When should I go to the doctor for abdominal pain?

Severe abdominal pain may be an emergency. If your pain is sudden and severe, or if it occurs with any of the following, you should seek immediate medical attention: Persistent vomiting and nausea. Constipation (especially with vomiting)
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When should I be concerned about abdominal pain?

Call your doctor if you have abdominal pain that lasts 1 week or longer, if your pain doesn't improve in 24 to 48 hours, if bloating lasts more than 2 days, or if you have diarrhea for more than 5 days.
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How long should abdominal pain last before seeing a doctor?

As a rule of thumb, any abdominal symptom should be checked by a healthcare provider if you are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms: Pain that is dull and lasts for more than a week. Pain that is significant and does not get better within 24 to 48 hours.
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What does serious abdominal pain feel like?

Abdominal pain may be felt anywhere between the chest and groin region of your body. The pain may be generalized, localized, or it may feel like cramps in your belly. If you have cramping or discomfort in your stomach, it may be due to gas, bloating, or constipation.
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What are the four types of abdominal pain?

There are four types of abdominal pain: upper, lower, right-sided and left-sided. Each type has specific symptoms and causes, and all are discussed below.
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When to go to the ER for stomach pain



What kind of infection causes lower abdominal pain?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of a woman's reproductive organs. It's usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection. Symptoms include stomach, lower abdominal pain and vaginal discharge. Prompt PID treatment, usually antibiotics, helps avoid complications such as infertility.
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How do you know if something is wrong with your stomach?

Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain are the most common signs of a stomach virus. Although it's called the stomach flu, this virus has nothing to do with the flu. These symptoms are caused by other viruses, most commonly norovirus. 7 Fever, headache, and body aches are other possible symptoms.
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What does appendix pain feel like?

The telltale symptom of appendicitis is a sudden, sharp pain that starts on the right side of your lower abdomen. It may also start near your belly button and then move lower to your right. The pain may feel like a cramp at first, and it may get worse when you cough, sneeze, or move.
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How do you check for appendicitis?

Tests and procedures used to diagnose appendicitis include:
  1. Physical exam to assess your pain. Your doctor may apply gentle pressure on the painful area. ...
  2. Blood test. This allows your doctor to check for a high white blood cell count, which may indicate an infection.
  3. Urine test. ...
  4. Imaging tests.
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How do I know if my appendix burst?

Signs and symptomsof a rupture
  1. fever.
  2. nausea and vomiting.
  3. abdominal pain that may start in the upper or middle abdomen but usually settles in the lower abdomen on the right side.
  4. abdominal pain that increases with walking, standing, jumping, coughing, or sneezing.
  5. decreased appetite.
  6. constipation or diarrhea.
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What does pancreatic pain feel like?

Acute pancreatitis signs and symptoms include: Upper abdominal pain. Abdominal pain that radiates to your back. Tenderness when touching the abdomen.
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What home remedy would you suggest if one is having a common abdominal pain?

Be guided by your doctor, but there are some things you can do to help ease the pain, including:
  • Place a hot water bottle or heated wheat bag on your abdomen.
  • Soak in a warm bath. ...
  • Drink plenty of clear fluids such as water.
  • Reduce your intake of coffee, tea and alcohol as these can make the pain worse.
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Can you poop with appendicitis?

Sometimes stool can get stuck in the appendix, which is shaped like a tube with one closed end. Like a balloon that's been tied off, there's no way for what's trapped inside to escape. The pressure builds as the appendix continues producing its normal secretions.
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How long can you have appendicitis symptoms before it bursts?

A: Appendicitis symptoms may last between 36 to 72 hours before the appendix ruptures. Appendicitis symptoms develop quickly from onset of the condition. Early symptoms include pain near the belly button, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and a low fever.
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Can you test yourself for appendicitis?

Although rebound tenderness is a widely used examination, it is uncomfortable and may be inaccurate. To perform the pinch-an-inch test, a fold of abdominal skin over McBurney's point is grasped and elevated away from the peritoneum. The skin is allowed to recoil back briskly against the peritoneum.
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How can you tell the difference between appendicitis and gastroenteritis?

Diagnosing appendicitis can be tricky because the symptoms often mirror those of gastroenteritis . Abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea and a fever are symptoms that are present for both conditions. The key difference is that gastro strikes hard and fast – the symptoms mostly disappear as quickly as they come on.
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What does early appendicitis feel like?

The most typical symptom of acute appendicitis is abdominal pain that starts around the belly button and moves to the lower right side of the tummy. This pain may start out as mild and dull, but is likely to intensify. Other symptoms of acute appendicitis include: nausea with or without vomiting.
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Does appendicitis hurt to touch?

As the pain intensifies, the lower right-hand side of the abdomen, where the appendix is typically located, will generally become particularly tender, and may be painful to the touch. If the appendix has burst, the pain will typically spread across the whole abdominal region and will be correspondingly severe.
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Why do doctors press on your abdomen?

Pressing on your stomach is a way to find out if the size of your internal organs is normal, to check if anything hurts, and to feel if anything unusual is going on. Looking, listening, and feeling are all part of a physical exam.
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What are the most common signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders?

Common symptoms include:
  • Abdominal discomfort (bloating, pain or cramps)
  • Unintentional weight loss.
  • Vomiting and nausea.
  • Acid reflux (heartburn)
  • Diarrhea, constipation (or sometimes both)
  • Fecal incontinence.
  • Fatigue.
  • Loss of appetite.
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Why am I feeling pain in my lower abdomen?

Lower abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It can be a symptom of minor or major digestive system conditions such as gas, indigestion, constipation, colitis, diverticular disease, or appendicitis. Gynecologic conditions such as menstrual cramps or pregnancy may also be causes, as can urinary tract infections.
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What should I do if I have abdominal pain?

If your abdominal pain is serious, doesn't go away, or keeps coming back, talk to your doctor. Call 911 right away if your belly hurts because you had a recent injury there or if you have any chest pain. You should also contact your doctor as soon as you can if you have symptoms along with the pain, such as: Fever.
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Can a bacterial infection cause lower abdominal pain?

However, the bacteria causing the infection can also affect your abdomen, specifically your lower abdomen. You may experience a lot of pressure and pain, and bloating can occur.
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What are the chances of dying if your appendix bursts?

Without surgery or antibiotics (as might occur in a person in a remote location without access to modern medical care), more than 50% of people with appendicitis die. For a ruptured appendix, the prognosis is more serious. Decades ago, a rupture was often fatal.
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