Colon Pain After Eating
The colon is an organ in your digestive system that holds waste product until you have a bowel movement. While a healthy colon causes few, if any, notable symptoms during digestion, an inflamed, diseased or damaged colon can stimulate pain. Certain foods and eating habits may be particularly problematic. Because colon pain can arise from various conditions, some of which require medical treatment, seek guidance from your doctor if your symptoms are severe or long-lasting.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Potential Causes
During the normal breakdown of particular undigested foods, harmless bacteria in your colon produce gas. Pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with gas, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse 12. If you are particularly sensitive to gas or have a food sensitivity, you may experienced increased pain associated with gas production after eating particular foods. Less common but more serious potential causes include Crohn's disease and colitis -- inflammatory bowel diseases that trigger chronic bouts of pain, diarrhea and bloating 34. Colorectal cancer can also cause abdominal pain, which may occur at anytime, and rapid fullness while you are eating.
- During the normal breakdown of particular undigested foods, harmless bacteria in your colon produce gas.
- Pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with gas, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse 1.
Diagnosis
Foods That Cause Pain in the Colon
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Standard diagnosis of digestive conditions usually begins with a physical exam and review of your symptoms, lifestyle habits and medical history. If your doctor suspects that you have an IBD, he or she may conduct laboratory tests, X-rays or an endoscopy, in which an lighted instrument is inserted into your digestive tract. Similar tests may be used to rule out or identify colon cancer, according to MayoClinic.com. An elimination diet, which involves avoiding suspected problem foods to see if your symptoms alleviate, may be used to diagnose a food sensitivity.
- Standard diagnosis of digestive conditions usually begins with a physical exam and review of your symptoms, lifestyle habits and medical history.
- An elimination diet, which involves avoiding suspected problem foods to see if your symptoms alleviate, may be used to diagnose a food sensitivity.
Treatment
Colon pain after eating may or may not require medical treatment. If your symptoms stem from gas, lifestyle changes and over-the-counter gas aids may be sufficient. Treatment for a food sensitivity may involve avoiding the problem food or taking digestive enzymes, which enhance digestion. Treatment for colon cancer may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and medications that target cancer cells.
- Colon pain after eating may or may not require medical treatment.
- Treatment for colon cancer may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and medications that target cancer cells.
Dietary Suggestions
Gas, Abdominal Pain & Bloating After Eating
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Take note of and avoid foods that seem to trigger or worsen your symptoms. Common gas triggers, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, include beans, cruciferous vegetables, such as:
- sorbitol [1](http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/yrdd/ 'inline-reference::National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Your Digestive System
- How it Works')2
Overeating, eating too quickly and eating fatty or greasy foods may increase bloating and other symptoms related to gas and irritable bowel disease. If you have colon cancer, a nutritious diet may enhance your immune system's ability to heal and promote energy and a sense of well-being throughout treatment. Because cancer and cancer treatment can disrupt your appetite, making it difficult to eat well, seek specified guidance and support from your doctor or dietitian.
- Take note of and avoid foods that seem to trigger or worsen your symptoms.
- Because cancer and cancer treatment can disrupt your appetite, making it difficult to eat well, seek specified guidance and support from your doctor or dietitian.
Related Articles
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Your Digestive System and How it Works
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Gas in the Digestive Tract
- Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America: Diet and Nutrition for Crohn's Disease and Colitis
- Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America: About Crohn's Disease
- Esteva M, Leiva A, Ramos M, et al. Factors related with symptom duration until diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer. 2013;13:87. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-13-87
- Kahai P.Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Large Intestine.StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019-.
- Adelstein BA, Macaskill P, Chan SF, Katelaris PH, Irwig L. Most bowel cancer symptoms do not indicate colorectal cancer and polyps: a systematic review. BMC Gastroenterol. 2011;11:65. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-11-65
- Smith D, Ballal M, Hodder R, Soin G, Selvachandran SN, Cade D. Symptomatic presentation of early colorectal cancer. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2006;88(2):185-90. doi:10.1308/003588406X94904
- Smith D, Ballal M, Hodder R, Soin G, Selvachandran SN, Cade D. Symptomatic presentation of early colorectal cancer. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2006;88(2):185-90. doi:10.1308/003588406X94904
- Lecoules S, Carmoi T, Klotz C, et al. [Fever as the presenting manifestation of colon cancer: a case series of 11 patients]. Rev Med Interne. 2013;34(3):136-40. doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2012.08.008
- Yang XF, Pan K. Diagnosis and management of acute complications in patients with colon cancer: bleeding, obstruction, and perforation. Chin J Cancer Res. 2014;26(3):331-40. doi:10.3978/j.issn.1000-9604.2014.06.11
- Esteva M et al. Factors related to symptom duration until diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer. 2013. 13:87.
- Mearin F et al. Bowel Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016 Feb 18. pii: S0016-5085(16)00222-5.
- National Cancer Institute. (2018). Colon Cancer Treatment (PDQ)—Health Professional Version.
- American Cancer Society. (2017). What is Colorectal Cancer?
- Del Giudice, M., Vella, E., Hey, A. et al. Systematic Review of Clinical Features of Suspected Colorectal Cancer in Primary Care. Canadian Family Physician. 2014. 60(8):e405-15.
- John SK, S George, JN Primrose, JB Fozard.Symptoms and signs in patients with colorectal cancer.Colorectal Dis. 2011 Jan;13(1):17-25.
- Libutti, S.; Salz, L.; Willett, C., and Levine, R. “Chapter 57: Cancer of the colon.” DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. In: DeVita VT, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015.
- National Cancer Institute. (2016). Gastrointestinal Complications - Patient Version.
Writer Bio
August McLaughlin is a certified nutritionist and health writer with more than nine years of professional experience. Her work has been featured in various magazines such as "Healthy Aging," "CitySmart," "IAmThatGirl" and "ULM." She holds specializations in eating disorders, healthy weight management and sports nutrition. She is currently completing her second cookbook and Weight Limit—a series of body image/nutrition-related PSAs.