Stomach pain after eating

lightenup2016
lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
For the last 6 days, my stomach hurts after I eat anything, and so I’m not eating up to my goal calories. I thought it was a stomach bug at first, but stomachache is the only symptom I’ve had. Even now, my stomach still hurts after having 5 crackers. I’ve averaged 1050 calories/day this week, when my goal is 1550 (and I usually average more like 1700, actually). I’ve never had this before. Any thoughts on what could be the cause? I’m not sure at what point to see a doctor. Thanks!
«13

Replies

  • Redordeadhead
    Redordeadhead Posts: 1,188 Member
    Definitely call a doctor. My close friend is just out of hospital after the appendix burst. Hopefully yours is nothing but don't wait with these things, better to check there's nothing serious going on.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Ulcer maybe? Definitely see a doctor.
  • peggy_polenta
    peggy_polenta Posts: 325 Member
    have you lost much weight b4 this started. is it a bit higher up in your bellyÉ. if so it could be your gallbladder as weight loss can cause attacks. i still think you should see a dr though.
  • lightenup2016
    lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
    peggy_polenta wrote: »
    have you lost much weight b4 this started. is it a bit higher up in your bellyÉ. if so it could be your gallbladder as weight loss can cause attacks. i still think you should see a dr though.

    I had lost about 20 lbs— started at 163, and was down to 143 when this started. Down to 140 today. It does feel higher than a typical stomachache, but it’s not very localized. I made an appt for tomorrow, hoping to give it one more day. Thanks!
  • agilland2918
    agilland2918 Posts: 3 Member
    Hi. If you are trying to gain weight and not being able to, and now you have pain, possibly celiac disease. Often when people try to gain weight they eat more carbs, often containing gluten. If you have trouble gaining weight it could also be due to celiac because your body doesn’t absorb nutrients the way it should. Even the crackers you ate... probably gluten. I was hospitalized 3 times before they figured out I had it. A blood test to show the antibodies is first, real easy. Good luck, and hope it isn’t celiac, it sucks.
  • rodnichols69
    rodnichols69 Posts: 83 Member
    What did the doc say?
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    agilland2918 wrote: »
    Hi. If you are trying to gain weight and not being able to, and now you have pain, possibly celiac disease. Often when people try to gain weight they eat more carbs, often containing gluten. If you have trouble gaining weight it could also be due to celiac because your body doesn’t absorb nutrients the way it should. Even the crackers you ate... probably gluten. I was hospitalized 3 times before they figured out I had it. A blood test to show the antibodies is first, real easy. Good luck, and hope it isn’t celiac, it sucks.

    she's trying to lose weight and the problem only started maximum 2 weeks ago. Before starting with the testing for celiacs, simple things like an ulcer or a gastritis should be ruled out. And for that she needs to head to a doctor. which up to now she hasn't.

    Things like testing for celiacs can always be done if a doctor hasn't found anything. But, I repeat, she hasn't visited the doctor yet AT ALL for her problem...
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    lightenup2016 wrote: »
    rodnichols69 wrote: »
    What did the doc say?

    She couldn’t come up with anything obvious, but I’m going back tomorrow to test for H. Pylori, and then she’s referring me to a GI doc. It didn’t seem like gallbladder. We’ll see!

    Good luck!

    I hope it's 'just' H.Pylori. Cause those suckers are easy to obliterate with the correct medications :smiley:
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    lightenup2016 wrote: »
    Thanks again everyone. I’m still having the same problem. I did manage to eat 1350 calories yesterday, but just now had to push away half of my lunch. Anyone who knows me knows I never leave food on my plate!

    I did the h pylori test today. There was a gross sweet liquid I had to drink. After I left I thought, “Now, how do I log that?” 😆

    urg. my condolences!

    Milk and easily digested foods (white bread for example) tended to go down easier for me when I was suffering from those buggers. You could test out various liquid/soft foods to see what works.

    I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that it's *only* that!
  • wmweeza
    wmweeza Posts: 319 Member
    edited February 2020
    Hope you feel better! I had H Pylori, except it went misdiagnosed as about 3 other things. It took 2 years to finally get the diagnosis and get started on antibiotics, by then the damage was done and my digestion was never the same. I still eat small portions, I never clean a plate.
    I'm hopful for you since you sound informed and saw a doc quickly that whatever your problem is it will clear up with a bit of help.
    Plain rice and plain baked chicken were my go to foods
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited February 2020
    I've been having stomach pain, mostly after eating but sometimes in the middle of the night. We're in the middle of testing and have no diagnosis yet but it sounded like GERD or an ulcer to my doctor.

    She mailed me a prescription for Omeprazole but after reading about the side effects I went a different route. (My mother has silent reflux, also ruled out PPIs, and had been treating it successfully with lifestyle changes.

    I read about DGL for reducing stomach acid in a book, but this has a lot of the same info: https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/dgl-for-acid-reflux#benefits

    ...A 2018 study found that DGL was more effective than acid-suppressive drugs. This supported earlier research.

    *****************

    Chewable DGL is better absorbed than when it is in capsule form, but unfortunately for me most chewables contain stevia, sucrolose, or other sweeteners I find nasty. (I am ok with sorbitol and mannitol.)

    I bought Natural Factors, Chewable DGL 400 mg https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B95J6FA/ while shopping on my phone and cancelled after I got a better look on my computer, but still rec'd the order. I don't like the stevia, but can tolerate it. I've been taking it for 5 days and it is helping! (I'm also doing the majority of the diet and lifestyle changes recommended for GERD/ulcers.)

    If anyone can recommend a chewable DGL brand that uses sugar, sorbitol, mannitol, or no sweeteners, please advise. I did find this https://good-earth.com/product/dgl-original-100-chewable/ which is unsweetened, but would prefer to buy from an online store I know, like Amazon, iherb, or Emerson.
  • YvetteK2015
    YvetteK2015 Posts: 654 Member
    I've had two gastric ulcers before. The pain was so bad I would almost double over eating bread or crackers. My diet was mostly liquid until they healed. For that all I needed was PPIs for a few months.
  • YvetteK2015
    YvetteK2015 Posts: 654 Member
    lightenup2016 wrote: »
    Well the H pylori test came back negative. Does that rule out an ulcer? Today I felt worse, but I did manage 1200 calories.

    My gastric ulcers were from the overuse of aspirin. So there are a number of things that can cause ulcers. You will probably have to have an endoscopy if they suspect that is what you have.

    I really hope you get some answers soon. Sorry you feel so bad.
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    lightenup2016 wrote: »
    Well the H pylori test came back negative. Does that rule out an ulcer? Today I felt worse, but I did manage 1200 calories.

    I didn't have H. pylori either - but after the endoscopy I had a diagnosis of chronic gastritis and a duodenal ulcer. The treatment was 2 months on a PPI and since then, a histamine 2 blocker (used to be generic Zantac until that was taken off the market and now it's generic Pepcid). Eating doesn't usually cause pain any longer except sometimes - weirdly, yogurt can be a problem from time to time.
  • lightenup2016
    lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    lightenup2016 wrote: »
    Well the H pylori test came back negative. Does that rule out an ulcer? Today I felt worse, but I did manage 1200 calories.

    Sounds like it is time for some tests. Have they done x-rays or ultrasound yet?

    Is the pain dull or sharp? Where on the abdomen does it hurt? Upper left can be kidney, upper right can be gallbladder, upper center can be hiatal hernia, lower can be duodenal ulcer. There are just so many possibilities. Your doctor is going about this the right way: eliminate what is easy to eliminate first, then go onward to the expensive/time consuming/invasive tests.

    It is good you are working with your medical team to solve this problem. I had a hiatal hernia which acted up occasionally (maybe once or twice a year for 20 years). I lost over 100 lb. and suddenly I had major pain whenever I ate. Turns out all that fat squished my insides to where the opening in the hiatus got enlarged. When I lost the fat, there was more room for my organs to move around inside and 3/4 of the stomach decided to move up into my chest cavity. Surgically repaired and I have had no problems in the last 4 years. I hope your issue is an easier one that can be fixed with medication or food choices but if not, it should be repaired as soon as possible.

    Wow, that’s crazy! I’m glad you’re better now.

    My GI appt is still a month away, so no other testing yet. The pain is dull and to the right a bit. My GP didn’t think it seemed like gallbladder. This came on so suddenly, it’s hard to believe it would be an ulcer, but I don’t know.

    Does anyone know much about gastroparesis? That’s what my sister thinks it sounds like, and the symptoms do fit.
  • lightenup2016
    lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
    YvetteK2015 wrote: »
    lightenup2016 wrote: »
    Well the H pylori test came back negative. Does that rule out an ulcer? Today I felt worse, but I did manage 1200 calories.

    My gastric ulcers were from the overuse of aspirin. So there are a number of things that can cause ulcers. You will probably have to have an endoscopy if they suspect that is what you have.

    I really hope you get some answers soon. Sorry you feel so bad.

    Thank you! I do use ibuprofen fairly often, and sometimes acetaminophen, but no aspirin. I only drink black coffee for breakfast, and I often wonder if that’s bad for my stomach.

    Did your ulcer pain come on suddenly or over time?
  • lightenup2016
    lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
    Maxxitt wrote: »
    lightenup2016 wrote: »
    Well the H pylori test came back negative. Does that rule out an ulcer? Today I felt worse, but I did manage 1200 calories.

    I didn't have H. pylori either - but after the endoscopy I had a diagnosis of chronic gastritis and a duodenal ulcer. The treatment was 2 months on a PPI and since then, a histamine 2 blocker (used to be generic Zantac until that was taken off the market and now it's generic Pepcid). Eating doesn't usually cause pain any longer except sometimes - weirdly, yogurt can be a problem from time to time.

    Did your pain come on suddenly or over time? Yogurt has been my staple for an afternoon snack, but recently has been making my stomach hurt (before everything made it hurt). Thanks!
  • Redordeadhead
    Redordeadhead Posts: 1,188 Member
    They checked your appendix right?
  • lightenup2016
    lightenup2016 Posts: 1,055 Member
    Redordeadhead wrote: »
    They checked your appendix right?

    It’s been removed already

Categories