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What Causes Abdominal Pain And Cramping After Eating A Lot Of Fat?
Question: Hi Dr. Chail:
Thank you for getting in touch with me.
I am confused about a few things that maybe you can clarify.
As you know I went to the er about 2 months ago for epigastric pain. They gave me pepcid iv which helped and lanzoprazole to take daily. I watch what I eat consuming small meals a day. Epigastric pain has subsided for the most part. If I do get the pain it last just for a few seconds. I do however get abdominal pain and cramping across the stomach especially when I eat a lot of fat. I love cookies. I do drink prune juice daily for constipation. My job requires a lot of hours and I do not eat right. Prune juice helps me tremendously but it can give me watery stools. I do a lot of lifting on my job. Could this be all abdominal muscle strain. Had an US of abdomen a year ago all good; had us of gallbladder last month all good. Had an endoscopy about 6 years ago showed gastritis. Colonoscopy about 7 months ago. Removed a benign polyp. Went to PMD and changed med to nexium. Felt abdomen seems fine with active bowel sounds. I still feel the surrounding abd pain sometimes pretty sharp accompanied by diarrhea. Have gi consult next month. Went to allergy md today and he ordered IGE blood work. Maybe the Nexium will help. I just dont want an upper endoscopy. What do you think this can all mean. Hope to hear from you. Thank you again.
Thank you for getting in touch with me.
I am confused about a few things that maybe you can clarify.
As you know I went to the er about 2 months ago for epigastric pain. They gave me pepcid iv which helped and lanzoprazole to take daily. I watch what I eat consuming small meals a day. Epigastric pain has subsided for the most part. If I do get the pain it last just for a few seconds. I do however get abdominal pain and cramping across the stomach especially when I eat a lot of fat. I love cookies. I do drink prune juice daily for constipation. My job requires a lot of hours and I do not eat right. Prune juice helps me tremendously but it can give me watery stools. I do a lot of lifting on my job. Could this be all abdominal muscle strain. Had an US of abdomen a year ago all good; had us of gallbladder last month all good. Had an endoscopy about 6 years ago showed gastritis. Colonoscopy about 7 months ago. Removed a benign polyp. Went to PMD and changed med to nexium. Felt abdomen seems fine with active bowel sounds. I still feel the surrounding abd pain sometimes pretty sharp accompanied by diarrhea. Have gi consult next month. Went to allergy md today and he ordered IGE blood work. Maybe the Nexium will help. I just dont want an upper endoscopy. What do you think this can all mean. Hope to hear from you. Thank you again.
Brief Answer:
Please restrict prune juice and watch for any change in diarrhea pattern
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. The gastritis was first noticed 6 years ago. Usually gastritis ends up as a chronic problem unless you take treatment and precautions. It is still possible that you might be having certain features of gastritis. The symptoms of pain after intake of fatty foods is typical of a gastritis related situation.
2. Gall bladder stones are next on the list that might cause such symptoms but your ultrasound scans in the last one year and recently show a normal gall bladder. Therefore I will not think about gall bladder stones.
3. The colonoscopy done 7 months back detected a polyp which was removed and found to be benign. It also means that there was no other condition detected on colonoscopy at that time.
4. You are experiencing a significant amount of stress and work including lifting weights and probably also have to do a lot of thinking. These physical and psychological factors might induce stress that is experienced as abdominal cramps. Prune juice is good to relieve constipation however too much of it and on a regular basis can cause diarrhea. I think the intake of prune juice requires consideration when addressing your diarrhea.
5. The IgE test might be done as recommended by the allergist and results are to be discussed later.
6. Nexium is an effective medicine in most people and I wish you get relief from symptoms after starting it. Please remember that food intake is also important and I suggest that you maintain meal hours as regularly possible and choose to have smaller meals at shorter intervals.
7. It is good that we have a GI appointment scheduled soon. Right now I would suggest you to reduce the prune juice intake or try and stop it for a few days and then look for any change in the diarrhea pattern. I just want to be doubly sure if your intake of prune juice is particularly influencing the diarrhea pattern.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please restrict prune juice and watch for any change in diarrhea pattern
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. The gastritis was first noticed 6 years ago. Usually gastritis ends up as a chronic problem unless you take treatment and precautions. It is still possible that you might be having certain features of gastritis. The symptoms of pain after intake of fatty foods is typical of a gastritis related situation.
2. Gall bladder stones are next on the list that might cause such symptoms but your ultrasound scans in the last one year and recently show a normal gall bladder. Therefore I will not think about gall bladder stones.
3. The colonoscopy done 7 months back detected a polyp which was removed and found to be benign. It also means that there was no other condition detected on colonoscopy at that time.
4. You are experiencing a significant amount of stress and work including lifting weights and probably also have to do a lot of thinking. These physical and psychological factors might induce stress that is experienced as abdominal cramps. Prune juice is good to relieve constipation however too much of it and on a regular basis can cause diarrhea. I think the intake of prune juice requires consideration when addressing your diarrhea.
5. The IgE test might be done as recommended by the allergist and results are to be discussed later.
6. Nexium is an effective medicine in most people and I wish you get relief from symptoms after starting it. Please remember that food intake is also important and I suggest that you maintain meal hours as regularly possible and choose to have smaller meals at shorter intervals.
7. It is good that we have a GI appointment scheduled soon. Right now I would suggest you to reduce the prune juice intake or try and stop it for a few days and then look for any change in the diarrhea pattern. I just want to be doubly sure if your intake of prune juice is particularly influencing the diarrhea pattern.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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