People often talk about having a “gut feeling” or are told to “listen to their gut” when making a decision. Do you know what your gut is trying to tell you? There are multiple things that your digestive system can do to get your attention. Do you know what your body is trying to tell you? Here are some of the things your gut could be trying to say.
Pain just below the breastbone that occurs soon after eating could be a sign of a stomach ulcer. Pain that improves with eating, but then comes back 2-3 hours after eating could be a sign of an ulcer in the small intestine right past the stomach. The pain from ulcers is often described as a burning pain. This pain improves with acid blocking medication like a PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor) or antacids.
The gallbladder can also cause significant pain in the right upper part of the abdomen, especially after eating fatty foods. Often this pain will radiate to the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades. It can lead to significant nausea and diarrhea. This pain usually will come and go. It can become very severe if a small gallstone gets stuck in the bile duct between the gallbladder and the small intestine. Infections of the gallbladder can cause fevers and chills as well.
Issues with the small intestine can also cause serious pain. The condition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) causes abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel movements. IBS can cause severe diarrhea, severe constipation or both. IBS is considered a diagnosis of exclusion since these symptoms can be caused by many other conditions like Microscopic Colitis, Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, and even Colon Cancer.
However, it is important to note that not all pain in the stomach area is from the digestive system. Heart attacks can also give symptoms of indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. These subtle signs happen more frequently in women and can lead to delay in diagnosis. Aortic dissections or ruptured aortic aneurisms can also cause severe, tearing pain in the abdomen that can radiate to the back or shoulders.
If you notice your gut trying to tell you something, listen and get it checked out by a doctor. Many of these issues have similar or overlapping symptoms. Finding a physician who can order and interpret the right tests to find the answer is key. Your gut knows when something is wrong, and you should trust it. Listen to your gut and stay healthy out there.
Richard P. Holm, MD passed away in March 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He is founder of The Prairie Doc®. For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® ® library, visit www.prairiedoc.organd follow Prairie Doc® on Facebook. Dr. Jill Kruse is a hospitalist at the Brookings Health System in Brookings, SD.
