Why Does My Upper Stomach Hurt After Eating

How Can I Live Without My Gallbladder

Gallbladder removal is a very common surgery. Removal of the gallbladder does not significantly affect digestion because the liver can also make bile to help with the break down of fatty foods. Symptoms experienced after gallbladder removal include gas, bloating, or more watery bowel movements. Fortunately, there is a very small chance that gallstones will recur after removal.

Changes In Bowel Habits

Changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea and constipation, are common occurrences that everyone experiences at one time or another. But persistent changes, including intermittent bouts of constipation and diarrhea, may be early signs of stomach cancer.

Cancer itself can alter digestion and lead to these problems. At the same time, as the malignancy spreads, it can cause the narrowing of the intestinal passageway and the onset of constipation. The accumulation of fluid behind the stricture can eventually cause the release of watery diarrhea, typically accompanied by acute abdominal pain.

Can Stomachaches Be Prevented

Not all belly pain can be prevented. But to help avoid common types of stomachaches:

• Wash your hands before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom.
• Don’t overeat, and try not to eat right before going to sleep.
• Drink plenty of water and eat fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to keep food moving through your digestive system.
• Avoid foods that have passed their expiration date or or weren’t stored properly.
• If you have a food allergy or intolerance, avoid eating foods that make you sick. If you have a food allergy, always carry two epinephrine auto-injectors, and know when you should use them.

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Symptoms That May Occur With Tightness In Stomach

It is important to note that the feeling of tightness in the stomach is not a sickness or disorderits merely a symptom of an underlying health issue. As such, it is often accompanied by other symptoms. You may experience any of the following discomforts in addition to the tightness.

• Pain
• Loss of appetite

When To Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Get medical help immediately if:

• You have abdominal pain that is very sharp, severe, and sudden.
• You also have pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder.
• Youre vomiting blood, have bloody diarrhea, or have black, tarry stools
• You have a high fever.
• Youre having difficulty breathing.
• You develop consistent nausea and/or vomiting.
• Your abdomen is stiff, hard, and tender to the touch.
• You cant move your bowels, especially if youre also vomiting

Read Also: How To Deal With Stomach Ache

Stomach And Duodenal Ulcers

The pain from an ulcer may come and go. The pain is in the top part of your gut but may also feel like it goes through into your back. The pain often comes at night and wakes you up. Food may make it better in some types of ulcer, or may make it worse. See the separate leaflets called Stomach Ulcer and Duodenal Ulcer for more details.

Why Salad Could Cause Pain

So, what is causing the pain? Niket Sonpal, MD, an internist and gastroenterologist in New York City, offers some reasons your lettuce/salad could be causing you gastric upset:

It may be contaminated. Within the last few years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recalled romaine lettuce on a number of occasions because it has been linked to outbreaks of E. coli infection.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms can start a few days after you eat the contaminated lettuce, the CDC says. Check to see if there are recalls and avoid any lettuce on the banned list.

Read more:Is It Unhealthy to Eat Old Lettuce?

You’re constipated. If you eat lettuce or salad and find you’re gassy, it could be “due to underlying constipation that is trying to make its way ‘out,'” Dr. Sonpal says. “Eating salads and lettuce puts a heavy fiber ‘load’ on the intestines, and, if you are slightly backed up, your bowels will work a bit overtime to get it all out.”

If this is the case, stools will be hard initially and then may become softer, he says. “Ironically, this does not mean you should stop eating salads,” he adds. “It actually means continue and add more fiber.”

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How Are Helicobacter Pylori Transmitted

Even though there are many hypotheses for how Helicobacter pylori are transmitted, their major mode of transmission is not specifically known. Possible routes of infection include oral-oral , fecal-oral , and sometimes spread via inadvertent use of unsterile medical equipment such as probes or endoscopes.

Maintain Good Eating Habits

You can help your digestive system by simply changing how you eat, which, in turn, can improve your health. Try eating five to six small meals each day and be sure to chew each bite slowly and completely. Consume water throughout the day and 30 minutes before and after meals. Do not drink water during the meal.

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Why Does My Stomach Burn After I Eat

Its happened to many of us before: not long after finishing a meal, you have a gnawing or burning stomach pain. While many may write it off as simply heartburn, it may be a symptom of gastritis, a common condition that can occur gradually or suddenly in response to certain triggers, such as food.

Not surprisingly, diet and lifestyle can have a significant impact on your digestive health and your overall health, which is why it is so important to pay attention to what you eat.

How To Avoid Stomachpain

Salad is still a favorite. Can you eat it and avoid the pain? Some ideas, from Mayo Clinic and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston:

• Try supplements before you eat. You can buy a number of over-the-countersupplements and activated charcoal that canhelp control gas when taken before you eat.

• Slow down. When you eat slowly and chew your food well, you’re lesslikely to swallow air, which can cause painful gas. Also, if you watch yourportions and keep them small, you’re making it easier for your stomach todigest your food.

• Make sure drinks are just right. Drinks that are too hot or too cold cancause gas.

• Don’t slouch. Sit up straight when you’re eating and after. Slouching putspressure on your intestines and can cause gas.

• Get moving. Regular exercise helps to keep you regular and from beingconstipated, which can cause gas pains.

• Go green.Consider trying different greens in place of lettuce. “All greens havethe potential to make you bloated or cause some discomfort, especially kale andother newer superfood types,” Dr. Sonpal says. But everyone is different. “Myadvice to patients is, as long as you are not truly allergic, experiment withdifferent greens. Some people find spinach is safe while for others it’siceberg lettuce rather than romaine.

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Pain Under The Left Rib After Eating Is Manageable

If you are experiencing pain under the left rib after eating, you dont need to panic. You could be suffering from acid reflux , indigestion, an ulcer, allergic reaction, or even gastritis.

Its even possible that some of these symptoms may be co-occurring at the same time. Taking an inventory of your symptoms is key in treatment. If possible, making lifestyle changes is preferential to more invasive or disruptive medical procedures like surgery.

Whatever the issue is, its key to recognize it early and avoid delaying treatment, thus allowing you to enjoy your meals free from any further pain or discomfort. One day, your stomachas well as your appetitewill thank you.

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Lifestyle Changes For Pain Under The Left Rib Cage After Eating

Overall, the best initial solution to pain under the left rib comes down to making appropriate lifestyle changes. Reducing the quantity of food eaten, the size of meals, and the specific foods being consumed can bring results, as can the elimination of foods that may be irritating your stomach.

Excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco products, or painkillers should also be curbed. Another simple change might involve your habit of lying down after a meal. This is inadvisable, as it makes it easier for stomach acids to wash back up without the benefit of gravity.

Stress is a well-documented trigger for pain in the ribs, so a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and other activities designed to mitigate and reduce stress will be beneficial. Being faithful to dedicated lifestyle changes for a prolonged period of time is important before considering other more invasive or disruptive solutions.

Also Check: What Is Pain On The Right Side Of Your Stomach

Food Allergy Or Intolerance

Some people may be allergic to certain foods. These can irritate the stomach and may cause pain after eating.

An intolerance is a milder form of an allergy. Both allergies and intolerances can be caused by many different foods.

Common intolerances include gluten, wheat, and lactose.

People can keep a food diary if they think they might have an allergy.

A food diary is a written record of what they have consumed at each meal, including drinks and snacks. They should also include a note of when their stomach hurts.

Keeping a diary can help determine the foods causing an issue. People can then cut this food out of their diet.

You May Have Fruit Sugar Malabsorption

Fruits are a healthy food option for many but not all. Some people may not digest or absorb fruit sugar or fructose well, especially the FODMAPs category of fruits, which means that they contain fruit sugars or fruit sugar alcohols that cannot be easily broken down. Avocados are a FODMAPs fruit.

If you suffer from fructose malabsorption, your digestive system cannot process fruit sugars well. So if you eat sweet fruits, it leads to bloating or stomach ache.5 Now, while avocados are quite low on sugar, they contain polyols or fruit sugar alcohols. These are not as harmful as fructose is for people with this condition but having a bit too much avocado might prove harmful.

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Upper Abdominal Pain Between The Ribcage

If you develop an aching or stabbing pain or pressure in the upper abdominal area just under the ribs, this may indicate a heart-related problem. Physicians say this pain is often accompanied by shortness of breath and is concerning if the pain persists. People often assume this type of pain is indigestion, and while that may be the case, anyone with risk factors such as diabetes or hypertension should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Eat Plenty Of Fruit And Vegetables

It is recommended that we eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit or vegetables each day. If you eat a lot of fruit and vegetables then your chances of developing heart disease, a stroke or bowel cancer are reduced. In addition, fruit and vegetables:

• Contain lots of fibre, which helps to keep your bowels healthy. Problems such as constipation and diverticular disease are less likely to develop.
• Contain plenty of vitamins and minerals, which are needed to keep you healthy.
• Are naturally low in fat.
• Are filling but are low in calories.

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When To Go To The Healthcare Provider

Pain in the body means that something is wrong. If you experience pain after eating only every once in a while and it is not debilitating, you may want to mention it to your healthcare provider the next time that you see them.

But if you are experiencing pain after eating on a fairly frequent basis, it is essential that you make an appointment right away with your healthcare provider to ensure that you get an accurate diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan.

If the pain is severe, debilitating, and accompanied by jaundice, fever, rapid heart rate, chills, or severe vomiting, you should seek emergency care.

Common Causes Of Stomach Pain

Harmless abdominal pain usually subsides or goes away within two hours.

• Gas: Formed in the stomach and intestines as your body breaks down food, this can cause general stomach pain and cramps. This often can be indicated by belching or flatulence.
• Bloating: Related to gas, this occurs when excessive gas builds up in your digestive tract. Your stomach will usually feel full, and you may experience cramps.
• Constipation: This occurs when you are having difficulty making bowel movements. If you are having two or fewer bowel movements a week, constipation is the likely cause. In addition to feeling bloated and nauseous, you may experience cramping and pain in your rectum.
• Indigestion: You typically experience this as an upset stomach, burning, or belly pain after eating.
• Stomach flu: Your stomach may hurt before each episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

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What Is Stomach Churning

Stomach churning and gurgling can be an uncomfortable feeling in the abdomen. Although a queasy stomach is usually only temporary if you have an upset stomach for a week or longer it could be a sign of an underlying condition.

If you have ever experienced stomach growling, especially stomach gurgling after eating, then you may well know the other symptoms that run alongside it. Other symptoms of a sour stomach can include nausea and digestive issues.

Moreover, continue reading to find out what causes upset stomach and gas. We also explain when you should see a doctor, and further signs to look out for.

Stomach Noises such as stomach churning and gurgling and Pain: Causes and Symptoms for Those Belly Noises and Cramps

If No Irritation Is Found How Is Dyspepsia Treated

A patients treatment will depend on symptoms. Findings during the workup and tailored to the specific situation, which may include:

• Dietary changes: Avoiding large, fatty meals and any foods that make symptoms worse
• Acid-blocking medicines: Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole , esomeprazole , lansoprazole , dexlansoprazole , pantoprazole , etc…
• Histamine blockers: Ranitidine , famotidine , cimetidine , etc…
• H. pylori treatment: Combination of specific antibiotics and acid-blocking medicines
• Pain medicines: Low doses of certain antidepressant medications such as amitriptyline or nortriptyline.

Other times a nerve pain medicine, called gabapentin, or medicines that speed up gastric emptying may be used. Complementary medicines, such as peppermint or caraway, might also be tried, though they have much less research behind them. Very rarely, narcotics are used because of concerns about the side effects including addiction and constipation.

Sometimes, depending on the case, additional workup is reasonable if the patient has no response to treatments.

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Ways To Stop Digestive Discomfort After A Supersized Meal

Overindulgence can be a pain in your stomach. Skip the bellyache after your next big feed with these quick fixes.

Overeating.

Most of us have done it at some point, even with the best of intentions not to.

Sometimes that holiday meal is so delicious we cant stop, or the dessert table is too tempting to ignore.

You feel bloated now, but dont despair: Overdoing it once in a while isnt going to ruin your health, though it can wreak havoc on your digestive system.

Signs And Symptoms Of Stomach Cancer

Doru Paul, MD, is triple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending physician in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center.

• Excessive Fatigue

The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, range from blood in the stool to abdominal pain. Oftentimes, however, stomach cancer does not have symptoms, particularly in the early stages, or the symptoms may be non-specific and easily mistaken for other conditions.

Symptoms alone cannot diagnose stomach cancer. Only an investigation by a healthcare provider, which may involve imaging studies and a biopsy, can definitively diagnose the disease.

Symptoms of stomach cancer can vary based on the stage of the disease as well as the type of cancer you have, some of which may be more aggressive than others.

Although the signs can often be vague, there are seven symptoms commonly experienced in people with stomach cancer.

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When Should I Call The Doctor

Sometimes, what seems like one problem food poisoning, for example can turn out to be something more serious, like appendicitis.

• the pain is very strong
• you’re vomiting a lot
• you already have another health condition
• the pain gets worse over time, doesn’t go away, or wakes you up from sleep

Also let the doctor know if you:

• have a fever
• have pain when you pee
• have trouble pooping or peeing
• have blood in your poop or pee
• think the belly pain is from an injury
• might be pregnant

This Is About Pain On The Upper Right Side Of The Stomach That Occurs After Eating

Cancer is one possible cause, but its not the most likely cause.

First off, if youve been experiencing any kind of sharp abdominal pain after eating, you should make an appointment with your doctor right away.

This is highly abnormal and, though not likely to be cancer , can still be a serious problem.

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Causes Of Upper Abdominal Pain After Eating

One of the most common causes of stomach pain is eating food very quickly, which leads to over eating. When you eat food very fast, you do not spend time in chewing your food thoroughly and the food disappears from the plate in a jiffy. Hence, it is recommended that you should spend some time in eating your food and chew slowly and properly, enjoying every morsel of your food.

They are another cause of stomach pain after eating certain foods, which your body mistakenly considers as a harmful agent and the immune system secretes antibodies against them. Due to this, several symptoms of allergy can occur, stomach pain being one of them. Food allergies commonly occur due to the following foods:

• Milk
• Wheat
• Tree nuts and peanuts

You can conduct an allergen specific IgE antibody test or a food elimination diet to find out whether you have an allergy to a specific food.

You may develop upper abdominal pain after eating certain food items to which you have intolerance. It is a condition when your digestive system cannot digest a particular food or is irritated by it. In food intolerance the immune system of the body is not involved. Many individuals have lactose intolerance, which implies that they cannot digest milk and milk products and if they consume milk products they get symptoms of digestive upset.