Upper LEFT quadrant pain

[Elizabeth]

I am 31 years old. This past May I had severe left sided upper quadrant pain. It felt like it was just under my ribs, usually in the front but sometimes in my side and when most severe, in my back. It lasted for about 3 weeks and I just let it go, confident that it would just go away.
In the first week of August the exact same pain came back. It was so severe that I called my MD after only 3 days. I had chest x-rays, abd sonogram and blood work. The only abnormality was my amylase which was 397. My lipase was somewhat elevated also. I had an abd CT which showed a slightly enlarged pancreas but was told that was probably normal for my age. I was but on prevacid and told to see what happens. I still complained of severe pain do I had an EGD. All was normal. I then had an ERCP done and while no obstruction was noted I did end up with pancreatitis and was in the hospital for 5 days. The 'pancreatitis' pain has now resolved but my original pain remains. I can now relate some of the pain to after meals but that pain usually occurs on the right side. The left sided pain is ALWAYS there. It gets bad and then eases up but is always there. I do become nauseated at times but I am not vomiting. I lost 10 pounds in the hospital but put 6 back on. No further weight loss has been noted. My GI physician is stumped. He did mention sphincter manometry but is hesitant due to my pancreatitis.
What I want to know is this: Is there a profile of patients who have sphincter dysfunction? Are there certain things that cause it or is the cause unknown? Would that cause LEFT sided pain. With the tests I have had done, would CA be ruled out or would that still be a possibility?
                          Thank you,
                              Elizabeth

[Jean S.]

I have had upper left quadrant pain since March of this year. It started with a feeling of fullness and tightness in that area. It then graduated to stabbing and grabbing pains in that area. At this time, I also have pain in the left shoulder with it and sometimes in the left groin area. There have been some days and a week in August where I felt almost back to normal, but it always comes back. I have had an X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, hida scan, blood work, and endoscopy. The ultrasound showed gallstones and the hida scan showed that my gall bladder empties slowly, but my current doctor does not think it's a gall bladder problem because the pain and discomfort is  on my left side (gall bladder is on right). It just mystifies me that as bad and uncomfortable as this pain is, the tests don't show anything.

[tracy]

Hi, I too have suffered with this similar pain.  I was just rediagnosed with diverticular disease.  I had a portion of my colon removed a year and a half ago, they thought they removed all of the damaged colon.  After a Gastriographennema and a CAT Scan it was determined that my colon is riddled with diverticulitis.  I go in for surgery this Friday to have another section of the colon removed.   You may want to ask your MD to test for this common disease.  Good Luck
Tracy Laigle
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[bbb]

I have had the very same pain for months now.  I also had pain on my right side.  I saw my family doctor who referred me to a specialist who told me that I had a gallstone and possibly fatty liver.  They removed my gall bladder and biopsied my liver and confirmed the fatty liver.  It has been two weeks since my surgery and I still have the pain on both sides.  I see my surgeon in two days and I hope he can answer my questions.  The specialist said that whatever was causing the pain on my right side could "possibly" be causing the pain on my right side.  The pain I feel on my right side is right under my ribs and when it is bad enough I feel it in my back also.  If I find out anything in a couple days, I will post it.  There is also the possibility that I am diabetic.  What or if this has anything to do with the pain, I don't know.

[Jean S]

Tracy,

I always thought Diverticulitis was lower left quadrant pain. Was your pain upper left (near the ribs) or lower than that?

[tracy]

Originally it was lower quadrant.  They removed the sigmoid colon.  After about 6 months I started having severe pain in upper left quadrant, as well as diareahea, low grade fever, and occasional blood in stool.  Had a colonscopy done and it showed diverticuli, but they didn't think it was inflamed.  Months went by and after being on pain meds for all of this time and numerous tests...... they finally did the gastroigrph and it showed that the left and transverse side of the colon were riddled with diverticuli.....  so here we go again...I go in this Friday to have the left side and the transverse removed.  hope this helps you out,,....I know how frustrating it is!!!  You begin to think it is all in your head.........but that pain is real......
Good luck!!!
Tracy

[Betsy]

Dear Elizabeth,
I am just finding out what complete idiots doctors really are.  When they do not know something, they either ignore it, give it little effort and attention, or send you to a psychologist because it simply must be all in your head.  I am dealing with a 10 year old child right now who has constant pain in the abdomen and the left side, for 10 months now, and I have heard the awfullest bunch of garbage in the world, with still no answers.  I have been through this with physicians before, and it was three years before they figured out what my medical condition was.  None of them was standding in line to offer an apology for all of their ignorant comments, degrading remarks and lack of help, either.
I wish you lots of luck with finding out about your problem.  Be VERY wary of doctors, they know a lot less than we think they do, and most of them are to proud to admit that.  Also, the more remote area you live in, the less your chances are, too.  Don't ever come the the good-for-nothing state of Tennessee to get help-these doctors would see a person die first.