I'm pretty freaked out and could use some reassurance

[Swersocing52]

For about the past month or so, I've occasionally noticed this pain in my left side, around the ribs or a bit under. Sometimes it's more in front, sometimes it's concentrated in the back, but it's always on my far left. I kind of feel like it might be gas related, since I've noticed that passing gas seems to alleviate it a little bit. It also almost always happens in the evening, which kind of makes trying to sleep a bit hard.


My husband suggested that it sounded kind of like a stool burden, so I took a laxative a couple of weeks ago, and that helped get rid of the pain entirely for a bit, but in the past few days, I've noticed that it's back, albeit perhaps not quite as bad as before. Against my better judgement, I started googling it, and found out that it could be a sign of colon cancer. So today I tried two of the laxative pills, in the hopes that will help. If it doesn't, I'm going to message my doctor, but in the mean time, I'm pretty freaked out and could use some reassurance.


I should probably add that I'm only 33, so it's not like I've ever had a colonoscopy. And I know it's rare for colon cancer to appear in people my age, but it's not unheard of either (I actually had an aunt who died of it around age 40, although being a second degree relative, that doesn't qualify me for early screening).

[Carnation]

From what I've read it sounds like trapped wind.
Typical area for it. Do you rush your food? Go to long a period without eating? Eat when you are feeling stressed? Chew your food well? Any of those can cause it as well as some foods that are not easily digestible.
Personally I wouldn't take any laxitives unless you've told to do so by a Doctor. Trapped wind will go of its own accord but a gentle rub in the area will ease the pain. If you burp or find that gives you some relief then it's wind.
Try not to Google and if you are still worried then a visit to the doctors to put your mind at rest.