Pain in upper left quadrant

[momobee]

I am 23 years old and I have had pain in my upper left quadrant for approx. 6 weeks. At first it was very severe and I could not eat. now it is contant with short bursts of extreme pain and nauseau. My doctor thought it was my galbladder and so we did blood work but that came up negative. then I had an ultrasound on my gallbladder and that came up negative as well. the pain isn't centralized by my gallbladder, but is actually on the other side just under my left breast. I have tried to change my diet, but as I am a vegetarian i don't eat the common fried foods that the doctor said could contribute to this. I have started a log for about 3 weeks to see if my food had any connection to the pain I feel, but I have found no connection. When I eat diary or even spicy food, the pain does not get worse. I was given megication for neausea and stomach gas, but that has not helped. I am pretty healthy. I work out four times a week for half an hour a day. I do not have unreasonable stress in my life. Actually, since graduating college my life has slowed down and relaxed quite a bit. My doctor said that if I am still experiencing pain in a month to come back to have more extensive tests on my gallbladder. Could it be something other than my gallbaldder? What are some other things I could take into consideration?

[trixey25]

I was just reading the letter from the 23yr old women about the pain in the upper left. I to have been having this and my doctors did some basic blood work and found nothing as well. Now the only diff is that I am one alot of meds due to migrans. I also have GERD and take previcid once a day could just mean that I need to increases me dose?

[trixey25]

I was just reading the letter from the 23yr old women about the pain in the upper left. I to have been having this and my doctors did some basic blood work and found nothing as well. Now the only diff is that I am one alot of meds due to migrans. I also have GERD and take previcid once a day could just mean that I need to increases me dose?

[trixey25]

I was just reading the letter from the 23yr old women about the pain in the upper left. I to have been having this and my doctors did some basic blood work and found nothing as well. Now the only diff is that I am one alot of meds due to migrans. I also have GERD and take previcid once a day could just mean that I need to increases me dose?

[trixey25]

I was just reading the letter from the 23yr old women about the pain in the upper left. I to have been having this and my doctors did some basic blood work and found nothing as well. Now the only diff is that I am one alot of meds due to migrans. I also have GERD and take previcid once a day could just mean that I need to increases me dose?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Pain in the left upper quadrant can be caused by the various causes of dyspepsia.  This would include inflammation of the stomach, small bowel or esophagus, GERD as well as ulcers.  

An upper GI series can be considered to evaluate for any stomach masses, GERD or ulcers.  A more thorough test would be an upper endoscopy.  

If these tests are negative, I would consider a CT scan to evaluate the pancreas and spleen.  Other tests to consider would be pancreatic and liver enzymes, as well as tests for H Pylori - a bacteria associated with inflammation and ulcers.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[momobee]

One other thing I forgot to mention is that the ultrasound revealed that I had renal sinus fat in my gallbladder. the nurse said that is could contribute to the pain I was feeling and a change of diet was suggested. But as I have mentioned before, I have been keeping a journal, and tried to obstain from certain foods (dairy, spicy foods) and also eaten those same foods to see if there was a change in pain and I found none. If I was feeling especially pained before I ate those foods, I still felt pain, and if I was doing okay for the day, the pain did not get worse. The lack of such foods did not stop the pain either.