pain down left side, now it is there all the time

Welcome to e health forum. ‎

All your symptoms are most probably due to gastritis and / or gastric reflux. ‎

Gastritis pain occurs in the left upper portion of the abdomen and in the back. The pain seems to ‎travel ‎‎‎‎‎‎from the belly to the back. Other symptoms of gastritis include - Belching, Nausea and vomiting, ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎Bloating, Feeling of fullness or burning in the upper part of the belly. ‎

First and foremost, you need to avoid foods, smoking and stuff that worsen your symptoms. Foods ‎that need to be avoided include – ‎
‎ ‎
‎1. Alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, carbonated water, and deserts high in sugar and white flour ‎‎
‎2. Foods prepared from white flour, like puddings, breads, bagels and pretzels also should be avoided. ‎
‎3. Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, all kinds of beans and legumes, full fat milk, onions and green ‎‎‎peas should be avoided. ‎
‎4. Nonvegetarian foods to be avoided include - cured meats and high fat meat products such as ‎‎‎sausages, salami, ham, bacon, and cold cuts ;Red meats like beef, lamb, and venison - should be less ‎in ‎‎your meals ‎
‎5. Seasonings such as onion, garlic, clove, and cinnamon may irritate your stomach lining and worsen ‎‎‎the symptoms due to gastritis ‎

Foods that can help to improve your symptoms include ‎
‎1. fruits such as pears, oranges, sweet limes, watermelons, cantaloupes etc‎
‎2. MILK products like - yoghurt and cottage cheese
‎3. Non Vegetarian food products – include - lean cuts of meat, white meat from chicken and turkey, ‎‎and ‎seafoods

Other measures that can help you in addition to the above dietary measures include -‎
‎1. Walking or running thirty minutes regularly and achieving significant weight reduction.‎
‎2. Stress reduction ‎
‎3. Learn to relax with breathing exercises like Yoga ‎

In addition, you might consult with your gastroenterologist for proper treatment with anti ulcer and ‎acid reducing medications. In addition treatment for H pylori infection of the gastric mucosa can also ‎be initiated after due testing. ‎

I hope this helps.‎