About this topic
You may feel a burning pain in your upper belly during or after a meal. This is called dyspepsia. The pain may come and go. Other times, the pain may be present most of the time. You may have burping, belching, heartburn, or throw up. Some people have a feeling of a full belly or of being bloated. Sometimes, doctors use drugs or suggest changes in lifestyle. Other times, diet changes or surgery is needed. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Chew your food fully. Avoid swallowing your food without chewing it very well.
- Write down notes on what you eat, when you eat, and how you feel. Note the foods that may worsen your signs and avoid them in the future.
- Avoid stress.
- Avoid belts and clothing that are too tight.
- Eat small meals more often. Do not skip meals. Do not eat large meals to make up for missed meals.
- Do not drink beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).
- Do not smoke.
- Avoid sour, spicy, and fatty foods.
- Avoid drinks with caffeine.
- Raise the head of your bed up on blocks to avoid reflux.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Calm heartburn
- Prevent reflux
- Treat other signs
Will physical activity be limited?
- Physical activities may be limited if you are in pain. Ask your doctor about the right amount of activity for you.
- You should exercise regularly unless told otherwise by your doctor.
What problems could happen?
- Scarring of the esophagus
- Irritation or damage to the digestive tract lining
- Damage to the valves that fill or empty your stomach
- Long-term indigestion
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Avoid eating too much, especially at night.
- If you are taking drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for swelling and pain, ask your doctor if there is some other treatment choice. These are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). They can sometimes cause dyspepsia.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Trouble breathing
- Problem or pain when swallowing
- More throwing up or throwing up fluid that looks like blood or coffee grounds
- Pain in the neck, chest, or back
- Very bad heartburn that lasts for a long time
- Very bad belly pain
- Blood in your stools or stool looks black and tar-like
- Weight loss or not wanting to eat
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet or drugs.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have very bad belly pain or very bad heartburn that lasts for a long time.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Family Physicians ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/dyspepsia.printerview.all.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/indigestion.html ‚
National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse ‚
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/indigestion/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚