Burning abdominal pain after eating

[Paperz]

Hi, I am a 21 year old female. I have been having intense stomach pains for the past 8 months or so. It sets in about 2-3 hours (sometimes as soon as 1 hr) after I eat. The pain can be described as intense burning, like I am hungry. However, I know that I cannot possibly be this hungry all the time, because my diet is quite normal and I am not eating more or less than I should. The pain is localized to my upper abdomen, just underneath my sternum. Sometimes it is accompanied by mild gas, and often headaches too. It goes away only after I am asleep and is usually not present in the mornings before I eat. I have been keeping a log of my diet for the past two weeks and there does not seem to be any trigger foods. I have been tested for infection (h. plyori), celiac disease, and appendicitis, all negative. I have brought up the possibility of ovarian cysts but OBGYN dismissed it. Any help would be appreciated, seeing as I am a student and cannot afford expensive procedures.

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

A CT scan would not rule out gallbladder disease.

[Ellie07]

I have IBS and I've been having burning pains for many years. It's on the left side below the ribs. In my case it's the gas causing the pain. Read the information about splenic flexure syndrome.

[Paperz]

I had a blood test for celiac disease.  I have not had an EGD but it has been suggested. I have had a CT scan that came back clean; would cholecystitis show on a CT?

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

I am assuming that by testing for celiac disease you are talking about an upper endoscopy that was normal. Is there a reason that they have ignored your gallbladder as the probable source?