Hello -
I have this problem that occurs for approx 3 weeks every 3-4 months, and has been going on for the past 6 or so years. Essentially, as soon as I start eating, I have pain on the left side, and since it's immediate have to assume it's my stomach. It feels like my stomach is so full that it couldn't possibly take more food in, and yet, i've taken but a bite or two of my food. The pain is centered about 3-4 inches above my navel, and a good 6 inches to the left (essentially right below the last rib on my leftside, about 8-10 inches below my left breast). Then for the next 2-4 hours I feel like i'm ready to burst, severe bloated feeling, and a sort of expanding pressure pain as if there was a balloon in my stomach being over filled. If I had to explain the size of the pain, it feels as if there is a large grapefruit sized area where the pain is concentrated on. During this 3 week period, the pain is for the most part constant (the extreme bloated feeling, expaning pressure). Note that, I have no pain or tenderness to the touch, that is, I can press in on the area and not intensify my pain... again, it just is immediate upon eating/drinking, and feels like an expanding balloon.
Most of the abdominal pain that I've read about is on the right side... I've had a lot of difficulty finding causes of left side pain, in particular, the stomach.
Any ideas would be appreciated.