Vomiting and abdominal pain

[david]

My mother is 69 years old and suffers from chronic episodes of sharp abdominal pain and sudden vomiting, generally (but not always) after eating; occurring approx. every week to ten days.
Sometimes upper abdominal aches appear without nausea or vomiting, these may very occasionally be severe enough to keep her bedridden for a few hours. Diahrea also occurs, but is fairly rare. She is overweight, extremely sedentary but not an overeater.
She drinks regularly, and also suffers from incontinence.
She was hospitalized with bacterial pneumonia five years ago, and has declined even moderate exercise since then, due to shortness of breath which makes exercise difficult and strenuous activity impossible. She has not seen a doctor since her release from the hospital, with the cause of the pneumonia still unknown. She has been suffering from the vomiting/adominal pain episodes for some two or three years now. She acknowledges that she needs to see a doctor, but refuses to go through the initial investigative visits until she herself has more information about her condition and possible medications/treatments. Can you offer any suggestions here?

[Broward]

Put the plug in the jug and away goes any pancreatitus she has to stop drinking or SUFFER a slow ugly death. Sincerely, Broward

[david]

Thank you both for your attention. I am attempting to find a doctor in the area that my mother feels comfortable with; hopefully she will have access to the appropriate medication or other therapeautic treatment before the new year.
                                                   - Dave

[Mommydee]

IT is SO nice to have the doctor back!  Just wanted to let you know, we missed you.
Dee

[Erik]

Dear David:
The doctor that runs this forum has not tended to this site in months. I am not a doctor, but am a medical professional and will attempt to comment on your mother's condition.

First of all, the shortness of breath and inability to do any activity could possibly indicate heart failure. For this reason alone, your mother needs to see a doctor immediately. The sharp abdominal pain, nausea and vomitting could be caused by a variety of things. Some minor while others possibly life threatening. Get your mother to a doctor right away.



   -Erik

[HFHSM.D.-rf]

David,
There are many possible explanations for your mothers symptoms.  You do not mention whether she has had previous abdominal surgery.  If there have been operations in the past, it is possible that she has an intermittent bowel obstruction as the cause for her problem.

You mention that your mother drinks regularly.  I assume that you mean that she uses alcohol.  If this is the case, there is the possibility of alcohol-induced pancreatitis as the cause of her symptoms. Pancreatitis can recur even when alcohol use is stopped.



Another possible explanation is ulcers of the stomach and/or duodenum.  

I would  encourage you to have your mother see a doctor.  Given the persistence of symptoms these many years, it is unlikely that they will subside by themselves.  Undergoing the appropriate tests may provide a diagnosis that will permit the initiation of specific therapy and hopefully, an improvemnt in  your mother's quality of life.

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

HFHSM.D.-rf