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What Causes Pain In The Left Side Of The Abdomen?
Posted on
Sun, 16 Oct 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 16 Oct 2016
Answered on
Tue, 8 Nov 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : My husband has had left side pain in abdomen since April. Its not related to food or drink. The pain starts out as a dull ache and gets sharp, lasts for a few min. He doesn't have it everyday, but sometimes 5 times a day. The doctor ran some blood tests, wbc.... and did an ultrasound and all is ok. The nurse practicioner scheduled him to see a surgeon in a few weeks but we are wondering why. Any ideas? I want him to get a second opinion at Mayo. What do you think ?
UPDATE: THIS WAS MY NOTE FROM LAST WEEK. SINCE THEN THE PAIN IS EVERYDAY ON LOWER LEFT BUT NOW IS THROUGHOUT BELLY AND HE IS GETTING NAUSEATED AT TIMES PLUS SOME BACK PAIN ON LEFT SIDE. HIS BLOODWORK CAME BACK GOOD EXCEPT FOR AN SLIGHTLY ELEVATED BLOOD SUGAR (128) AND HIS WBC 5.4, SGOT 13, AND AMYLASE 25, hemoglobin 13.7, rbc 4.73, hematocrit 41, are on the low end. His pain is still not related to anything he eats or drinks, and ibuprofen takes care of the pain through his sleeping hours. Since May he has lost 20 # but was not drinking any alcohol and said he just wasn't hungry. Our best friend died recently of pancreatic cancer, so this is what is his main worry is and biggest fear. He is very active 68 years old carpenter, no diabetes, no medical problems before this. He recently in April had a colonoscopy and showed a couple noncancerous polyps. He has had no bowels changes or bleeding or tarry stools. Can you give us some ideas what we should do or what you think it could be or if a cat scan would see anything. I'm a nurse and personally do not think this is his gallbladder because he doesn't have any typical symptoms.
UPDATE: THIS WAS MY NOTE FROM LAST WEEK. SINCE THEN THE PAIN IS EVERYDAY ON LOWER LEFT BUT NOW IS THROUGHOUT BELLY AND HE IS GETTING NAUSEATED AT TIMES PLUS SOME BACK PAIN ON LEFT SIDE. HIS BLOODWORK CAME BACK GOOD EXCEPT FOR AN SLIGHTLY ELEVATED BLOOD SUGAR (128) AND HIS WBC 5.4, SGOT 13, AND AMYLASE 25, hemoglobin 13.7, rbc 4.73, hematocrit 41, are on the low end. His pain is still not related to anything he eats or drinks, and ibuprofen takes care of the pain through his sleeping hours. Since May he has lost 20 # but was not drinking any alcohol and said he just wasn't hungry. Our best friend died recently of pancreatic cancer, so this is what is his main worry is and biggest fear. He is very active 68 years old carpenter, no diabetes, no medical problems before this. He recently in April had a colonoscopy and showed a couple noncancerous polyps. He has had no bowels changes or bleeding or tarry stools. Can you give us some ideas what we should do or what you think it could be or if a cat scan would see anything. I'm a nurse and personally do not think this is his gallbladder because he doesn't have any typical symptoms.
Brief Answer:
I recommend he gets a CT-Scan!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have reviewed this information fully. I totally agree with you that it has nothing to do with gall bladder. The gall bladder is actually located on the right and pain often provoked by heavy fatty means and doesn’t seem to correlate with what you have presented.
I will recommend a CT -scan to further explore this. The nature of the pain makes pancreatic cancer unlikely. Cancer of the pancreas presents with severe abdominal pain, severe wasting and yellowish eyes. This is certainly not what your husband have. However, a CT-Scan will provide conclusive answers and help us move away from guessing.
If everything turns out to be normal, then we have to consider other options such as Irritable bowel syndrome. For now, let’s start with the scan an make further decisions depending on what the outcome is.
I wish you and your husband well. Keep me updated on this.
I recommend he gets a CT-Scan!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have reviewed this information fully. I totally agree with you that it has nothing to do with gall bladder. The gall bladder is actually located on the right and pain often provoked by heavy fatty means and doesn’t seem to correlate with what you have presented.
I will recommend a CT -scan to further explore this. The nature of the pain makes pancreatic cancer unlikely. Cancer of the pancreas presents with severe abdominal pain, severe wasting and yellowish eyes. This is certainly not what your husband have. However, a CT-Scan will provide conclusive answers and help us move away from guessing.
If everything turns out to be normal, then we have to consider other options such as Irritable bowel syndrome. For now, let’s start with the scan an make further decisions depending on what the outcome is.
I wish you and your husband well. Keep me updated on this.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your quick response. We are wondering if it could be pancreatitis and what blood tests would be run and would CT scan show pancreatitis? How urgent is this? He is scheduled to see a surgeon on the 19th.
Brief Answer:
Not an emergency!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
CT scan would be able to show pancreatitis. Pancreatic amylase is the best test to make the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Is your husband a smoker, drinker or eats much lipids?
This is not an emergency. He can stick to his appointment for comprehensive examination and testing.
Keep me posted on this.
Not an emergency!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
CT scan would be able to show pancreatitis. Pancreatic amylase is the best test to make the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Is your husband a smoker, drinker or eats much lipids?
This is not an emergency. He can stick to his appointment for comprehensive examination and testing.
Keep me posted on this.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He has been a drinker all of his life, mostly hard liquor (vodka and whiskey). He quit drinking in XXXXXXX He eats meat and fried food almost every meal as well.
Brief Answer:
Let’s see what the tests say!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Those are risk factors for pancreatic illnesses. Let’s see what the testing says and we will make more decisions on what’s best moving forward on that to address this pain.
Keep me posted on that!
Let’s see what the tests say!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Those are risk factors for pancreatic illnesses. Let’s see what the testing says and we will make more decisions on what’s best moving forward on that to address this pain.
Keep me posted on that!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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