Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Flatulence.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you noticed a problem with flatulence (gas passed from the anus)?
Why: to establish if acute or chronic.
- Frequency and volume of flatus?
Why: to attempt to establish if flatulence is possibly within the realms of normal physical needs. Average number of times flatus is passed in a normal healthy person is 13 times per day.
- Are you conscious of swallowing air?
Why: swallowed air is the major source of gas in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In most cases of excessive belching and excessive flatulence there is no underlying pathology and the situation probably represents an acquired habit. Air is sucked into the esophagus with each belch, thus the most useful therapeutic option is to concentrate on avoiding the next belch.
- Ethnic origin?
Why: In adults, lactose intolerance is the normal state in non- Caucasian populations.
- Dietary habit history
Why: ingestion of poorly digestible but fermentable foods (such as sorbitol in diet drinks or chewing gum), high fiber diet, high legume diet and high brassica vegetable diet (cabbage and brussel sprouts) may increase the risk of excessive flatulence.
- Past surgical history?
Why: e.g. history of gastrectomy (removal of stomach) may indicate that there is gastric dilatation due to the fact that the stomach fails to drain adequately.
- Family history?
Why: e.g. cystic fibrosis, colorectal cancer, celiac disease.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Heartburn or regurgitation?
Why: would suggest reflux oesophagitis, gastric or duodenal ulcer or chronic cholecystitis.
- Abdominal pain or abdominal distension?
Why: would indicate the possibility of partial intestinal obstruction, steatorrhea (excess fat in the stools due to malabsorption), diverticulitis or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Symptoms of anxiety, panic disorder or emotional upset?
Why: e.g. nervousness, shakiness, tremor, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, poor concentration, heart palpitations, racing heart, sweating, dizziness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lump in throat - may indicate that aerophagia (swallowing air) is the cause of flatulence.
- Symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome?
Why: e.g. bloating, abdominal distention, alternating constipation and diarrhea, nausea, excessive flatus.
- Symptoms of gallstones?
Why: e.g. sudden onset of severe constant epigastric pain which may pass into the back. Symptoms are induced by a fatty meal.
- Symptoms of peptic ulcer?
Why: e.g. intermittent symptoms of gnawing or burning-type pain in the epigastrium (midline, under the ribs) which can be located by finger point, pain is worse before meals and relieved by taking antacids or food. Pain may waken the person at night.
- Symptoms of Giardia infection?
Why: e.g. watery diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, nausea, excessive flatulence, foul-smelling stools, stools may be greasy, bulky, pale and floating.
» Next page: News about Flatulence
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