Lower left side stomach pain half hour after I eat

by Katherine
(Schoharie, NY)

I am a 63 year old woman, I have been having lower left side pain for about 2 weeks, it starts about half hour after I eat and is followed by loose bowls. I know it's not the flu, could it be a parasite? If it is, is there any over the counter treatments?

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Dear Katherine,

The pain you describe sounds like that due to irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic condition where the bowels become unusually sensitive to impulse from the brain, causing abdominal pain, bloating that improves on opening the bowel. There may be constipation or diarrhea, and symptoms are made worse by eating.

The lower left abdomen is the area where this pain tends to occur more than any other part of the abdomen.

Though we only come to a conclusion of irritable bowel syndrome after other causes of abdominal pain are excluded, the story you have volunteered sounds very much like one due to ibs.

It is still important that you get seen by your doctor to exclude conditions like diverticulitis and perhaps something more serious - though honestly, it does not sound like anything serious.

Why not see our page on lower abdominal pain and see the treatment options.

I hope this helps.

Please do not hesitate to contact us again, should you have more questions on this matter.

Good Health To You.

Abdopain.com