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What Causes Discomfort Stomach And Pain In Back?
Question: Hi,
I am feeling uncomforable with my stomach....I feel its becoming bigger and heavier day by day and its stiff. Since last week, I am facing this problem while bending, wearing cloth and while walking. Sometimes its paining in the back, sides like someone is pulling. I need to stretch out frequently. With this, I also feel little suffocation and trouble in breathing.
I am feeling uncomforable with my stomach....I feel its becoming bigger and heavier day by day and its stiff. Since last week, I am facing this problem while bending, wearing cloth and while walking. Sometimes its paining in the back, sides like someone is pulling. I need to stretch out frequently. With this, I also feel little suffocation and trouble in breathing.
Brief Answer:
Weight? Lifestyle? Acidity?
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. I have gone over your symptoms and it seems like you have 2 issues that need to be addressed your weight and Acidity issues in the stomach.
Can you tell me a little about your lifestyle and exercise? Height, weight, food habits, smoking habits, alcohol intake, sleep habits etc? I need tthis information to formulate a useful answer for you. Any extra information you can give would be helpful.
I look forward to your reply.
Vinay
Weight? Lifestyle? Acidity?
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. I have gone over your symptoms and it seems like you have 2 issues that need to be addressed your weight and Acidity issues in the stomach.
Can you tell me a little about your lifestyle and exercise? Height, weight, food habits, smoking habits, alcohol intake, sleep habits etc? I need tthis information to formulate a useful answer for you. Any extra information you can give would be helpful.
I look forward to your reply.
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX
I am 54 years old. An ex-navy guy, now working with a corporate as project manager with busy life and tight schedules.
1. Weight = 80 Kg
Height = 5.6" ( 167cm)
Well built ..a Gorkha feature.
Pure Vegetarian since last 10 years. 3 times a day...low fat, less spicy, less oil, less salt...avoid junk food/outside food...but sometimes having it when out.
Sleeping normal for 5 to 8 hrs a day.
Living with my beautiful family in Navi XXXXXXX
No smoking since heart attack on 5th May 10. Before that 10 cigarettes a day.
Alcohol very occasional/ or I can say no alcohol as such since last 10 years. But before that I used to drink normal..may be sometime heavily.
2. Acidity: No
Gas: No..but sometimes yes its happening
Toilet: Normal
Kindly advise.
Regards XXXXXXX
Regular walks in the morning for 45 minutes except few days when travelling
5% travel in a month to customer's location all over XXXXXXX on company works
I am 54 years old. An ex-navy guy, now working with a corporate as project manager with busy life and tight schedules.
1. Weight = 80 Kg
Height = 5.6" ( 167cm)
Well built ..a Gorkha feature.
Pure Vegetarian since last 10 years. 3 times a day...low fat, less spicy, less oil, less salt...avoid junk food/outside food...but sometimes having it when out.
Sleeping normal for 5 to 8 hrs a day.
Living with my beautiful family in Navi XXXXXXX
No smoking since heart attack on 5th May 10. Before that 10 cigarettes a day.
Alcohol very occasional/ or I can say no alcohol as such since last 10 years. But before that I used to drink normal..may be sometime heavily.
2. Acidity: No
Gas: No..but sometimes yes its happening
Toilet: Normal
Kindly advise.
Regards XXXXXXX
Regular walks in the morning for 45 minutes except few days when travelling
5% travel in a month to customer's location all over XXXXXXX on company works
Brief Answer:
Acid Peptic Disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for coming back. Am sorry about the late reply. Have not been keeping well myself. Thanks for answering my earlier questions.
The symptoms you have mentioned and I see that you already suffer from Acidity and gas problems. In my opinion, the issues are related here. I will gve you some general information on the management of Acid Peptic Disorder (APD) and lets see if following that advice can help you.
The management has 3 basic components.
1) Lifestyle Changes
2) Medication
3) Surgery
I will talk about the first 2 in detail. If surgery every becomes an issue for you.. then we can revisit that.
1) Lifestyle changes to prevent Acid Peptic Disorder:
A. If you are overweight, losing weight may help reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms because it will reduce pressure on your stomach.
B. If you are a smoker, consider quitting. Tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system and may make symptoms of GORD worse.
C. Eat smaller, more frequent meals, rather than three large meals a day. Make sure you have your evening meal three to four hours before you go to bed.
D. Be aware of triggers that make your Acidity worse. For example, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, or fatty or spicy food. After you identify any food that triggers your symptoms, remove them from your diet to see whether your symptoms improve.
E. Raise the head of your bed by around 20cm (8 inches) by placing a piece of wood, or blocks under it. This is especially helpful in the treatment of reflux. However, make sure your bed is sturdy and safe before adding the wood or blocks. Do not use extra pillows because this may increase pressure on your abdomen.
F. If you are currently taking medication for other health conditions, check with your GP to find whether they may be contributing to your symptoms of acidity.
Alternative medicines may be available. Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without consulting your GP first.
2) Medications: These include:
A. Over-the-counter medications
B. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)
C. H2-receptor antagonists
D. Prokinetics
Depending on how your symptoms respond, you may only need medication for a short while or alternatively on a long-term basis.
A. Over-the-counter medications: A number of over-the-counter medicines can help relieve mild to moderate symptoms of acidity. Antacids (eg Digene, Eno) are medicines that neutralise the effects of stomach acid. However, antacids should not be taken at the same time as other medicines because they can stop other medicines from being properly absorbed into your body. They may also damage the special coating on some types of tablets.
Alginates (Sucralfate) are an alternative type of medicine to antacids. They work by producing a protective coating that shields the lining of your stomach and oesophagus from the effects of stomach acid.
B. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)
If acidty fails to respond to the self-care techniques described above, your GP may prescribe a one month course of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for you. PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach.
Most people tolerate PPI well and side effects are uncommon.
When they do occur they are usually mild and may include
headaches
diarrhoea
feeling sick
abdominal pain
constipation
dizziness
skin rashes
In order to minimise any side effects, your GP will prescribe the lowest possible dose of PPIs that they think will be effective in controlling your symptoms. Therefore, inform your GP if they prescribe PPIs for you that prove ineffective. A stronger dose may be needed. In some cases you may need to take PPIs on a long-term basis.
C. H2-receptor antagonists: If PPIs cannot control your symptoms of acidity, another medicine known as an H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) may be recommended to take in combination with PPIs on a short-term basis (two weeks), or as an alternative to them.
H2RAs block the effects of the chemical histamine, used by your body to produce stomach acid. H2RAs therefore help reduce the amount of acid in your stomach.
Side effects of H2RAs are uncommon. However, possible side effects may include:
diarrhoea
headaches
dizziness
tiredness
a rash
Some types of H2RAs are available as over-the-counter medicines. These types of HR2As are taken in a lower dosage than the ones available on prescription.
D. Prokinetics
Particularly in reflux, if the symptoms are not responding to other forms of treatment, your GP may prescribe a short-term dose of a prokinetic.
Prokinetics speed up the emptying of your stomach, which means there is less opportunity for acid to irritate your oesophagus.
A small number of people who take prokinetics have what is known as ‘extrapyramidal symptoms’. Extrapyramidal symptoms are a series of related side effects that affect your nervous system. Extrapyramidal symptoms include:
muscle spasms
problems opening your mouth fully
a tendency to stick your tongue out of your mouth
slurred speech
abnormal changes in body posture
If you have the above symptoms while taking prokinetics, stop taking them and contact your GP or out-of-hours doctor immediately. They may recommend your dose is discontinued.
Extrapyramidal symptoms should stop within 24 hours of the medicine being withdrawn.
Prokinetics are not usually recommended for people under 20 years old because of an increased risk of extrapyramidal symptoms.
Usually, the symptoms of Acid Peptic Disorder can be managed with just the lifestyle modifications, if these are not enough, then a proton pump inhibitor might be called for.
I hope this information helps, try the life style modifications and let me know how it goes. Feel free to follow-up
Vinay
Acid Peptic Disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for coming back. Am sorry about the late reply. Have not been keeping well myself. Thanks for answering my earlier questions.
The symptoms you have mentioned and I see that you already suffer from Acidity and gas problems. In my opinion, the issues are related here. I will gve you some general information on the management of Acid Peptic Disorder (APD) and lets see if following that advice can help you.
The management has 3 basic components.
1) Lifestyle Changes
2) Medication
3) Surgery
I will talk about the first 2 in detail. If surgery every becomes an issue for you.. then we can revisit that.
1) Lifestyle changes to prevent Acid Peptic Disorder:
A. If you are overweight, losing weight may help reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms because it will reduce pressure on your stomach.
B. If you are a smoker, consider quitting. Tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system and may make symptoms of GORD worse.
C. Eat smaller, more frequent meals, rather than three large meals a day. Make sure you have your evening meal three to four hours before you go to bed.
D. Be aware of triggers that make your Acidity worse. For example, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, or fatty or spicy food. After you identify any food that triggers your symptoms, remove them from your diet to see whether your symptoms improve.
E. Raise the head of your bed by around 20cm (8 inches) by placing a piece of wood, or blocks under it. This is especially helpful in the treatment of reflux. However, make sure your bed is sturdy and safe before adding the wood or blocks. Do not use extra pillows because this may increase pressure on your abdomen.
F. If you are currently taking medication for other health conditions, check with your GP to find whether they may be contributing to your symptoms of acidity.
Alternative medicines may be available. Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without consulting your GP first.
2) Medications: These include:
A. Over-the-counter medications
B. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)
C. H2-receptor antagonists
D. Prokinetics
Depending on how your symptoms respond, you may only need medication for a short while or alternatively on a long-term basis.
A. Over-the-counter medications: A number of over-the-counter medicines can help relieve mild to moderate symptoms of acidity. Antacids (eg Digene, Eno) are medicines that neutralise the effects of stomach acid. However, antacids should not be taken at the same time as other medicines because they can stop other medicines from being properly absorbed into your body. They may also damage the special coating on some types of tablets.
Alginates (Sucralfate) are an alternative type of medicine to antacids. They work by producing a protective coating that shields the lining of your stomach and oesophagus from the effects of stomach acid.
B. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs)
If acidty fails to respond to the self-care techniques described above, your GP may prescribe a one month course of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for you. PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach.
Most people tolerate PPI well and side effects are uncommon.
When they do occur they are usually mild and may include
headaches
diarrhoea
feeling sick
abdominal pain
constipation
dizziness
skin rashes
In order to minimise any side effects, your GP will prescribe the lowest possible dose of PPIs that they think will be effective in controlling your symptoms. Therefore, inform your GP if they prescribe PPIs for you that prove ineffective. A stronger dose may be needed. In some cases you may need to take PPIs on a long-term basis.
C. H2-receptor antagonists: If PPIs cannot control your symptoms of acidity, another medicine known as an H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) may be recommended to take in combination with PPIs on a short-term basis (two weeks), or as an alternative to them.
H2RAs block the effects of the chemical histamine, used by your body to produce stomach acid. H2RAs therefore help reduce the amount of acid in your stomach.
Side effects of H2RAs are uncommon. However, possible side effects may include:
diarrhoea
headaches
dizziness
tiredness
a rash
Some types of H2RAs are available as over-the-counter medicines. These types of HR2As are taken in a lower dosage than the ones available on prescription.
D. Prokinetics
Particularly in reflux, if the symptoms are not responding to other forms of treatment, your GP may prescribe a short-term dose of a prokinetic.
Prokinetics speed up the emptying of your stomach, which means there is less opportunity for acid to irritate your oesophagus.
A small number of people who take prokinetics have what is known as ‘extrapyramidal symptoms’. Extrapyramidal symptoms are a series of related side effects that affect your nervous system. Extrapyramidal symptoms include:
muscle spasms
problems opening your mouth fully
a tendency to stick your tongue out of your mouth
slurred speech
abnormal changes in body posture
If you have the above symptoms while taking prokinetics, stop taking them and contact your GP or out-of-hours doctor immediately. They may recommend your dose is discontinued.
Extrapyramidal symptoms should stop within 24 hours of the medicine being withdrawn.
Prokinetics are not usually recommended for people under 20 years old because of an increased risk of extrapyramidal symptoms.
Usually, the symptoms of Acid Peptic Disorder can be managed with just the lifestyle modifications, if these are not enough, then a proton pump inhibitor might be called for.
I hope this information helps, try the life style modifications and let me know how it goes. Feel free to follow-up
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX
Thanks for your lengthy and informative reply.
I tried to understand them..got few of them in general but I did't understand most if them.
I will discuss with the physician when I go for medical test next time.
In the mean time....can I have dietecian to guide me for my food intake?
Regards XXXXXXX
Thanks for your lengthy and informative reply.
I tried to understand them..got few of them in general but I did't understand most if them.
I will discuss with the physician when I go for medical test next time.
In the mean time....can I have dietecian to guide me for my food intake?
Regards XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
We will have one contact you
Detailed Answer:
We will have a dietician contact you
We will have one contact you
Detailed Answer:
We will have a dietician contact you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX
Yes...request dietecian to contact and analyse the problem for early action.
Kindly give me details.
Regards XXXXXXX
Yes...request dietecian to contact and analyse the problem for early action.
Kindly give me details.
Regards XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I have relayed your request
Detailed Answer:
I have relayed your request to our dietary team. If they do not get in touch with you within the next few days, please let me know so i can find out what is going on.
Vinay
I have relayed your request
Detailed Answer:
I have relayed your request to our dietary team. If they do not get in touch with you within the next few days, please let me know so i can find out what is going on.
Vinay
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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