Lower-left abdominal pain after eating can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'needs attention'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose lower-left abdominal pain after eating, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Lactose Intolerance | 93% | Confirm |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome | 14% | Unlikely |
Diverticular Disease | 3% | Ruled out |
LOWER-LEFT abdomen: Do you experience discomfort or pain above your left hip that only occurs after eating?
Possible responses:
→ No / I have it even when I don't eat / don't know→ Occasional mild discomfort → Frequent mild and/or occasional moderate pain → Frequent moderate and/or occasional severe pain → Severe pain after most/all meals |
The pain is generally located in the lower abdomen, although the location and type of pain can vary. Emotional stress and eating can exacerbate the pain, whereas a bowel movement often provides some relief.
Pain or cramps in the lower abdomen usually begin 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking milk or milk products.