May 26, 2012
Topics A-Z Pain Upper right quadrant abdominal pain - peptic ulcer disease?
Upper right quadrant abdominal pain - peptic ulcer disease? |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: I have had upper right quadrant pain for some time now. I have had an ultrasound, an upper GI, a pregnancy test, blood work and a chest x-ray and they've all come back OK. I have had the pain along with nausea and sometimes when I eat I feel extra full even tho I haven't eaten that much and the pain gets worse sometimes after food. I have also been constipated off and on continuously and an x-ray of the bowels didn't show much in my bowels even when it had been 14 days of nothing. The pain also worsens sometimes when I'm constipated. What are the possibilities? Dear Joelene: Your symptoms of pain abdomen could be due to peptic ulcer disease. Pain in the epigastrium that usually occurs after meals is characteristic of peptic ulcer disease (which may be due to gastric or duodenal ulceration). I do understand that most of your test have come back negative. However I may suggest that you speak to your doctor about testing you for H. pylori infection and an upper GI endoscopy which you have not mentioned. Testing for H pylori infection is essential in all patients with peptic ulcers. Treatment of peptic ulcer disease depends on the etiology and clinical presentation. Medical management consists of acid suppression. Both proton pump inhibitor drugs (pantoprazole, omeprazole) and histamine 2 receptor antagonists (ranitidine, cimetidine) may be used. Your doctor may also try an empirical treatment for H pylori infection. Life-style modifications like healthy diet, exercise and avoiding alcohol, smoking and spicy food will also help in the management. I wish you well, take care. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 06 January 2012 ) |
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