Indigestion
Further investigations
Depending on your symptoms, your GP may want to investigate further.
This is because indigestion can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial infection, a stomach ulcer, or stomach cancer.
Your GPmay refer you for a procedure called an endoscopy to rule out a more serious cause of your indigestion.
During an endoscopy,a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at one end calledan endoscopeis used to examine the inside of your body.
Taking certain medicines for indigestion can hide some of the problems that could otherwise be spotted during an endoscopy.
This means that for at least two weeks before having an endoscopy you'll need to stop taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2-receptor antagonists.
Your GP may also recommend changing other medications that may be causing your indigestion.
However, you should only stop taking medication if your GP or another healthcare professional in charge of your care advises you to do so.
Diagnosing H. pylori infection
If your GP thinks your symptoms may be caused by an H. pylori infection, you may need to have a test for it.
This may be a:
- stool antigen test where a pea-sized stool sample is tested for H. pylori bacteria
- breath test
- blood test a blood sample will be tested for antibodies to H. pylori bacteria
Antibiotics and PPIs can affect the results of a urea breath test or stool antigen test.
These tests may thereforeneed to be delayed until two weeks after you last used a PPI, and four weeks after you last used an antibiotic.
Diagnosing other conditions
You may need further tests to rule out other underlying conditions that could be causing your indigestion symptoms.
For example, abdominal pain and discomfort can be caused by conditions that affect the bile ducts in your liver.
Bile ducts are tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladderand bowel. Bile isa digestive fluid that breaks down fats, and the gallbladder holds bile.
Your GP may suggest you have a liver function test, ablood test used to assess how well your liver is working.
You may also need to have an abdominal ultrasound scan , which uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of your body.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out about indigestion, a common problem that causes pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or behind your breastbone (heartburn).
Symptoms of indigestion
As well as heartburn, other common symptoms of indigestion include: feeling uncomfortably full or bloated feeling sick belching or passing wind (flatulence) bringing up food or fluid from your s
What causes indigestion?
Indigestion is usually related to eating. When you eat, your stomach produces acid. The acid can sometimes irritate your stomach lining, the top part of the bowel, or the oesophagus. This irritation
When to see your GP
There's usually no need to seek medical advice for indigestionas it's often mild and infrequent and specialist treatment isn't required. However, you should see your GP if you have recurring indigest
Further investigations
Depending on your symptoms, your GP may want to investigate further. This is because indigestion can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacte
Treating indigestion
Treatment for indigestion will vary depending on what's causingit and how severe your symptoms are. Most people are able to manage their indigestion by making simple diet and lifestyle changes, or ta
Complications of indigestion
In some cases, severe indigestion can cause complications. Oesophageal stricture If the lining of the oesophagus is severely irritated over time by acid reflux, the oesophagus may become scarred. T
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