It may seem odd that your stomach pain subsides after you eat. Most people experience stomach discomfort after eating food from indigestion or other gastrointestinal conditions. Stomach pain that goes away from eating is commonly a symptom of an ulcer. Ulcers are open sores that develop in the lining of your stomach, the esophagus or intestines. If you notice that you develop pain an hour or two after eating, pain that goes away from eating, call your family doctor or gastroenterologist to receive an accurate diagnosis. Ulcers are treatable through medication and lifestyle changes.
Reasoning
The reason you develop stomach pain before eating food is because the open sores in your digestive tract are interacting with harsh chemicals that congregate in your stomach. When you eat, the food and beverages cover the ulcers, providing protection from the harsh chemicals in your gut. As the food digests, the wounds are exposed again to the chemicals and your pain returns. Other symptoms of having ulcers include a feeling of fullness, vomiting, unexpected weight loss, stomach pain, bloating, burning and a heavy feeling in your gut, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
Cause of Ulcers
Ulcers were once thought to be the result of eating spicy food or of stress. Medline Plus explains that while spicy foods and stress can trigger ulcer symptoms, such as stomach pain, ulcers are not caused by these triggers. Most ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection that erodes the lining of your digestive tract. Other factors that can lead to the formation of ulcers include smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol drinking, radiation treatments and becoming severely ill, according to MayoClinic.com.
Treatment
Treatment for ulcers is dependent on the cause. If you have ulcers because of a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to kill the harmful bacteria. After taking the medication for two weeks, your symptoms should begin to abate. If symptoms do not improve, call your doctor immediately. If your lifestyle is the cause of developing an ulcer, stop smoking, discontue caffeine usage and alcohol consumption and avoid the use of aspirin and ibuprofen and eating spicy foods. FamilyDoctor.org states that some foods, such as meat extracts, coffee, chocolate, chili powder and mustard, may make the pain worse.
Complications
If you do not treat an ulcer, you are at risk of internal bleeding, scar tissue and other infections. Internal bleeding is a concerning complication that could lead to the need for a blood transfusion. Scar tissue can cause blockages in your intestines and can result in weight loss and chronic vomiting, according to MayoClinic.com.
