What is the Cause of Central Abdominal Pain After Eating?

What Causes Central Abdominal Pain After Eating?

Central abdominal pain after eating can have various causes, just like most other symptoms. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose central abdominal pain after eating, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "central abdominal pain after eating" as a symptom. For example, Crohn's disease.

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

mild meal-induced pain

Crohn's disease in remission

moderate abdominal pain

frequent mucus in stools

mild hypogastric discomfort

moderate unexplained weight loss

frequent unexplained fevers

significant red blood in stools

elevated lymphocyte count

significant right iliac pain

regular painful urge to defecate

trace amounts of occult blood

... and more than 20 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of central abdominal pain after eating.

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate abdominal pain caused by eating, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

MIDDLE-CENTER abdomen: Do you experience discomfort or pain in the middle of your abdomen, in the area of your navel (belly button) that only occurs after eating?

Possible responses:

→ No / I have it even when I don't eat / don't know
→ Occasional mild discomfort
→ Frequent mild and/or occasional moderate pain
→ Frequent moderate and/or occasional severe pain
→ Severe pain after most/all meals

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate mild mid-abdomen pain after food, moderate mid-abdomen pain after food, major mid-abdomen pain after food or severe mid-abdomen pain after food, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as Crohn's Disease. Pain usually begins within an hour of eating and is most often around the navel, the lower-right abdomen, or both. The area is usually painful to the touch.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™