Abdominal pain and flatulence after eating
If abdominal pain regularly occurs after a meal in combination with flatulence or meteorism, it may be the so-called irritable bowel syndrome. The unspecific clinical picture usually has no organic cause. In most cases, other complaints can be identified in addition to those mentioned.
Further symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are e.g. diarrhoea and/or constipation symptoms, cramps in the colon, a feeling of fullness, increased mucus secretion during bowel movements and vegetative symptoms such as an accelerated heartbeat, hot flushes and nervousness. Prognostically, irritable bowel syndrome shows a good self-healing tendency. Other causes of abdominal pain and flatulence after eating can be food intolerances such as lactose or frcutose intolerance.
However, carbohydrate-rich food made from short-chain carbohydrates (white flour products, sugar), hasty eating habits and protein-rich food also cause flatulence after eating in some people. The regular intake of certain drugs (antibiotics, some painkillers) is also one of the possible triggers. Furthermore, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) should be excluded.
Abdominal pain and loss of appetite after eating
Abdominal pain after eating and loss of appetite or a subsequent feeling of fullness are typical symptoms of the so-called irritable stomach. Affected persons usually report belching and a feeling of pressure in the stomach area. Similar to the irritable bowel syndrome, this is also a non-specific clinical picture without organic correlative with a favourable self-healing tendency.
In many cases, a gastrointestinal infection is also associated with loss of appetite and abdominal pain. In addition, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea occur. Other diseases of the digestive tract which, in addition to abdominal pain after eating, can also trigger loss of appetite are inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach (gastritis), intolerance to various foods and gastric or duodenal ulcers (duodenal ulcer). An ulcer can form as a result of chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes due to prolonged use of certain drugs, such as NSAIDs. Other causes of loss of appetite, such as liver disease or malignant changes in the gastrointestinal tract should be excluded.
Improvement of abdominal pain after eating
Abdominal pain can not only occur after eating, but can also be alleviated by the intake of food. Patients suffering from inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach (gastritis) often experience abdominal pain that is related to the time of eating. Typically, the intensity of the complaints decreases immediately after eating for the time being.
However, some time after eating, the abdominal pain returns to its original intensity or even increases in intensity. People who suffer from abdominal pain, which first gets better and then goes back and/or gets worse after eating, should consult a doctor as soon as possible. If there is an inflammation of the stomach lining, it is recommended to start treatment with so-called proton pump inhibitors (acid blockers).
