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Suggest Remedies For Gas Pain
Question: My husband has had severe gas pains since this morning. He says it feels like a bubble that just won't come up either as a burp or as a fart. Further, he vomited and that did relieve some of the "pressure". He had a normal bowel movement this morning. He feels the gas below his belly button, but he is not feeling any sharp pains.
Brief Answer:
Recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If it is gas, simethicone can help break this up. You can buy this without prescription at the drug store (such as Gas X).
However, I am concerned about the intensity of his pain and that there is so much pressure that he vomited. It could actually be a number of other problems such as twisting of the bowel, or other causes.
For this reason, I strongly recommend that he go in to the ER or at least urgent care clinic where the doctor (don't settle for a PA or nurse practitioner) can examine his abdomen and get an X-ray.
I am sorry for the delay in answering. It can take up to 24 hours to get a response, depending on how many doctors are answering questions on this site, and so it shouldn't really be used for emergency purposes. However, I'm online now, so if you have a follow up question I can answer quickly.
Recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If it is gas, simethicone can help break this up. You can buy this without prescription at the drug store (such as Gas X).
However, I am concerned about the intensity of his pain and that there is so much pressure that he vomited. It could actually be a number of other problems such as twisting of the bowel, or other causes.
For this reason, I strongly recommend that he go in to the ER or at least urgent care clinic where the doctor (don't settle for a PA or nurse practitioner) can examine his abdomen and get an X-ray.
I am sorry for the delay in answering. It can take up to 24 hours to get a response, depending on how many doctors are answering questions on this site, and so it shouldn't really be used for emergency purposes. However, I'm online now, so if you have a follow up question I can answer quickly.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for this information. My husband now confesses that he ate some cookies that may have been a few "months" past their expiration date. It's now been about 8 hours since the initial onset of the symptoms and he is feeling better. He still has some slight cramping, but he was able to eat some food and feels good. Is this just a wait and watch? What symptoms should we look for that indicate he is getting worse and it's time to go to ER?
Brief Answer:
Thanks for the update - he should get progressively better.
Detailed Answer:
If he is starting to feel better, he may be over the worst of it and the symptoms will continue to resolve. He might want to try a dose of Pepto Bismol to settle his digestive tract and help absorb and eliminate any residual toxins from the expired food.
Given that the symptoms came on after eating expired cookies, I would not expect them to get worse again - they should get progressively better. But if they return and are severe, then it is definitely time to go in to the ER promptly.
Thanks for the update - he should get progressively better.
Detailed Answer:
If he is starting to feel better, he may be over the worst of it and the symptoms will continue to resolve. He might want to try a dose of Pepto Bismol to settle his digestive tract and help absorb and eliminate any residual toxins from the expired food.
Given that the symptoms came on after eating expired cookies, I would not expect them to get worse again - they should get progressively better. But if they return and are severe, then it is definitely time to go in to the ER promptly.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He is now 24 hours passed the onset of the problems. He still feels it ever so slightly in his digestive track. He had a normal bowel movement this morning. I asked him to take another dose of Pepto Bismal until the "cookies" have completely left his digestive track and he did.
Of course if this occurs again, we will take him to ER.
Unless you have anything else to add, we can probably consider this issue closed. Sorry for my initial panic, it's just that my husband never gets sick and never complains and to hear him sound like he was in labor was very concerning.
Of course if this occurs again, we will take him to ER.
Unless you have anything else to add, we can probably consider this issue closed. Sorry for my initial panic, it's just that my husband never gets sick and never complains and to hear him sound like he was in labor was very concerning.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
I am glad he is feeling better. I expect he will continue to improve.
No need to apologize for having been concerned. It IS concerning any time someone is in severe pain.
The only thing I have to add is that too much Pepto can cause constipation so find a balance that works here.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
I am glad he is feeling better. I expect he will continue to improve.
No need to apologize for having been concerned. It IS concerning any time someone is in severe pain.
The only thing I have to add is that too much Pepto can cause constipation so find a balance that works here.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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