How can I relieve my upper abdomen pain and fullness?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have pain in my left upper abdomen and feels like something is about to bulge out. I smoke and drink too. I feel quite congested and full at times and it has affected my activity too. Sometimes the pain radiates to the back and I have difficulty in breathing as well. I am 6'2" in height but weighs around 110kg.

I had reactive arthritis with spondyloarthropathy when I was 17 years old and last year I was diagonosed with costochondritis. Sometimes I take Etoricoxib 120 mg.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your complaint of left-sided pain in the abdomen and its running to the back can be suggestive of one of the following:

1) Gastritis is the swelling or inflammation of the stomach. The acid problems may be due to your obesity as your weight and BMI are high 32.89. It may be due to high spicy food, alcohol, smoking especially in the empty stomach. Pain killers also can cause it.

2) Pancreatitis is the inflammation of a deep-seated gland called pancreas. Pain is set on after alcohol intake last for a couple of hours and runs to the back. It can be accompanied by vomiting.

3) The type of arthritis that you have described can also be associated with some other organ problems but it is less likely.

What to do about it?

1) Stop smoking.

2) Stop taking alcohol at least till this issue has been resolved. Also, I would like to know more about the type and amount you consume and frequency.

3) Try to lose weight. Your weight (as per your height) should be 80 - 85 kg. Target for around one to two kilogram loss per week.

Kindly elaborate more regarding your symptom of feeling quite congested and full at times and how exactly this has affected your activity?

Regarding the fullness, if you feel a tightness in the abdomen, when did it start? How has it increased or decreased over the last couple of months? Do you have regular bowel movements? Or are you constipated? A jumbo plate of salad and drinking three to four liters of water per day will help. Also, it will help reduce weight.

Did you ever need to visit the emergency for this pain? If yes, what treatment was given? Please upload the records. Any investigations done? like an ultrasound of abdomen or blood investigations. If yes, please follow up with the reports. If no then I think you should get the following investigations:

1. Ultrasound of abdomen.

2. Blood investigations hemoglobin, hematocrit (HCT), total leukocyte count (TLC), platelet count test (Plt), ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), serum sodium, potassium, creatinine, urea, AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), bilirubin, albumin, amylase.

3. You may require an endoscopy later.

Get back with these questions and investigations or follow up with your doctor. In case of severe pain go to a good hospital rather than to stay home and take painkillers.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.