Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Hello, I'm A 22 Year Old Healthy Male And For
Question: Hello, I'm a 22 year old healthy male and for about the past month I have been experiencing upper right abdominal pain, pain in the right side of my back and between my shoulder blades, a bloated abdomen (feels like an accumulation of fluid) and fatigue. This pain started after 2 days of heavy drinking over the course of a weekend (heavy drinking one night and then drinking all of the next day). I occasionally have a few drinks on week days and usually heavily on weekends (15 drinks or so), and I have been drinking since around the time i was 19. I have seen my gp who ordered an ultrasound of my abdomen and blood work (both came back normal) and visited the er and had another ultrasound and bloodwork (also came back normal and the bloodwork with the date is attached). However, before this pain started in mid XXXXXXX I had a blood test done at a check up which showed an ast of 94 and normal alt. My gp and the er said that it could be gastritis and I have been taking omeprazole for about a week and a half with no improvement. They do not think that this is a liver issue but I do not know what else it could be. I have a gastroenterologist appt in a few weeks but I'm nervous of what this could be. Any insight?
Brief Answer:
Gastritis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting you.
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.
The AST of 94 which was seen in an earlier check up is abnormal and could have been due to alcoholic hepatitis. But the recent report which is attached here shows AST as 18 which is within normal limits. The rest of the liver panel is also normal. The ultrasound scan also has not shown anything abnormal about liver. So the pain is not due to liver issue.
The other possibilities are pancreatitis and gastritis.
But pancreatitis is also ruled out as the report is showing a normal level of lipase and also you have mentioned ultrasound scan was normal.
So the most likely cause is gastritis.
You can get an endoscopy done to confirm it. Till then you can continue taking omeprazole.
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Avoid taking any painkiller medications.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Gastritis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting you.
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.
The AST of 94 which was seen in an earlier check up is abnormal and could have been due to alcoholic hepatitis. But the recent report which is attached here shows AST as 18 which is within normal limits. The rest of the liver panel is also normal. The ultrasound scan also has not shown anything abnormal about liver. So the pain is not due to liver issue.
The other possibilities are pancreatitis and gastritis.
But pancreatitis is also ruled out as the report is showing a normal level of lipase and also you have mentioned ultrasound scan was normal.
So the most likely cause is gastritis.
You can get an endoscopy done to confirm it. Till then you can continue taking omeprazole.
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Avoid taking any painkiller medications.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr., But if I had alcoholic hepatitis that would have been seen on the ultrasound, right?
Brief Answer:
No
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
No ultrasound scan will not show specific findings of alcoholic hepatitis.
It is diagnosed with liver enzyme levels (blood test).
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
No
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
No ultrasound scan will not show specific findings of alcoholic hepatitis.
It is diagnosed with liver enzyme levels (blood test).
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
