[Vicky19]

hi everyone, i took a short trip to the shops nr my flat and i suddenly had a lot of pain in my left hand side. it felt like it was just above my waist and it hurt so much i had to quit going to the shops and walk home, breathing in and out slowly to take my mind off the pain. it was such a scary moment. anyone know what it could be?

 

[kac123]

Hi Vicky, That is where i get my pain if i'm having an IBS "attack"... It is scary when it happens (especially before i knew what it was) because usually the pain there is bad enough to keep me from walking upright, and once it actually threw me to the floor (had an interesting time explaining that to my very very confused boyfriend who couldn't understand why in the world i decided to just fall over!

)Your lower left is where your sig colon is (if i'm remembering my anatomy correctly - someone please correct me if i'm wrong) - and that spasming causes the pain. The visual my doctor gave me to explain this is to imagine there's a tube of toothpaste in front of you, put your left hand on the end of the tube and your right near the opening of the tube. In "normal gut" people the left hand squeezes, then the right then the left then the right, etc. In IBS guts (or at least ones with this problem) the right hand squeezes, then the left hand then both together , etc which causes spasming and pain.Hope that helps a little and that you are feeling well today

-Kac

 

[WhoaNellie1487]

I get pains in my left side when I eat to much, or during a Spasm. From what I've experienced,It's just my back and my colon reacting. But,It could be a number of things.

 

[Irishbuzzer]

I get shock pains on my left side, basically kinda opposite where your appendix are.I have had this on and off for months but never put it down to IBS, I got all the symptons of IBS at once after having a poor diet for one weekend. I would never be the type of person to eat junk food, but for the past 2 1/2 weeks I have suffered for it. Some people on this board suggested it was indigestion but I have never had that in my life and all the discomfort I suffer from is in my lower abdomen and back.

 

[silvergirl]

Lately, I've been having sharp, quick pains in the lower left side during and immediately after a BM. It's scary, and I'm usually left feeling nauseous. - -Just one more thing to add to the list when I go to the Dr, I guess.Vicky, after you had the pain, did you have a BM? Has it happened again? It could be simple, like a pulled muscle, or it might be serious. If your worried, and especially if it continues, I'd suggest seeing your doctor.~a

 

[Vicky19]

hi everyone!! thanks for all ur replys. it hasnt happened again since but it was so painful. i get an achy in my left side when i wake up in the morning. feels like someone has stabbed me in there. it could have been from taking ibuprofen on an empty stomach....what do u think?

 

[Fuzziek]

Ive got exactly the same problem, sharp pains just above the waist where the ribs start on the left hand side... most of the time its a dull, itchy ache, but then it can be really severe..Vicky, i just checked out the womens health bit and i noticed ur also worried about endo... me too.. it really sounds like whatever this is, its the same for both. Im really quite scared and im going to see a specialist on friday where i may request a laparoscopy to check it out for sure..I just keep thinking, why????kate.

 

[Vicky19]

hi therethanks for ur reply katie. what other symptoms do u have? im back to the specialist at the end of august and he said he'd do a scan if i still had the scan. ive got private health cover so i see him when i want to, no waiting lists etc. but he said to wait until august to give things time to work, like the medication. so far, no help.

 

[scajacuada]

I'm a guy and I experience identical symptoms - pain mid-to lower left side, sometimes with a very definite locus, and occasionally, quite painfully, telescoping upwards, or downwards, as the case may be. The pain comes and goes, and sometimes indicates like an ulcer, although I believe strongly that it is not. I had a colonoscopy that came back clear, but with the doctor's remarks that I had an unusual level of spasmodic activity. I described the symptoms exactly and repeatedly, and he (plus another doctor) said its all consistent w/ IBS. It is terrifically bothersome and distracting, but I gather from the postings on this site, not uncommon.

 

[suzieq2]

I also have left side pain during or before an attack - I went to a lecture on IBS and the herbalist doctor stated this was a very common trait in IBS-D sufferers as someone else suggested, it is caused by the spasming of the colon and is sometimes very hard to describe -I take an anti-spasmodic called Dicetel 50mg with every meal and it helps this a lot. I also sometimes take Ativan (Lorazepam) as my attacks cause significant anxiety problems and this calms me enough to thwart any major attacks.

 

[LifeBites]

You might want to have an ultrasound done to check your gallbladder. My friend had severe pain under her rib cage on one side (forgot which one) and her gallbladder needed to be removed.