Abdominal Pain
Patients often have difficulty describing abdominal pain. It can seem vague and hard to define. Often times abdominal pain can be a minor issue but it is important to pay attention to your body and the signs that it is sending you. There are several conditions or reasons as to why you are experiencing stomach pain.
Why do I have stomach pain?
Stomach or Abdominal pain can be caused due to several less serious issues:
indigestion
constipation
a potential stomach virus
gas
food poisoning
food allergies such as lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance
Irritable bowel syndrome
Other potentially more serious conditions include:
- Appendicitis
- Decreased blood supply to the intestines
- Kidney stones
- Pancreatitis
- Bowel blockage or obstruction
- Cancer of the stomach
- Colon Cancer
- Cholecystitis
- GERD
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcers
- Diverticulitis (infections and inflammation of the colon)
When Should I Go To The Hospital For Abdominal Pain?
If you are experiencing severe unrelenting abdominal pain accompanied by any of the following conditions emergency care may be necessary:
- Pain extends from your stomach to your back
- Your stomach is very tender to the touch
- Your abdominal pain is accompanied by a fever
- Bloody urine or bloody stool
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain
- Unable to eat without vomiting
- Vomiting blood
- Irregular heartbeat
The best rule of thumb is to not take any risks. If your stomach pain is frequent and perhaps not extreme, meeting with your nearest TDDC gastroenterologist may be necessary.
Hear From A Board-Certified Gastroenterologist About Abdominal Pain
Note – blood in your stool should never be ignored. If you have blood in your stool please visit the nearest TDDC location to you.