Dull annoying pain? Please Help

[ade]

I'm a 25 year old male who has developed a dull pain in the upper left side (just under the lower part of the rib cage). It came about 6 weeks ago when drinking alcohol - it was a very sharp pain which was relieved by remaining still - after about 10 minutes the pain went away. 3 weeks later the pain came back in the same place as a dull annoying ache during a stag weekend. After 3 days of heavy drinking I felt very sick. I assumed it was a bad hangover and no blood could be seen in the vomit. However the sickness lasted for 2 days and I also had yellow floating stools. The sickness subsided, although I didn't feel like eating or drinking for a few days.

I went to the hospital and they did blood test which showed everything was normal apart from elevated liver enzymes. The diagnosed gastritis and prescriped 30mg lanzoprazole. 2 weeks later I still have the same dull ache, which sometimes radiates to my back. The pain is worse after eating, drinking or smoking - although it must be said that it is only a very mild ache. I also have lots of gas (which I have have with intermitant diarrhoea for about a year) and recently bad breath. Please can anybody recognize these symptoms or does anybody know of possible causes - shouldn't the pain have gone away by now if it was just gastritis?

Any response would be grately appreciated.

Thanks

[zak]

The symptoms that you are describing are the same symptoms of
Diverticulitis.  I have been diagnosed with it, what is is
are small pouches that form inside the colon, (large intestine)
and are found on the left lower side.  what happens is stool
may get trapped in these pouches as it moves through the intestine.  when it does it get infected which causes the pain.
In my case I have had 3 attacks in the last 5-6 months, always
in the same place.  I have had CT scans, colonoscopy, and a barium enema.  The last test confirmed that I had it.  Because
I am only 34 years old, and most people get this over 50, I
was advised by my surgen to have that area of my colon removed,
and for a lack of better wording the ends spliced together.
I have been told that after this surgery I will no longer get these attacks.  You may want to look up Diverticulitis on the
Web.  What I have been told in the worst case seniaro one of
these pouches can rupture and spill waste into your abdomen, which could lead to a more serious problem.
Hopefully this helped you out.

[Nanny]

I agree with Evie's advice, yet would also try to see a gastroenterologist, as pancreatic and other problems create the symptoms that are bothering you.  An ultrasound or a cat-scan can show the doctor what's happening.  I have chronic pancreatitis and before seeing a specialist and following his instructions as to diet, drinking, etc., I was suffering from your symptoms, which eventually led to acute pancreatitis, which is severe, extremely painful and can be life threatening.  Don't wait too long to see a doctor if these problems don't clear up.

[Evie]

Well, you might want to cut the drinking and smoking for a couple of weeks and see if that helps as it is making it worse.  If that doesn't help I would see a doctor.