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Suggest Treatment For Intermittent Abdominal Pain
Question: Dear Doctor,
I have had abdomen pain for about a month intermittently. Pain area is usually around and above navel. Not sure is stomach or not. Pain not severe, just dull pain and may last for many hours and even days. I feel the dull pain stronger during sleep or when awake after sleep. Seems better during day time (not sure if it is because I am busy during day time and hence less attentive to the pain). I tried avoiding spicy food and improved, but re-appear after some days. Sometimes the pain subsided after taking medicine (spasmomen or nexium), but not always.
I haven’t consulted doctor yet. For your information, I had gastroscopy examination and MRI of upper abdomen in July 2014. No major problems but found acute on chronic antral gastritis with erosions. Improved after medication, but still with on and off dull pain. Doctor could not explain and then prescribed xanax to see if it would help. I just took xanax a few times and then did not pay attention to the dull pain. Gradually the pain subsided and such on-and-off dull pain scenario has become less and less. If the dull pain re-appears, it usually subsided after I have taken medicine (nexium or spasmomen). But this time, the dull pain last longer and sometimes cannot be relieved by medication, or re-appear again just after one or two days.
1. Can it be something serious? I have no other discomfort except this dull pain.
2. Can gastritis evolve to stomach cancer?
3. For stomach cancer, how fast does it progress? it usually takes how long from onset to late stage?
4. In your opinion, what could be the possible problems?
5. Should I take gastroscopy examination again? Any other examinations do you think is required?
6. What other advice do you have?
I have concern and would appreciate your advice.
Best regards.
I have had abdomen pain for about a month intermittently. Pain area is usually around and above navel. Not sure is stomach or not. Pain not severe, just dull pain and may last for many hours and even days. I feel the dull pain stronger during sleep or when awake after sleep. Seems better during day time (not sure if it is because I am busy during day time and hence less attentive to the pain). I tried avoiding spicy food and improved, but re-appear after some days. Sometimes the pain subsided after taking medicine (spasmomen or nexium), but not always.
I haven’t consulted doctor yet. For your information, I had gastroscopy examination and MRI of upper abdomen in July 2014. No major problems but found acute on chronic antral gastritis with erosions. Improved after medication, but still with on and off dull pain. Doctor could not explain and then prescribed xanax to see if it would help. I just took xanax a few times and then did not pay attention to the dull pain. Gradually the pain subsided and such on-and-off dull pain scenario has become less and less. If the dull pain re-appears, it usually subsided after I have taken medicine (nexium or spasmomen). But this time, the dull pain last longer and sometimes cannot be relieved by medication, or re-appear again just after one or two days.
1. Can it be something serious? I have no other discomfort except this dull pain.
2. Can gastritis evolve to stomach cancer?
3. For stomach cancer, how fast does it progress? it usually takes how long from onset to late stage?
4. In your opinion, what could be the possible problems?
5. Should I take gastroscopy examination again? Any other examinations do you think is required?
6. What other advice do you have?
I have concern and would appreciate your advice.
Best regards.
Brief Answer:
Please look at the detailed answers.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Thanks for contacting Healthcare Magic.
Here are responses to your queries:
1. Can it be something serious? I have no other discomfort except this dull pain.
A: It is unlikely to be serious condition as there are no alarm symptoms. Alarm symptoms generally include weight loss, anaemia, bleeding from stool or in vomitus, mass in abdomen. Also your endoscopy had only antral gastritis earlier.
2. Can gastritis evolve to stomach cancer?
A: There are kinds of gastritis that can evolve into cancers like atrophic gastritis. But yours seems to be innocuous.
3. For stomach cancer, how fast does it progress? it usually takes how long from onset to late stage?
A: One can not generalise how fast a cancer can progress.
4. In your opinion, what could be the possible problems?
A: Your problem may be due to lots of reasons starting from lactose intolerance, non-ulcer dyspepsia, ulcer disease, infections in small bowel like giardiasis, some problem in small bowel etc.
5. Should I take gastroscopy examination again? Any other examinations do you think is required?
A: It seems you have a major concern about gastric cancer in your mind, hence you should certainly gat a gastroscopy done. This will rule out a cancer as well as may diagnose the cause of your problems like gastritis or user. During endoscopy physician should look for H.pylori infection as well as should take a duodenal biopsy.
6. What other advice do you have?
A: In my opinion you should consult your physician or gastroenterologist. He can initially start you on PPI medications (like Neksium) and if there is no relief then he can investigate further for other possible causes of pain. You should also reduce your milk and juice intake, sometimes this may help.
How my answer helps you in getting better. Do not hesitate to ask if you have any other queries.
Kind regards,
Dr Dinesh Kumar Singal
Please look at the detailed answers.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX,
Thanks for contacting Healthcare Magic.
Here are responses to your queries:
1. Can it be something serious? I have no other discomfort except this dull pain.
A: It is unlikely to be serious condition as there are no alarm symptoms. Alarm symptoms generally include weight loss, anaemia, bleeding from stool or in vomitus, mass in abdomen. Also your endoscopy had only antral gastritis earlier.
2. Can gastritis evolve to stomach cancer?
A: There are kinds of gastritis that can evolve into cancers like atrophic gastritis. But yours seems to be innocuous.
3. For stomach cancer, how fast does it progress? it usually takes how long from onset to late stage?
A: One can not generalise how fast a cancer can progress.
4. In your opinion, what could be the possible problems?
A: Your problem may be due to lots of reasons starting from lactose intolerance, non-ulcer dyspepsia, ulcer disease, infections in small bowel like giardiasis, some problem in small bowel etc.
5. Should I take gastroscopy examination again? Any other examinations do you think is required?
A: It seems you have a major concern about gastric cancer in your mind, hence you should certainly gat a gastroscopy done. This will rule out a cancer as well as may diagnose the cause of your problems like gastritis or user. During endoscopy physician should look for H.pylori infection as well as should take a duodenal biopsy.
6. What other advice do you have?
A: In my opinion you should consult your physician or gastroenterologist. He can initially start you on PPI medications (like Neksium) and if there is no relief then he can investigate further for other possible causes of pain. You should also reduce your milk and juice intake, sometimes this may help.
How my answer helps you in getting better. Do not hesitate to ask if you have any other queries.
Kind regards,
Dr Dinesh Kumar Singal
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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