Experiencing discomfort after eating takes so much away from the pleasure of a shared meal. Occasional stomach cramps and bloating are normal. However, if you experience these symptoms regularly, you may want to discuss your condition with your doctor. As the National Institutes of Health explains, most times your symptoms do not indicate a serious condition. However, to prevent future bouts, it is important to identify possible causes to avoid discomfort.
Symptoms
To control your stomach cramps and bloating, it is important to specifically describe the symptoms you are experiencing. These symptoms can point to a variety of causes, some of which may require a doctor's care. When feeling these symptoms, try to determine if you are experiencing any other sources of discomfort such as fever or pain on one particular side of your abdomen.
Causes
If your symptoms are persistent, you may have an underlying condition which is causing your cramps and bloating. Possible causes are gluten intolerance or celiac disease. These symptoms are among the classic indications of celiac disease, explains the Celiac Disease Foundation. Your symptoms may also be accompanied by unexplained weight loss or gastrointestinal distress. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another common cause, especially if you are a woman with a family history of IBS.
Considerations
Stomach cramps and bloating after eating may not sound serious. However, these symptoms may impact your day-to-day life, causing you to miss work or forego social activities. Determining the cause and subsequent treatment, therefore, is essential to improve your quality of life. If your symptoms occur after eating specific foods, note which foods you ate and when your symptoms began. You may be intolerant to some foods you are eating such as dairy products or gluten-containing foods.
Treatment
If you find that you experience cramping and bloating after eating certain foods, the best way to treat your symptoms is to avoid your trigger foods, recommends the Mayo Clinic. You may also consider keeping yourself on a regular eating schedule to avoid overeating, which may be associated with IBS. Depending upon your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medications to help ease your discomfort. If you find that other prescription drugs are causing your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe alternative medications less likely to cause a reaction.
Prevention/Solution
Certain foods will produce gas. If your symptoms are not triggered by a particular condition, avoid foods such as dairy products, beans and starches such as potatoes, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. You may also want to discuss dietary supplements such as probiotics with your doctor as a possible solution.
