Health Encyclopedia

Satiety - early

Definition

Satiety is the satisfied feeling of being full after eating. Early satiety is feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual.

Alternative Names

Abdominal fullness prematurely after meals

Common Causes

Delayed stomach emptying
Gastric outlet obstruction
Irritable bowel syndrome
Heartburn
Stomach or abdominal tumor

Home Care

Follow your health care provider's recommendations. A liquid diet may be helpful. A detailed diet log (recording what was eaten, how much, and when) may be needed. Small, frequent meals may be more tolerable than large, less frequent meals. A diet high in fat may worsen the feeling.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if:

The feeling lasts for days to weeks and does not get better.
You have other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, or bloating.
You have fever, chills, or weight loss or gain.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

The doctor will examine you and ask questions such as:

When did this symptom begin?
How long does each episode last?
What other symptoms do you have (for example, vomiting, excessive gas, abdominal pain, or weight loss)

Tests that may be performed include:

Blood studies for anemia, such as a complete blood count and blood differential
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
Stool tests for bleeding
X-rays studies of the stomach, esophagus, and small intestine (abdominal x-ray and an upper GI and small bowel series)
Stomach-emptying studies

Review Date:11/13/2007
Reviewed By:Christian Stone, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.