Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Congestive Heart Failure In An Elderly Person?
Posted on
Thu, 19 Jan 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 18 Jan 2017
Answered on
Mon, 13 Feb 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : My mother is 86 and has congestive heartfalure and last night her stomach began making A LOT noise and is still growling loudly at this time. She has very low energy and up until now she was fine. She took 2 750mg Tums and it is still growling in her stomach. What can we do?
Brief Answer:
Possible Causes
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
A growling stomach most often means gas, as caused by alterations in GI chemistry from acidity, and or heavy meals.
I must ask, is there pain associated with this growling ?
Any other symptoms, nausea, vomiting, blood on stool presentation and or dark tarry stools lately ?
This would lead me to warning signs for either ulcers, stool/bowel obstruction and/or bacterial infection, all possible causes for your mother's experience.
If there are none of these symptoms and this is isolated growling; I'd lean towards some of the more benign causes until proven otherwise; such as excess gas or possible over acid production from a meal your mother's tummy didn't like.
Ant-acids may help, over the counter digestive enzymes aka alpha-D-galactosidase and or simethicone or activated charcoal. I would talk to your local pharmacist to determine whether these are available.
Nonetheless I would recommend a visit to a physician if these symptoms do not subside, worsen and or any of the symptoms I mentioned above are present, particularly if there is severe abdominal pain, fevers, and or blood; this will warrant calling emergency services and presenting to your nearest emergent or urgent care facility.
I wish you and your mother the best.
Possible Causes
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
A growling stomach most often means gas, as caused by alterations in GI chemistry from acidity, and or heavy meals.
I must ask, is there pain associated with this growling ?
Any other symptoms, nausea, vomiting, blood on stool presentation and or dark tarry stools lately ?
This would lead me to warning signs for either ulcers, stool/bowel obstruction and/or bacterial infection, all possible causes for your mother's experience.
If there are none of these symptoms and this is isolated growling; I'd lean towards some of the more benign causes until proven otherwise; such as excess gas or possible over acid production from a meal your mother's tummy didn't like.
Ant-acids may help, over the counter digestive enzymes aka alpha-D-galactosidase and or simethicone or activated charcoal. I would talk to your local pharmacist to determine whether these are available.
Nonetheless I would recommend a visit to a physician if these symptoms do not subside, worsen and or any of the symptoms I mentioned above are present, particularly if there is severe abdominal pain, fevers, and or blood; this will warrant calling emergency services and presenting to your nearest emergent or urgent care facility.
I wish you and your mother the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
