Satiety - early
Abdominal fullness prematurely after mealsSatiety is the satisfied feeling of being full after eating. Early satiety is feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual.
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Causes
Causes may include:
- Gastric outlet obstruction
- Heartburn
- Nervous system problem that causes delayed stomach emptying
- Stomach or abdominal tumor
- Stomach (peptic) ulcer
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Home Care
Follow your health care provider's advice.
- A liquid diet may be helpful.
- You may need to keep a detailed diet log. This is a place where you write down what you eat, how much, and when.
- You may be more comfortable if you eat small, frequent meals rather than big meals.
- A diet high in fat or high in fiber may worsen the feeling.
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if:
- The feeling lasts for days to weeks and does not get better.
- You lose weight without trying.
- You have dark stools.
- You have nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, or bloating.
- You have fever and chills.
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What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your provider will examine you and ask questions such as:
- When did this symptom begin?
- How long does each episode last?
- What foods, if any, make the symptoms worse?
- What other symptoms do you have (for example, vomiting, excessive gas, abdominal pain, or weight loss)?
Tests that may be performed include:
- Complete blood count and blood differential to check for anemia
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
- Stool tests for bleeding
- X-ray studies of the stomach, esophagus, and small intestine (abdominal x-ray and an upper GI and small bowel series)
- Stomach-emptying studies
References
Koch KL. Gastric neuromuscular function and neuromuscular disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 50.
Szabo C, Tantawy H. Diseases of the gastrointestinal system. In: Hines RL, Jones SB, eds. Stoelting's Anesthesia and Co-Existing Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 17.