What Does Pain In Lower Left Abdominal Area Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 21 Sep 2015

Question: Hello I am on vacation and I started having bad pains in my lower left stomach. I self diagnosed( probably not a good thing) as diverticulitis. My brother is on vacation with me and he had medicine for when he gets a case of it so I started taking it. It's ciprofloxacin Hcl and metronidazole. I have been taking it for 3 days and I am still hurting. Bowels are loose now so I would like to stop and just drink liquids is that okay?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes maybe ok

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
It may just be a gut infection, not diverticulitis. Cipro and metrogyl is OK. You can add probiotics like vsl#3 to aid in rapid recovery.

There is a possibility that it is viral and antibiotics are not needed. In that case only fluids and probiotics are fine. However, best would be to get a stool exam and take it from there.

Hope this helps.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (7 hours later)

Thank you for that information, so is it okay to quit taking the 2 medicines or should I continue until I am finished. I will get me some probiotics today or can I take all that together.
I don't really feel like eating but feel like i have to because of all the medicine. Would just drinking liquids be better than eating and taking medicine?
I know you are supposed to finish medicine, I have probably about 2 days left.

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
better to complete it

Detailed Answer:
Since you have completed 3 days and we do not know the organism, it may be better to complete 5 days of them. Probiotics can be taken along with it.

You should continue eating solid food as well as drinking liquids.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj