Functional Dyspepsia: Causes, Triggers, and What You Can Do

When your stomach hurts after eating but tests come back normal, you might be dealing with functional dyspepsia, a common digestive disorder where the stomach doesn’t process food properly, even though no ulcer, tumor, or infection is present. Also known as non-ulcer dyspepsia, it’s not just "bad digestion"—it’s a real condition that affects how your gut communicates with your brain. Unlike acid reflux or peptic ulcers, functional dyspepsia doesn’t show up on scopes or blood tests. Instead, it shows up as bloating, early fullness, burning, or pain right below your ribs—often after meals, sometimes all day.

This condition is closely linked to how your gut nerves react to food, stress, or even certain bacteria. Studies show that people with functional dyspepsia often have heightened sensitivity in their stomach lining, meaning normal amounts of food feel like too much. It’s also tied to slow stomach emptying, though not everyone has that issue. What’s clear? Stress doesn’t cause it, but it makes it way worse. And while it’s not dangerous, it’s frustrating—especially when doctors say "it’s all in your head," even though your pain is very real.

What helps? It’s not one-size-fits-all. Some people find relief with dietary tweaks—like eating smaller meals, avoiding spicy or fatty foods, or cutting back on caffeine. Others respond to low-dose antidepressants that calm gut nerves, not mood. Prokinetics can help if your stomach empties too slowly. And for many, gut-directed hypnotherapy or mindfulness practices reduce symptoms more than pills ever did. You won’t find a cure, but you can find control.

The posts below cover real-world strategies, medications, and lifestyle changes that actually work for people with functional dyspepsia. You’ll see how drugs like meloxicam or sulfasalazine might accidentally trigger symptoms, why certain antibiotics mess with your gut, and how supplements like methylfolate or probiotics play a role. There’s no fluff here—just what you need to understand your body, spot triggers, and take back your daily comfort.