Questions in the Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum have been answered by Dr. Kevin Pho who is board certified in Internal Medicine and by doctors from Henry Ford Health System.

Question Title: Chronic Mid Epigastric Pain

Forum: The Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum
Topic: Stomach Conditions


I am 35 years old and for the past year I have had a chronic dull pain just below the sternum. I can not cross my arms or even slightly touch this area without increasing the pain. When I brought it to my doctors attention, she thought she felt a mass and did a CT scan which showed nothing. I have chronic slight nausea with hiccuping, weight loss while trying hard to put weight on (95#, gain one - lose three). My doctor seems to want to ignore my symptoms yet I know this is not normal and need some advise as to what I should request her to look at or for.

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Dear Regina,
The symptom tat you descibe do not suggest the common gstrointestinal conditions e,g, ulcers, reflux. Although additional history is needed, one possible explanation for your problem is gastroparesis ( delayed gastric emptying). This dignosis can be made by a radioisotope gastric emptying study.

You do not state your height, but your weight of 95 lbs. is low. Intestinal mucosal diseases causing malabsorption must also be considered. An upper endoscopy with biopsy would exclude these possibilities as well as structural problems of stomach and duodenum that might be responsible for your symptoms.

This information is presented for educational purposes only. Always ask specific questions to your personal physician.

If you are in the SE Michigan area, we would be happy to see you at the Division of Gatroenterology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. You can arrange an appoinment with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in gastrointestinal disease, by calling our Physician Referral Line at (800)653-6568.

HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: abdominal pain, gastroparesis, malaboption
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