Re: stomach pain

Posted By HFHSM.D.-rf on July 18, 1998 at 12:55:14:

In Reply to: stomach pain posted by chad on July 17, 1998 at 04:57:47:






I have been on a diet since the first of the year. I have cut back on the amount of fat I eat, and I have lost 70 pounds, I now weigh 300 pounds. that is still alot but I feel better.
I am a 25 year old male 6"4". when I reach a goal I have set I reward myself with a good meal. Meals that include alot more fat than I am used to. The problem is when I eat a fatty meal I am awakened in the middle of the night with severe stomach pain that goes clear thru to my back. The pain is right below the ribcage on the right side. It only happens when I eat a fatty meal.
I do not drink. Before I went on the diet this never occured and it has only happened once a month for the last four right after a good meal. I will take a couple of alka-seltzers and it will clear up in 2 to 3 hours. Could it be that my body is not used to that much fat? or would the fatty foods just upset my stomach? I can understand a upset stomach but the back pain baffles me.
                                  Thank you,
                                           Chad
______


Dear Chad,
Congratulations on your success in losing weight.  As you have changed your diet your body has adapted.  The bile is probably in the gall bladder for longer periods of time now that you are eating less frequently. As a result the bile may become supersaturated leading to the development of gallstones.  KKC may be correct that your symptoms are related to gall stones.  You should have an ultrasound to determine if you have gallstones.  There are, however, other less likely explanations for your symptoms.  Taking fat (in amounts greater than you are used to) can cause you to have symptoms of intestinal  motor pain.  Fat also causes ingested food to stay in the stomach for longer times which can lead to heartburn.  Based on your description I would be most likely to propose gall stones as the cause of your pains.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: gallstones, diet, cholecystitis
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