Abdominal Pain right after eating (18 yr old)

[tealcondor]

My daughter has doubling over to moderate cramping right after she eats.This has been going on for 1/2 year(off and on) but getting worse. Had 2 bouts with feeling faint, getting dizzy and going into a full body sweat.She is a vegetarian,  has ridged fingernails, has  constipation,sometimes diareah, sometimes bloating. She tends to worry and get anxious a lot. She dealt with anorexia 2 years ago, and while it is not 100% gone, she has really worked through this. Now she feels these symptoms are all ALL because of what she put her body through back then, even though she eats well now.  
We have an appointment to see gastro Dr. What are some keys areas to have evaluated? What would be the least invasive but effective procedures? Our insurance is not the best and I really don't want her to go through a barrage of unnecessary testing, so any advice here would be greatly appreciated. How much effect does anxiety have on all this? Thank you very much.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Irritable bowel syndrome is a leading possibility, with the characteristic symptom of constipation and diarrhea.  Looking for more serious causes, such as inflammatory bowel disease or malabsorption can be considered.

I would recommend a referral to a GI physician.  Colonoscopy as well as stool testing for malabsorption can all be considered.  Imaging with a CT scan can also be considered if the endoscopy is negative.

I cannot recommend specific tests without evaluation - your GI physician will be able to offer a more specific diagnostic recommendation.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[Nikki44]

Hi i am a 21 year old female and had the exact same symptoms when i was a freshmen in high school. I went through about a year of countless tests, and when I was a sophomore they realized I had a gallstone. I had my gall bladder removed about a week later.  Although I wish I could say that I am fine now, I have a lot of problems now that I dont have a gall bladder. I was diagnosed with IBS (chronic diarrhea) due to the fact that I dont have a gall bladder to help break down my food and control the bile. I also experience the exact pain I had when I still had my gall bladder (Stabbing pain in my right upper stomach and back) So i have been put on Hyoscamine that I put under my tongue and it gets rid of the pain. I hope they find a reason your daughter is having these problems. You can e-mail me if you have any questions ***@****

[xomissmelxo]

Hi there

after reading this I had to write back!

These are IDENTICAL s ymptoms that I had for years and no one coudl figure out why. My sweating, anxiety, palpattations, dizzyness and feeling faint were seperated from my symptoms of diarhea (diarrhea) abdominal pain and bloating after eating. so the doctors didn't see the connection

I just had an emergency cholsestectomy. After being on corticosteroids for two years I was finally stepped off of them. Immediately after dropping to the lowest dose and coming off I had abdominal pain that got worse, and more progressive....

Doc's did a hida scan showing a barely functioning gallbladder.

However, they were suprised to find when they went in my gallbladder was SEVERELY inflammed and they're pretty sure that's where the faintness, dizzyness sweating were coming from especially after eating!

Suggest a Gallbladder eval as well as IBS check... cuz the american diet is not so nice to gallbladders

[tealcondor]

WOW! Thanks for the comments! You both are the best! I feel very prepared now and the gallbladder issue is something I will be sure to bring up as well as the other points you made! Thanks again!