Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Can The Consumption Of Gum Drops Cause Intermittent And Painful Abdominal Spasms?
Question: am 74 year old female in excellent health taking no medications of any kind. About 6 weeks ago I started have had abdominal spasms that starts just slightly to the right of my belly button. They are painful and last sometimes for hours and am having them more frequently, no at least daily. They are non-exsistant in the morning and arrive about 1 p.m. or a bit later. I can make them better by using a heating pad or getting into a hot bath. My bowels have also been messed up, not having good movements, generally very loose and off color. My chiropractor started me on emzines and probiotics which helped for a while but don't seem to help anymore. I first noticed the spasms after eating a fair amount of gum drops over a months time. I have stopped eating gum drops.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Without being able to put hands on your abdomen to palpate the place you are describing, I can't say with great accuracy what it is but I can tell you some general problems that can occur in this region that might go with your symptoms of spasms or cramping, and changed stool color and consistency:
The first thing that comes to mind is a problem with the gall bladder and/or ducts. If there is either inflammation there, or blockage as with gall stones, the bile pigments that are released from the liver don't get into the intestinal tract and therefore don't get into the stool. This makes the stool have a clay or khaki color, not brown. Evaluation for this involves a physical exam and abdominal ultrasound.
The site you described can also be where the pancreatic duct joins the duct from the gall bladder and their secretions enter the first part of the small intestines (at the sphincter of Oddi in the duodenum). Again - abdominal ultrasound would help sort this out.
The large intestine (large colon) can cause cramping pain anywhere across the abdomen. Any time it is upset by something (infections, foods, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease), it typically produces cramping and stools are usually loose (except with irritable bowel which can cause constipation instead in some people). Evaluation would involve a colonoscopy, especially if you haven't had one in years.
The stomach itself or first part of small intestines (duodenum) can become inflamed or have ulcers. Usually the pain is under the rib cage on the left of a bit below the sternum and there is burping and pain either when the stomach is empty or after eating. Heating pad is unlikely to help much. If there is bleeding (from ulcers) the stool is either bright red (if brisk) or black and tarry. Taking an H2 blocker such as Zantac 150 mg twice a day empirically can help tell whether this is what is going on (it will help at least a little usually).
My guess is that the problem is related to your gall bladder (particularly if stools are pale) or associated ducts; or is a large intestinal problem (as described above).
I recommend going in to see a doctor if this has been going on 6 weeks and not getting better (and sounds like it is getting worse).
If you go in to see a doctor, make sure they are a doctor and not a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant as they are not able to generate as thorough a differential diagnosis as a physician can.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Without being able to put hands on your abdomen to palpate the place you are describing, I can't say with great accuracy what it is but I can tell you some general problems that can occur in this region that might go with your symptoms of spasms or cramping, and changed stool color and consistency:
The first thing that comes to mind is a problem with the gall bladder and/or ducts. If there is either inflammation there, or blockage as with gall stones, the bile pigments that are released from the liver don't get into the intestinal tract and therefore don't get into the stool. This makes the stool have a clay or khaki color, not brown. Evaluation for this involves a physical exam and abdominal ultrasound.
The site you described can also be where the pancreatic duct joins the duct from the gall bladder and their secretions enter the first part of the small intestines (at the sphincter of Oddi in the duodenum). Again - abdominal ultrasound would help sort this out.
The large intestine (large colon) can cause cramping pain anywhere across the abdomen. Any time it is upset by something (infections, foods, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease), it typically produces cramping and stools are usually loose (except with irritable bowel which can cause constipation instead in some people). Evaluation would involve a colonoscopy, especially if you haven't had one in years.
The stomach itself or first part of small intestines (duodenum) can become inflamed or have ulcers. Usually the pain is under the rib cage on the left of a bit below the sternum and there is burping and pain either when the stomach is empty or after eating. Heating pad is unlikely to help much. If there is bleeding (from ulcers) the stool is either bright red (if brisk) or black and tarry. Taking an H2 blocker such as Zantac 150 mg twice a day empirically can help tell whether this is what is going on (it will help at least a little usually).
My guess is that the problem is related to your gall bladder (particularly if stools are pale) or associated ducts; or is a large intestinal problem (as described above).
I recommend going in to see a doctor if this has been going on 6 weeks and not getting better (and sounds like it is getting worse).
If you go in to see a doctor, make sure they are a doctor and not a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant as they are not able to generate as thorough a differential diagnosis as a physician can.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
