I am 60. Why do I have a crampy stomach and belchings?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am in my early 60s. For the last three months, after dinner, I feel indigestion for 2 hours and have a crampy stomach with lots of belchings. Because of this, I am not on regular food. Earlier, I had a few issues, but that was manageable and not so intense. Now, even when not taking food, I get belching and wake up in the middle of night. I had gallbladder removal around 20 years back. When I visited a doctor, he advised for endoscopy and colonoscopy. Both the results were good. Why then the cramp and belching did not go off? Incidentally, I had a reducible right groin inguinal hernia before three months. I feel very anxious with my heath problem. Can you tell the reason for crampy stomach and belching when the scope tests are clear?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern about your symptoms.

Having normal endoscopy reports does not eliminate other small intestine-related causes for indigestion. Constipation itself causes heartburn and belching related to incomplete evacuation due to slow intestinal movement. The treatment of constipation corrects this problem. Sometimes, inflammation in the small intestine due to irritation or food allergy to a particular food can cause indigestion-related symptoms and occasionally diarrhea. Neither colonoscopy nor upper GI endoscopy is able to access the small intestine. Having the habit of smoking for a long time and the symptoms of belching with occasional diarrhea may require ruling out pancreatitis, and thus you might require a CT scan of the abdomen with contrast. To relieve symptoms, you can take intestinal digestive enzyme supplements (to promote digestion) and antispasmodic medication (to control pain). It is recommended to undergo further tests to identify the cause of these symptoms and so appropriate treatment can be started.

For further information consult a medical gastroenterologist online.