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What Causes Severe Abdominal Pain And Acid Reflux While Travelling By Air?
Question: Dear Doctor,
I frequently fly great distances. During the flight I experience severe stomach pains, bloating and gas. Upon landing some 9 hours later, I feel exhausted, bloated and have diarrhea and sometimes vomit.
I find that laying flat or curling into the fetal position during the flight (if fortunate enough to be in a premium cabin and can expel gas) helps. I've also tried taking a mix of loperamide and simethicone prior to flying--it helps, but the cramp still become unbearable and last for days.
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
I frequently fly great distances. During the flight I experience severe stomach pains, bloating and gas. Upon landing some 9 hours later, I feel exhausted, bloated and have diarrhea and sometimes vomit.
I find that laying flat or curling into the fetal position during the flight (if fortunate enough to be in a premium cabin and can expel gas) helps. I've also tried taking a mix of loperamide and simethicone prior to flying--it helps, but the cramp still become unbearable and last for days.
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Brief Answer:
Considerations
Detailed Answer:
Hello & thank you for submitting your question.
I'm sorry you're experiencing such troubling & nearly debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms. The correlation with flying is helpful to note. Flying involves change in atmospheric pressure & also prolonged times of sitting or remaining
stationary. It seems that you've tried very reasonable over the counter therapies & have tried even physical maneuvers (fetal position -- which often helps relieve GI symptoms). I'm sure you've also tried to avoid eating large amounts or greasy foods as well as not consuming carbonated beverages before or during the time you fly. It is extremely difficult to definitively determine what is causing these problems without a proper physical examination & possible adjunct laboratory and imaging studies. Since you've attempted several good interventions yourself, at this point it would be very worthwhile to schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist for an assessment & possible endoscopy. Some conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or even inflammatory bowel disease can present with these intermittent symptoms of pain & diarrhea.
I hope you're feeling better soon.
Dr Galamaga
Considerations
Detailed Answer:
Hello & thank you for submitting your question.
I'm sorry you're experiencing such troubling & nearly debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms. The correlation with flying is helpful to note. Flying involves change in atmospheric pressure & also prolonged times of sitting or remaining
stationary. It seems that you've tried very reasonable over the counter therapies & have tried even physical maneuvers (fetal position -- which often helps relieve GI symptoms). I'm sure you've also tried to avoid eating large amounts or greasy foods as well as not consuming carbonated beverages before or during the time you fly. It is extremely difficult to definitively determine what is causing these problems without a proper physical examination & possible adjunct laboratory and imaging studies. Since you've attempted several good interventions yourself, at this point it would be very worthwhile to schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist for an assessment & possible endoscopy. Some conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or even inflammatory bowel disease can present with these intermittent symptoms of pain & diarrhea.
I hope you're feeling better soon.
Dr Galamaga
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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