Abdominal pain

[Foster]

Dr. Steve,

For the past week I have been having bad abdominal pain (tummy ache) after eating. This pain is usually felt as soon as I get up from eating and lasts for about five minutes; short walks tend to make it go away. The pain comes back sometimes during the day after I have been sitting for awhile.
I have a pretty light diet, which has been consistent for the past few years and the pain seems to be worse after eating something like a salad. My bowel movements are regular and have not changed.I exercise reguarly and that never seems to bring the pain on, it just comes after eating and sitting for a while.

Any thoughts on what could be causing it?

http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo320/foster67/abpain.jpg

I have circled the area where the pain is.

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve,

For the past week I have been having bad abdominal pain (tummy ache) after eating. This pain is usually felt as soon as I get up from eating and lasts for about five minutes; short walks tend to make it go away. The pain comes back sometimes during the day after I have been sitting for awhile.
I have a pretty light diet, which has been consistent for the past few years and the pain seems to be worse after eating something like a salad. My bowel movements are regular and have not changed.I exercise reguarly and that never seems to bring the pain on, it just comes after eating and sitting for a while.

Any thoughts on what could be causing it?

http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo320/foster67/abpain.jpg

I have circled the area where the pain is.

You're circling the "Epigastrium" which is where the stomach, duodenum, pancreas are...the gallbladder is in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen (upper left on the picture). Gallbladder pain is usually sharp, under the ribs on the right abdomen, and worse after a fatty meal. Yours is worse after eating things like salads...it's not impossible that you could have "gastritis" (inflammation of the stomach), or even an ulcer. Your primary care doctor needs to hear about this, and may put you on something to supress stomach acid as a quick test. If you get better, it's likely that the problem IS acid-related. If it doesn't completely resolve, they'll want to send you to someone who can do an endoscopy (fiber optic light down the goozle) to see what's what. It's really a painless procedure now that they do them under sedation. In the old days, you just had to gag and bear it. Many people wouldn't do it a second time after that. I've had two and would have a third tomorrow if I had to...it's that easy.

Let me know what they find out!

your pal,


steve

[Foster]

The pain has subsided quite a bit the past week, I've had a lot of stress lately between work and family and I'm worried it might be an ulcer.
I'm due for a physical anyway, so I'll make an appointment with my doctor and inform her of the issue.

Thanks for the feedback.