Eating shouldn't be painful. If you develop pain in the left side of your stomach after eating, make an appointment with your doctor to determine the cause of your symptoms. Pain in the left side may be related to various digestive conditions that may require treatment. If the pain does not subside or improve within a few hours of eating, contact your doctor and go to the nearest emergency room. Common causes of pain in the left portion of your abdomen are food intolerances, an ulcer, diverticulitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Food Intolerances
Food intolerances commonly cause pain in the left side of your stomach because most symptoms from food intolerances originate in your colon. Food intolerances are the inability to digest certain portions of foods and food additives. The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance, the inability to digest sugar found in dairy products, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Other common food intolerances include gluten intolerance, MSG intolerance, histamine intolerance and fructose intolerance.
Ulcer
If you have an ulcer, you may develop pain after eating in the upper-left quadrant of your stomach. Ulcers are open sores that cause pain and discomfort in your abdomen. Ulcers occur mainly from an infection that causes erosion in the lining of your stomach. Ulcers are not caused by eating spicy foods or stress, but they may be the result of tobacco use, over-consuming alcohol and the overuse of certain medications. The most effective treatment for an ulcer is triple antibiotic treatment.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis will cause pain in the left portion of your stomach. This condition occurs when small pouches, called diverticula become infected in your digestive system. Diverticula are located throughout your digestive system but typically become inflamed in the large intestine. This condition is most commonly found in adults over the age of 40 and may go unnoticed because you may not have any symptoms. Symptoms may include severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and sudden changes in your bowel movements.
GERD
GERD is a chronic condition that causes reoccurring heartburn more than three times a week. GERD is the result of a malfunction in your sphincter muscle. The sphincter muscle keeps stomach acids from entering your esophagus. The portion of the esophagus that is affected by GERD may cause pain in your left side. Common symptoms include a burning sensation in your chest that may be treated with antacids.
