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Suggest Treatment For Lingering Pain After Eating Food
Question: Hi, 61 years old, very good shape, daily runner 6'1, 175 lbs. On vacation and had a big meal last night and driving back to hotel I felt sharp pains developing in center of stomach. They have not subsided. They move a bit so I am guessing gas however even though it feels like gas I have never had it linger and keep me awake all night. It seems locked up inside body cavity or stomach. Tums did nothing. Feel very bloated.
Brief Answer:
?? Acid reflux to be the cause, needs confirmation
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Let me list your symptoms for you to make things a little more clear:
-Discomfort after a heavy meal
-Heartburn (pain or burning discomfort at the center of the chest/stomach)
-Abdominal bloating
The most common cause for the symptoms that you have presented with is acid reflux or a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although I cannot be completely sure without investigations and ruling out of other conditions that can cause similar symptoms like:
-Gastritis
-Hiatus hernia
-Simple acid reflux
-Esophagitis
-Lower esophageal sphincter abnormalities
-Hyperacidity
I would recommend a 24-hour acid pH monitoring which would confirm/rule out GERD, and accordingly help direct treatment sir. For now you can go about the following (i.e. until you can manage to schedule a doctors appointment):
-Drink plenty of water
-Avoid heavy meals
-Avoid alcohol
-Avoiding smoking
-Take medications like tums (although you feel it did not help) or gelusil; along with famotidine (Eg. pepcid AC), or ranitidine, etc; and prisolec (omeprazole)
-Reduce exercise level till your doctor can examine you as exercise increases acid production which can in turn aggravate your symptoms.
I hope you find my response helpful and informative sir. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
?? Acid reflux to be the cause, needs confirmation
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Let me list your symptoms for you to make things a little more clear:
-Discomfort after a heavy meal
-Heartburn (pain or burning discomfort at the center of the chest/stomach)
-Abdominal bloating
The most common cause for the symptoms that you have presented with is acid reflux or a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although I cannot be completely sure without investigations and ruling out of other conditions that can cause similar symptoms like:
-Gastritis
-Hiatus hernia
-Simple acid reflux
-Esophagitis
-Lower esophageal sphincter abnormalities
-Hyperacidity
I would recommend a 24-hour acid pH monitoring which would confirm/rule out GERD, and accordingly help direct treatment sir. For now you can go about the following (i.e. until you can manage to schedule a doctors appointment):
-Drink plenty of water
-Avoid heavy meals
-Avoid alcohol
-Avoiding smoking
-Take medications like tums (although you feel it did not help) or gelusil; along with famotidine (Eg. pepcid AC), or ranitidine, etc; and prisolec (omeprazole)
-Reduce exercise level till your doctor can examine you as exercise increases acid production which can in turn aggravate your symptoms.
I hope you find my response helpful and informative sir. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My sister had similar and frequent bouts with same and she was having gallbladder attacks and finally had it removed. I guess this could be my circumstance also. Thanks for your response.
Brief Answer:
It was my pleasure entirely
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
Yes sir, gall bladder abnormalities are also possible but they come much lower on the list of possibilities. I suspect one of the above listed conditions to be more likely in your case sir, but if at all they are ruled out then we could go ahead with an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound to rule out other causes as well.
Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further assistance, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
It was my pleasure entirely
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
Yes sir, gall bladder abnormalities are also possible but they come much lower on the list of possibilities. I suspect one of the above listed conditions to be more likely in your case sir, but if at all they are ruled out then we could go ahead with an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound to rule out other causes as well.
Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further assistance, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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