Developed Bouts Of Gastric Spasms In The Lowest Thoracic Wall. What Could Be The Cause?

Posted on Thu, 18 Apr 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 Answered on

Mon, 6 May 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I have recently developed bouts of gastric spasms in the lowest thoracic/ epigastric posterior wall on eating.it comes on acutely and lasts about half an hour. It doesn't happen every time but is more likely to occur when I go out for a meal.It seems unrelated to the type of food and does not affect my bowels. I am a qualified nurse but I cannot think of what has suddenly caused this. I have recently retired and am not particularly stressed. Otherwise fit and healthy, not obese.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (7 minutes later)

Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Such symptoms are most likely caused by stomach disease. It can be stomach inflammation, peptic ulcers or Helicobacter Pylori infection. However with such symptoms it is also necessary to consider stomach cancer.
You may also have symptoms like acid reflux, chest burning, nausea, weight lost.
I suggest you to visit your doctor and have some basic diagnostics. Abdominal ultrasound, blood work and upper GI endoscopy with Helicobacter Pylori infection check, should be done at first.
In a meanwhile you should avoid fatty foods, spicy foods, coffee, chocolate, fruit juices.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

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

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (21 minutes later)

Have had blood work done and all was normal. I have had no other symptoms and otherwise feel well. Feels a bit like a diverticulitis, could this be possible?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 minutes later)

Diverticulitis gives very characteristic lower left abdominal pain. It is also strongly related with chronic constipation (and you have mentioned that you are fit and healthy so I dont think that you have constipation). So diverticulitis at your case does not seem possible.
Peptic ulcer or any other stomach disease does not give any abnormal blood work results. This is quite common that everything is fine in all tests, and the pain is still there. That is why only endoscopy can tell.

Hope this will help.
Regards.

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

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

Thanks very much for your help. Could it be a simple case of stomach flu or do you think I should see the doctor fairly soon? Many thanks you have been very helpful

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (40 minutes later)

If it is a stomach flu, the symptoms should go away after few days. If not, other stomach diseases should be ruled out. So you can wait this few days and if not improving, than you should visit your doctor and get scheduled for endoscopy.
Try to keep mild diet for day or two, avoid fatty foods, fried foods, spicy foods, alcohol and coffee.

Hope this will help.
Regards.

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