For about 9 months now I have had pain in my lower left side that comes and goes. I experience some sort of pain at least a couple of times a day. Most of the time it is a dull pain. Also, I have extreme discomfort if I try and reach for something. Also, for the last couple of weeks I have started noticing that I have a dry tongue. Well, today for the first time it has been a wave of sharper, shooting pains moving closer to the back, but still will pain in the side. Ever since I have noticed the pain it has always been tender to touch the area. any thoughts on to what is going on?