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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Lower Abdominal Pain And Flatulence
Posted on
Fri, 11 Nov 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 11 Nov 2016
Answered on
Fri, 2 Dec 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I have had gas pains in the lower and upper abdomen for 3 days. Pain is relieved with having a bowel movement or passing gas. Upper abdomen is now painful to touch.
Brief Answer:
Suggestions
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Gas pain can be from a change in the bowel flora, such as after an antibiotic, or from a gut infection (which usually only lasts a few days), or from something that you ate.
I see that you listed that you are taking ibuprofen. Unless you absolutely need ibuprofen for musculoskeletal pain, such as from arthritis, I recommend not using it right now because it can cause irritation to the stomach lining (which may make the abdominal pain worse, particularly upper abdominal pain). If you absolutely need a pain reliever for musculoskeletal pain or headache right now, consider using acetaminophen (Tylenol). But don't use ibuprofen for abdominal pain.
Consider taking:
1. A product that has simethicone in it, such as Gas X, to help break up the gas.
And
2. An H2 acid blocker. I recommend Zantac 150 mg twice a day. You should see some benefit in a couple days from this, and if it helps, continue to take it for a couple of weeks. But no ibuprofen. And decrease (for now) fruits; citrus; acidy foods and drinks; beans/legumes; cruciferous veggies (such as cauliflower) unless well cooked.
I do not recommend a proton pump inhibitor medication as they can cause rebound acidity when discontinued.
If the pain increases instead of getting better, then do go in to be seen and examined.
I hope this information helps.
Suggestions
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Gas pain can be from a change in the bowel flora, such as after an antibiotic, or from a gut infection (which usually only lasts a few days), or from something that you ate.
I see that you listed that you are taking ibuprofen. Unless you absolutely need ibuprofen for musculoskeletal pain, such as from arthritis, I recommend not using it right now because it can cause irritation to the stomach lining (which may make the abdominal pain worse, particularly upper abdominal pain). If you absolutely need a pain reliever for musculoskeletal pain or headache right now, consider using acetaminophen (Tylenol). But don't use ibuprofen for abdominal pain.
Consider taking:
1. A product that has simethicone in it, such as Gas X, to help break up the gas.
And
2. An H2 acid blocker. I recommend Zantac 150 mg twice a day. You should see some benefit in a couple days from this, and if it helps, continue to take it for a couple of weeks. But no ibuprofen. And decrease (for now) fruits; citrus; acidy foods and drinks; beans/legumes; cruciferous veggies (such as cauliflower) unless well cooked.
I do not recommend a proton pump inhibitor medication as they can cause rebound acidity when discontinued.
If the pain increases instead of getting better, then do go in to be seen and examined.
I hope this information helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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