the stabbing pain but hardly ever.

Thanks again. My GP also mentioned nerves. It’s gone quiet again last two days… has been reasonably stressful getting the kids to school too, but nothing!

When it’s not there I forget about it, but when it comes back it really freaks me out, it’s hard to ignore such a strong sensation!

I've had an ulcer leak fluid. Believe me you wouldn't be typing on here. I was rushed to hospital after waking in agony.
I was in a CT within minutes of arriving in A&E. The surgeon then asked me if there was anything I wanted to say to DH (who was at home with DC). DH asked to come and see me and was told there wasn't time. We live literally five minutes away. When the surgeon said he was personally calling DH, I knew it was bad..
He told me following the surgery I'd be kept asleep. (i.e. life support in ICU) for longer than I had been when I had a blown duodenum stump (that is a fluid leak too) a year earlier.
On the way to theatre (which was again within minutes) two seperate nurses asked if my family had been called in. I started to panic at this point because I have been in theatre several times and knew that wasn't normal. The operation took eight hours.
Following a long stay in ICU and a high dependency unit (about six weeks), I was allowed home, but still had several drains and tubes still in place. It was far worse that giving birth to my 3DC without any pain relief.

Oh my gosh you poor poor thing, that sounds horrendous.

But thank you so much for telling the story so I can understand what my thing isn’t!

I hope you are feeling well now and thanks for sharing x

Diverticular disease