Diagnosis
In order to find the right diagnosis for upper abdominal pain after eating, the doctor will first ask the person concerned in detail about the exact symptoms, e.g. when, how and where they occur. He will also ask about medications taken regularly and previous illnesses. In addition, a physical examination will be carried out, especially the abdomen of the affected person will be palpated and checked for pressure pain.
Further diagnostics may be necessary depending on the cause of the complaints. For example, an ultrasound examination (sonography), an X-ray, CT or MRT image, and a gastroscopy may be considered. In a gastroscopy, a video optic (endoscope), i.e. a tube with a camera, is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach.
This allows the mucous membrane of the stomach and the esophagus to be assessed well and a sample of abnormal mucous membrane areas (biopsy) can be taken for further examination in the laboratory. and Sone AbdomenThe exact description of the area where the pain is particularly strong often already gives an indication of the possible cause of the complaints. Sometimes the origin of the pain cannot be determined exactly.
If the abdominal pain is strongest in the middle, this may be an indication of gastritis. If the pain in the upper abdomen after eating is more localized on the right side, diseases of the liver or the gall bladder may be possible. For example, an inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or biliary colic caused by gallstones may be behind the symptoms.
The typical stabbing pain of an inflamed appendix can also be perceived as pain in the right upper abdomen after eating. The appendix is located in the right lower abdomen, but the pain of an appendicitis can also be perceived in the upper abdomen. If the pain after eating is felt more in the left upper abdomen, it is often caused by diseases of the spleen.
For example, an infection or abscess in the spleen can cause severe pain or cramps in the left upper abdomen, which can radiate into the left shoulder. Diseases of the left kidney, pancreas or stomach can also be felt emphatically on the left side of the upper abdomen. Diseases of these organs can also lead to pain in the left back area.
In most cases, pain after a meal, which is mainly felt in the middle, can be assumed to be a disease of the stomach.In heartburn (reflux), for example, the acidic gastric juice runs back into the esophagus, causing pain in the middle of the chest area. Diseases such as irritable stomach syndrome or inflammation of the mucous membranes in the stomach (gastritis) are also frequently responsible for pain in the middle of the upper abdomen after eating. This information narrows down the clinical pictures that can be used as a possible diagnosis.
Upper abdominal pain that improves after eating is typical of a so-called duodenal ulcer. A duodenal ulcer is a tissue defect in the muscle layer of the duodenum. In contrast to a gastric ulcer, the pain is improved by eating.
Upper abdominal pain in other diseases such as inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) or inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) does not improve with food, but can even be made worse by eating. How do the symptoms get better? The treatment of upper abdominal pain after eating is dependent on the cause of the symptoms.
In principle, a healthy and balanced diet and a regular digestion should be aimed for. If you have a food intolerance or allergy, the food that causes the symptoms should be avoided. In case of a gastrointestinal infection, a lot of liquid should be taken in, under certain circumstances antibiotics are used.
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach is usually treated with stomach protection agents (e.g. pantoprazole). In some cases, the inflammation of the gastric mucosa is caused by bacteria, in which case antibiotic therapy is also used. There are a variety of measures and home remedies with which one can relieve the discomfort after a meal without much effort in many cases.
For example, drinking certain herbal teas after a meal can calm the stomach and stimulate digestion. Camomile, fennel, ginger, caraway and aniseed are particularly helpful in this regard. Care should be taken to ensure regular meals.
Snacks between meals should be avoided in case of upper abdominal complaints; instead, moderate meals should be eaten at fixed times. Sweets, alcohol and nicotine should be avoided. Instead, lukewarm, still water should be drunk.
After eating, a pinch of baking soda can be drunk dissolved in water, this neutralizes the acidic stomach acid and can alleviate the complaints. Certain bitter substances help digestion and calm the stomach. These include artichoke or cabbage juice, for example.