What causes upper right abdominal pain in my father at 72?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am writing this concerning my father, who has been complaining of mild pain on the right side of the stomach for four days. Though the pain is not severe, it is continuous. But now, the pain is reduced compared to yesterday, but it is still there.

He is on a semi-solid diet, and his bowel movements are also fine. I do not want to take a chance of taking him to a diagnostic center for tests during the pandemic, as he is 72 years old with diabetes, asthma, and heart issues, and is on medication for all these issues.

Please suggest some medications based on the description.

I hope you can understand my condition and help me.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Hello

Welcome to icliniq.com,

With context to your father's complaints, it seems he may be suffering from gastritis (constant stomach pain, as you have mentioned) or diabetic gastropathy (if he has associated nausea, early satiety, bloating), as he is diabetic.

The probable causes are acidity, delayed gastric emptying, stress, and steroids. You can undergo an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) if symptoms persist for more than eight weeks. These symptoms resemble other conditions like gastritis, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), or diabetic gastropathy.

Your father might have gastritis. I am mentioning both as I cannot ask direct questions to you. Start him on PPI (proton-pump inhibitors).

Capsule: Lansoprazole 30 mg per oral once daily for four weeks.
Tablet: Motilium 10 mg per oral twice daily with meals.
Syrup Dijex MP: 2 teaspoons orally, three times daily with meals.

A few preventive measures that can help are:

Avoid oily or spicy food.
At night, lie on a bed elevated at a 45-degree angle, put a block under the bed, and at the head end of the bed.
Drink plenty of water.
Take small portions of carbohydrates.

Follow up with me after one month.

I hope this will help you.

Thank you.