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What Causes Persistent And Prolonged Abdominal Pain?
Question: HI DR. I AM A 70 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. I PREVIOUSLY HAD HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION (15 YARS AGO). NO SUMPTOMS SINCE THEN UNTIL 2 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL SINCE LAST THURSDAY ON AND OFF . NO ONE CAN TELL ME ANYTHING. MY ILLNESS IS A "MYSTERY".. I HAVE DONE BLOOD, URINE TESTS, BECAUSE I ALSO HAD BLEEDING WHN I PASSED STOOL. DURING MY ADMISSION I HAD A COLONOSCOPY (THEY FOUND POLYPS AND INTERNAL HEMMOROIDS) AND A "NORMAL" RESULT OF ENDOSCOPY. HE SAID NOTHING "LOOKED" ALARMING BUT HE TOOK A SAMPLE WHICH HE WILL TEST AND WILL TELL ME THE RESULTS IN 2 WEEKS TIME (1ST SEPTEMBER). HE SAID HE SUSPECTED A "SERIOUS GASTRIC CASE"- THAT SOUNDS ALARMING TO ME!! :O( . I AM WORRIED IT MAY BE STOMACH CANCER. I SEEM TO HAVE NO ANSWER TO MY PROBLEM. I AM WORRIED AND FRUSTRATED AS I CAN SOMETIMES BE IN AGONY NOT KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY HEALTH.
SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND WAS GIVEN MEDICATION . I TAKE 1 PANTOPRAZOLE (40 MG TABLET TWICE A DAY- FOR TEN DAYS). I ALSO TAKE CRARITHRO 250MG (2TABLETS- TWICE A DAY- FOR SEVEN DAYS) & AMOXYCCILLIN SANDOZ 1000MG TABLETS (ONCE IN THE MORNING AND ONCE AT NIGHT). I EXPERIENCE PAIN /IN MY STOMACH APPROX. 20 MINUTES AFTER I EAT. I USUALLY HAVE TO STAND UP AND WALK TILL THE FEELING GOES AWAY. MY BURPING IS NOT AS BAD AS BEFORE BUT IT IS STILL THERE. WHEN MY ABDOMEN ACHES IT IS USUALLY THE MIDDLE UPPER PART ABOVE THE BELLYBUTTON. I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS BURNING AND STABBING AT TIMES. IT FEELS LIKE AN ATTACK. I NO LONGER HAVE ANY BLOOD IN THE STOOL OR WHEN I WIPE WITH THE TOILET TISSUE. I HAVEN'T LOST MUCH WEIGHT-MAYBE A COUPLE OF KG BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO EAT IN CASE THE PAIN "ATTACKS" ME. I HAVE TO EAT VERY LITTLE AND AT TIMES IM NOT VERY HUNGRY BUT I TRY TO EAT AS MUCH AS I CAN HANDLE.
IS IT OK THAT I TAKE THE ABOVE MENTIONED MEDICATION AT ONCE? WHAT KINDS OF FOODS DO I NEED TO EAT AND WHAT TO AVOID? HOW MUCH (PORTION) SHOULD I BE EATING AND HOW MANY TIMES PER DAY SHOULD I EAT?
THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE
I APOLOGISE AS I DO NOT HAVE ANY COPIES OF THE COLONOSCOPY . BLOOD & URINE TESTS, ENDOCOPY OR THE CT SCANS. BUT EVERYTHING SO FAR HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO US BY DOCTORS AS WITHING THE NORM.
SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND WAS GIVEN MEDICATION . I TAKE 1 PANTOPRAZOLE (40 MG TABLET TWICE A DAY- FOR TEN DAYS). I ALSO TAKE CRARITHRO 250MG (2TABLETS- TWICE A DAY- FOR SEVEN DAYS) & AMOXYCCILLIN SANDOZ 1000MG TABLETS (ONCE IN THE MORNING AND ONCE AT NIGHT). I EXPERIENCE PAIN /IN MY STOMACH APPROX. 20 MINUTES AFTER I EAT. I USUALLY HAVE TO STAND UP AND WALK TILL THE FEELING GOES AWAY. MY BURPING IS NOT AS BAD AS BEFORE BUT IT IS STILL THERE. WHEN MY ABDOMEN ACHES IT IS USUALLY THE MIDDLE UPPER PART ABOVE THE BELLYBUTTON. I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS BURNING AND STABBING AT TIMES. IT FEELS LIKE AN ATTACK. I NO LONGER HAVE ANY BLOOD IN THE STOOL OR WHEN I WIPE WITH THE TOILET TISSUE. I HAVEN'T LOST MUCH WEIGHT-MAYBE A COUPLE OF KG BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO EAT IN CASE THE PAIN "ATTACKS" ME. I HAVE TO EAT VERY LITTLE AND AT TIMES IM NOT VERY HUNGRY BUT I TRY TO EAT AS MUCH AS I CAN HANDLE.
IS IT OK THAT I TAKE THE ABOVE MENTIONED MEDICATION AT ONCE? WHAT KINDS OF FOODS DO I NEED TO EAT AND WHAT TO AVOID? HOW MUCH (PORTION) SHOULD I BE EATING AND HOW MANY TIMES PER DAY SHOULD I EAT?
THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE
I APOLOGISE AS I DO NOT HAVE ANY COPIES OF THE COLONOSCOPY . BLOOD & URINE TESTS, ENDOCOPY OR THE CT SCANS. BUT EVERYTHING SO FAR HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO US BY DOCTORS AS WITHING THE NORM.
Brief Answer:
could be peptic ulcer with gerd
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome again to HealthcareMagic.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
As per the medicines prescribed to you, you have been started on H.Pylori eradication protocol. And your upper abdomen pain, burning and stabbing, looks like GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease).
And for this you need to continue your medications as prescribed. Don't take all at once.
Also avoid tea, coffee, soda drinks and spicy and fatty foods. As this all will worsen the pain. Eat in small portions (about 2/3rd of your stomach capacity). You can eat frequently, say every 3-4 hours. And avoid lying down immediately after a meal, for about an hour or so. And when you lie down, keep two pillows under your head. This all will prevent the reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus.
And the bleeding on the toilet paper could be from the polyps or internal hemorrhoids. But as there is no bleeding at present, you need not worry about it.
Stomach cancer is a possibility at your age, but given the treatment prescribed to you i don't think he is suspecting that. The biopsy could be to confirm the H.pylori infection. But still wait till the report comes.
Hope i have been helpful.
Regards,
Dr. Ashish Verma
could be peptic ulcer with gerd
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome again to HealthcareMagic.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
As per the medicines prescribed to you, you have been started on H.Pylori eradication protocol. And your upper abdomen pain, burning and stabbing, looks like GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease).
And for this you need to continue your medications as prescribed. Don't take all at once.
Also avoid tea, coffee, soda drinks and spicy and fatty foods. As this all will worsen the pain. Eat in small portions (about 2/3rd of your stomach capacity). You can eat frequently, say every 3-4 hours. And avoid lying down immediately after a meal, for about an hour or so. And when you lie down, keep two pillows under your head. This all will prevent the reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus.
And the bleeding on the toilet paper could be from the polyps or internal hemorrhoids. But as there is no bleeding at present, you need not worry about it.
Stomach cancer is a possibility at your age, but given the treatment prescribed to you i don't think he is suspecting that. The biopsy could be to confirm the H.pylori infection. But still wait till the report comes.
Hope i have been helpful.
Regards,
Dr. Ashish Verma
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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