Q You asked whether it hurts on an empty stomach or after eating. Why does that matter?
A Because when the pain arrives is the single biggest clue to its cause. Pain that comes on an empty stomach or at dawn and eases after eating is approached differently from pain that intensifies 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. The same location with different timing means we look in different places.
Detailed Answer
Pain that worsens on an empty stomach and settles when food arrives points us first to the relationship between acid and the lining. Pain that worsens after meals with bloating points instead to a stomach that cannot empty in time. Pain that wakes you at night or arrives regardless of meals needs separate assessment.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Keeping a record for a few days before your visit helps enormously. Four items are enough: the time it hurt, what you ate just before, the type of pain (burning, cramping, heavy), and how long it lasted. This record often narrows the cause faster than tests.
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