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Suggest Treatment For Upper Stomach Pain Radiating Towards Back, Diarrhea And Asthma
Question: I have had upper stomach pain for two days, not able to sleep on right side, pain radiating through to my back at times, a feeling of hunger pains when I am not hungry, and now my stool is half-and-half colored, brown and light colored.
I am a 47 year old female, and often have some sort of digestive problem happening - gerd, upset stomach, diarrhea, occasional extreme urgency for bm, occasional liquid or mucousy stool. I currently take digestive enzymes and that has helped with the acid reflux. No other gastro medications.
I take Advair daily for asthma and Fluticasone daily for allergy/sinus.
I am a 47 year old female, and often have some sort of digestive problem happening - gerd, upset stomach, diarrhea, occasional extreme urgency for bm, occasional liquid or mucousy stool. I currently take digestive enzymes and that has helped with the acid reflux. No other gastro medications.
I take Advair daily for asthma and Fluticasone daily for allergy/sinus.
Brief Answer:
Gallstones should be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Your symptoms are quite characteristic for gallstones. There is not much abdominal conditions which give pain radiating to the back. Kidney, pancreas or gallstones can do that. Considering that you have other symptoms associated with foods intake gallstones are first to be ruled out.
Gallstones can also give stool problems including its color change or even diarrhea.
If you have been taking some antiacids for a long time (for GERD symptoms), mucousy stool along with bowel movement urgency can be caused by chronic bacterial infection. Please note that stomach acid protects digestive tract against the bacteria. So taking antiacids can trigger small bowel infection.
Here is what you should do:
- have abdominal ultrasound, blood work (liver tests, amylase and lipase levels, CBC,), urine analysis
- have stool test and stool culture test
- start probiotic intake
- if the stool test reveal an infection, antibiotic should be given
- if no infection confirmed, colonoscopy should be considered
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Gallstones should be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Your symptoms are quite characteristic for gallstones. There is not much abdominal conditions which give pain radiating to the back. Kidney, pancreas or gallstones can do that. Considering that you have other symptoms associated with foods intake gallstones are first to be ruled out.
Gallstones can also give stool problems including its color change or even diarrhea.
If you have been taking some antiacids for a long time (for GERD symptoms), mucousy stool along with bowel movement urgency can be caused by chronic bacterial infection. Please note that stomach acid protects digestive tract against the bacteria. So taking antiacids can trigger small bowel infection.
Here is what you should do:
- have abdominal ultrasound, blood work (liver tests, amylase and lipase levels, CBC,), urine analysis
- have stool test and stool culture test
- start probiotic intake
- if the stool test reveal an infection, antibiotic should be given
- if no infection confirmed, colonoscopy should be considered
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response- I do not take antacids specifically because I know they are not good for you and only a short term solution. I do take probiotics.
What could be causing this pain and why does it hurt more on the right side, so much that I can't sleep on that side? It is different than pain I have had associated with food borne illness/food poisoning. It starts as hunger-type pain that gets sharp. There are also a lot of gurgling noises.
What could be causing this pain and why does it hurt more on the right side, so much that I can't sleep on that side? It is different than pain I have had associated with food borne illness/food poisoning. It starts as hunger-type pain that gets sharp. There are also a lot of gurgling noises.
Brief Answer:
Gallstones.
Detailed Answer:
Like I have mentioned before, gallstones can be responsible for this type of pain. Gallbladder is located on the right side so in case of stones, upper right abdomen , right back and even right shoulder can be painful. Gallstones pain can be as described by you. And gurgling noises can appear as well.
if the pain gets more intense after physical activity or lifting heavy objects, spine disc problem can be the case. But gallstones are definitely first to be ruled out.
Gallstones.
Detailed Answer:
Like I have mentioned before, gallstones can be responsible for this type of pain. Gallbladder is located on the right side so in case of stones, upper right abdomen , right back and even right shoulder can be painful. Gallstones pain can be as described by you. And gurgling noises can appear as well.
if the pain gets more intense after physical activity or lifting heavy objects, spine disc problem can be the case. But gallstones are definitely first to be ruled out.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Okay! I thought you meant you were ruling out gallstones...
Is this something that resolves itself? Or do I need treated right away? I couldn't get in to see a specialist until October.
Is this something that resolves itself? Or do I need treated right away? I couldn't get in to see a specialist until October.
Brief Answer:
It can wait.
Detailed Answer:
If you have gallstones, surgery is the only treatment.
If the pain is not strong, no fever, this is NOT urgent and can wait. October is fine. Just remember to avoid fatty foods, fried foods, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee. If you are able to have ultrasound before visiting a specialist, it will accelerate the diagnosis.
It can wait.
Detailed Answer:
If you have gallstones, surgery is the only treatment.
If the pain is not strong, no fever, this is NOT urgent and can wait. October is fine. Just remember to avoid fatty foods, fried foods, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee. If you are able to have ultrasound before visiting a specialist, it will accelerate the diagnosis.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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