A 35-year-old man presents with persistent nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal pain. He reports a history of heavy alcohol use. What could be the potential diagnoses and next steps?
This patient's symptoms and history suggest the possibility of alcoholic gastritis or even pancreatitis. The next steps would include blood tests, including liver function tests and amylase/lipase levels, as well as an abdominal ultrasound or CT scan. Regardless of the exact diagnosis, counseling about alcohol cessation will be a crucial part of his management.