Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Stomach Cramps And Bloating After Having Onion Chips?
Question: Hi, I ate some chips with onion dip and a 1/2 later my stomach started cramping and bloated. I went to the bathroom, had a bm but it is still cramping. I did have a hiatal hernia and lap nissen procedure done 1 1/2 years ago. Should I go to urgent care/hospital or wait for awhile?
Brief Answer:
I don't think a visit to the ER is required, it should pass ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The cause for your abdominal symptoms and the bowel movement is because your digestive system might not be used to certain types of foods. I do not think you need to go to the ER right now ma'am, it will pass.
But I have a few other questions to ask you to better understand your condition and to help prevent this from recurring, please do take some time out whenever you feel up to it, but please do take some time to respond to each question, thank you:
1. Have you had such a reaction to chips some time in the recent past?
2. Have you had such a reaction to other food or drink items in the past (e.g. popcorn, fried food, fatty food, oily food, spicy food, stress, carbonated drinks, etc.)?
3. Do you experience abdominal bloating often?
4. Do you experience symptoms of diarrhoea often?
5. Is the bowel movement you are currently experiencing of diarrhoea?
6. Did you experience an increased urge to pass your bowels soon after having the chips?
7. Are you also experiencing abdominal pain, discomfort, etc.?
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help. Also, if your symptoms don't get better in about a day or two, then please write back to me.
Best wishes.
I don't think a visit to the ER is required, it should pass ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The cause for your abdominal symptoms and the bowel movement is because your digestive system might not be used to certain types of foods. I do not think you need to go to the ER right now ma'am, it will pass.
But I have a few other questions to ask you to better understand your condition and to help prevent this from recurring, please do take some time out whenever you feel up to it, but please do take some time to respond to each question, thank you:
1. Have you had such a reaction to chips some time in the recent past?
2. Have you had such a reaction to other food or drink items in the past (e.g. popcorn, fried food, fatty food, oily food, spicy food, stress, carbonated drinks, etc.)?
3. Do you experience abdominal bloating often?
4. Do you experience symptoms of diarrhoea often?
5. Is the bowel movement you are currently experiencing of diarrhoea?
6. Did you experience an increased urge to pass your bowels soon after having the chips?
7. Are you also experiencing abdominal pain, discomfort, etc.?
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help. Also, if your symptoms don't get better in about a day or two, then please write back to me.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you.
1 - no I have not had a reaction like this before - I ate the same chips at a restaurant the night before.
2 - No I have never had this reaction
3 - I do get bloated but never cramps
4 & 5 - I do have issues but I did not have diarrhea
6 - No, no urge but my stomach hurt so much I just sat in the bathroom and put my feet on the trash can; since that usually helps when I have to go.
7 - Yes, my stomach is cramping and it hurts.
1 - no I have not had a reaction like this before - I ate the same chips at a restaurant the night before.
2 - No I have never had this reaction
3 - I do get bloated but never cramps
4 & 5 - I do have issues but I did not have diarrhea
6 - No, no urge but my stomach hurt so much I just sat in the bathroom and put my feet on the trash can; since that usually helps when I have to go.
7 - Yes, my stomach is cramping and it hurts.
Brief Answer:
?? suspecting food poisoning, needs to be ruled out, try suggestions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
I am now getting a little worried about this possibly being a case of contaminated food ingestion (?? food poisoning), and so I would recommend you to watch yourself for another hour or so. If you do continue to have pain and cramps and have another bowel movement within the next hour or so, then I would recommend a visit to the ER for fluids and antibiotics as only those will help you right now.
But in the meantime, please try and follow these instructions:
+Drink plenty of fluids
+Try and get your hands on some probiotics (either from a grocery store, medical store or natural probiotics like curds at home)
+Take an antacid tablet like ranitidine or omeprazole which will help relieve a few of your symptoms
+Please visit an ER if you start experiencing symptoms of dehydration, exhaustion, or extreme cramping
I hope you find relief and hopefully this is nothing serious. Please do not hesitate to write to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
?? suspecting food poisoning, needs to be ruled out, try suggestions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
I am now getting a little worried about this possibly being a case of contaminated food ingestion (?? food poisoning), and so I would recommend you to watch yourself for another hour or so. If you do continue to have pain and cramps and have another bowel movement within the next hour or so, then I would recommend a visit to the ER for fluids and antibiotics as only those will help you right now.
But in the meantime, please try and follow these instructions:
+Drink plenty of fluids
+Try and get your hands on some probiotics (either from a grocery store, medical store or natural probiotics like curds at home)
+Take an antacid tablet like ranitidine or omeprazole which will help relieve a few of your symptoms
+Please visit an ER if you start experiencing symptoms of dehydration, exhaustion, or extreme cramping
I hope you find relief and hopefully this is nothing serious. Please do not hesitate to write to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
