Does A Week Of Dry Throat, Sharp Intermittent Abdominal Pain, And Headaches Require Medical Attention?

Posted on Fri, 15 May 2020

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

Fri, 15 May 2020 Answered on

2 days ago Last reviewed on

Question : Hello! I'm from the United States. I am 26 years old and have acid reflux and seasonal allergies to pollen, dust and mold. I have had odd symptoms lately and I am asking to see if I should go to a hospital. For the past week I have had a very dry throat and pain in my abdomen. No cough, no fever and no changes in appetite. However, the pain in my abdomen comes and goes and is a sharp pain. I also have a headache that comes and goes. It is odd for me to have both abdomen pain and also a dry throat. Should I go to a hospital and seek care?

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Need few more details.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query. Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns.

Our abdomen is divided into 9 parts, right left and middle, upper lower and middle. Can you please clarify that which quadrant does the pain involves? For e.g. right upper. This would help me to provide you a better answer.

Secondly how's your GERD problem right now?
Any medication you are having right now?
Hydration?
Any history of loose mucoid stools?

What food are you having? Junk food? Processed or home cooked?
Smoking and drinking habits?
Can you pin point the pain with a single finger or you need complete palm to localize the site of pain?
Any associated symptoms like bloating, belching, nausea etc.?
Headache involves complete head or is it one sided?
Relieving factor for abdominal pain or headache?

I shall await your reply.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (46 minutes later)

Hi Dr.

Thank you for getting back to me.

The pain in my abdomen is in the lower left, middle and lower right part. My GERD is pretty much under control. It only causes mild stomach ache on occasion if I eat very acidic food like tomatoes. It hasn't been causing me too many problems.
I do no take any kind of medications for anything other than pain killers like Advil for my new stomach pain.
I am not sure how to measure how hydrated I am. My urine is light yellow and most times almost clear.
No history of loose mucoid stools.
I have eaten more frozen processed foods than usual like pizza and fries (I usually don't have them at all)
I don't smoke, but I have increased my wine intake from like one glass a week to 4 or 5 a week
The pain is in multiple locations that I can pinpoint with my finger. The lower left and the lower right (occasionally right above my belly button)
I am definitely bloating, no nausea
Headache is only ever on my left or right side
What usually helps is drinking water, eating rice or having some hot tea.

I also oddly have a very very dry throat

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Thank you so much for the information! That makes sense to me! Just one more question, do you know why my throat is so dry? I find that symptom very random since the rest of my issues are digestive.

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Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow the suggestions.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

On the left side of your abdomen, the major part is occupied by large intestines. What I feel is that your body is not able to digest processed food properly. When food is not digested properly, colonies of bad bacteria start developing over the area causing incomplete fermentation of food causing bloating. These gases compress the intestinal wall (already inflamed) hence causing sharp pain.

To measure proper hydration the easiest way is you should pass 2.5 liters of urine daily. Keep a bottle with a wide mouth and for the next 24 hours pee into it...At the end of the day measure the amount of pee. If it's about 2 to 2.5litre (convert liters in Oz online if you want) then you are properly hydrated.

Secondly, yellow urine is suggestive of improper fluid intake. Urine should be crystal clear at all times. Improper hydration plus incomplete digestion of food may be a cause of headaches.

Suggestions-

- Eat home-cooked vegetarian food strictly for 10 days (better to avoid meat please)
- Take lots of yogurt in food. It contains lactobacillus (aids digestion)
- Get Probiotic VSL#3 from the nearest store and take it twice daily
- Drink 2.5 to 3 liters of water daily; alcohol is a dehydrating agent, better to avoid
- For gas take activated charcoal tablets 3-4 tablets 4 to 5 times a day
- Eat little.
- Take a soft diet like fruits, vegetable salads, etc., for a few days (Give time to your intestines to relax)

Revert to me in 3-5 days.

Thanks. Take care. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards

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Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

I would definitely like to answer that question but after 24 hours.

Please measure the amount of urine in the next 24 hours. If it's more then 2-2.5 liters answer would be different. If it's less than that then your hydration is not proper.

Just calm down and follow up with 24-hour urine volume.

Take care. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee