What could this be?

I have a pain in the lower left side of my stomach.  There is little to no pain unless I bend over to the left, cough, or strain to urinate.  If I touch the area there is a mild sharp pain.  This has been going on for about 2 days.  I also feel the urge to have a bowel movement constantly and am experiencing a little more gas than usual.  My stools have been a little soft but no signs of blood, etc.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Left lower quadrant pain can be caused by diverticulitis, a mass, gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel syndrome - amongst others.  If you are female, you would also consider an ovarian cyst.  

A CT scan can be considered to rule out colitis or diverticulitis.  If negative, you can consider further evaluation - likely a colonoscopy for the most thorough investigation.

If you are female and would like to evaluate the ovaries you can consider a transvaginal ultrasound.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

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.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[versute]

I am not sure of what it is, but I am very empathetic for you.  I am experiencing a new pain in my throat/digestive system, and I am getting no relief from the Prevacid.  I have only been on it a few days, so they say it takes time to work, but I am only feeling worse since I had the first sign of symptoms, 9 days ago.  We must hang in there and see our own treatment.

[yoshi]

debo,
you should go see a doctor,it is not appendicitis as it would be on the right.
versute,
how strong is your prevacid?
sometimes it could be too little acid.

[versute]

My Prevacid is 30mg solutabs, twice a day.  Thanks for asking!

[yoshi]

30mg twice a day is 60 mg a day.
is it time released ??
see,symptoms of too much acid and too little acid are similar in that your stomach will feel full and uncomfortable,but too little acid you feel right after you eat and too much acid you feel it much later like 2 hours later.
if you feel it right after you eat,you can drink cranberry juice or even orange juice,pineapple jucie,if it makes you feel better and food seem to be moving along,then it is too little acid in your stomach.

[surgeon]

Not knowing your age, sex,  or other medical history, it's hard to say; but pain and tenderness in the left lower abdomen, along with a sense of needing to have a BM could be diverticulitis, which is an infection in the colon that needs treatment with antibiotics. You should contact your doctor.

[versute]

Thanks for the info.  I will discuss this with my doctor.  What tests will determine whether it is too much, or too little?  I've heard of a Ph test.

[yoshi]

i dont know if there is a test for too much or too little except for what i just told you with cranvbery juice and the time it takes to feel uncomfortable,
some researchers have talked about studying the side effects of these acid reflux drug -on how lowering stomach acid could cause problems like pneumonia as stomach acid kills bacteria ,same can be said of poorly digested food passing to large intestines and mixed with bacteria causing fermentation and gas??
other clues of poor digestion would be from the feces,you can see the half digested particles,itchy anus and nausea.
have you trued neutralising the gas in your system by taking GAS X,alka seltzer,chewing gum,or mixing some baking soda in water??

[versute]

Gas isn't a symptom I am having from this reflux problem that has started two weeks ago.  My gas is normal.

[yoshi]

if 9 days of prevacid twice a day strength 30 mg x2 is not working and you have no gas and you are experiencing pain in throat and digestive system,you better go see a doctor.