Questions For Diagnosing The Cause Of Upper Abdominal Pain
To diagnose your condition, some questions your doctor may ask include:
- Where do you feel the pain?
- Is the pain precise, or is it hard to pinpoint where it is?
- When did the pain start?
- Have you had pain like this before?
- How severe is the pain?
- How would you describe your pain? Is it sharp or dull, constant, or intermittent?
- Does anything make the pain go away or make it worse?
- Have you been injured?
- Do you have any other symptoms?
- What medications are you taking?
- What is your medical history?
- Have you had surgery recently?
- Could you be pregnant?
Ulcers In The Stomach
Stomach ulcers, also known as gastritis or stomach inflammation, are sores in the stomach lining that are frequently caused by infections or the overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . They can cause upper left side pain and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and bloody or black stools or vomit. Stomach ulcers can heal on their own, but they frequently recur if not treated properly.
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Emotional Reaction To Sex
Many people experience abdominal pain after sex because of a negative emotional reaction. If youâre feeling anxiety, stress, sadness, or irritation before sex, you may feel physical symptoms of nausea, pain, or gas after sex. Similarly, if you feel emotionally uncomfortable during intercourse, your feelings may translate into physical symptoms after intercourse.
You Might Have A Food Allergy
A food allergy is a step up in severity from a food intolerance. If you have an allergic reaction to a food, it means your immune system has mistakenly identified that food as a potentially harmful invader and mounted a defense against it, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology explains. That immune system defense is what leads to symptoms like abdominal cramping, a tingly or itchy mouth, hives and overall bodily itching, facial swelling, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and even potentially life-threatening trouble breathing.
According to the AAAAI, the most common food allergens are proteins in cows milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts. If you notice youre constantly dealing with pretty intense symptom flare-ups after eating these foods, an allergy could be to blame.
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Does Your Child Need To See A Doctor About Stomach Pain
You should take your child to see your GP if your child:
- complains of severe pain in the tummy or it wakes them from sleep
- has tummy pain that doesnt go away, or that keeps coming and going
- is unwell or has a fever in addition to the pain
- complains that the pain gets worse when they move
- has diarrhoea or vomiting that doesnt go away
- is losing weight or has pain that affects their energy levels.
Take your child to a hospital emergency department straight away if your child has:
- bloody or green vomit
How Can Drhouse Help You
DrHouse is a telemedicine app that will allow you to connect with a board-certified online doctor in less than 15 minutes. DrHouse doctors are available 24/7, 365 days of the year, to assist you with all of your medical needs.
With DrHouse, you can get medical prescriptions and prescription refills, and will gain an understanding of your health. DrHouse can quickly get to the bottom of your stomach pain while sneezing and provide you with necessary treatments.
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Upper Stomach Pain Or Burning Sensation
Possible explanation: peptic ulcer
What is it: Peptic ulcers occur when damage to the lining of the stomach results in painful sores. The stomach is normally coated with a layer of thick mucus that serves as a barrier between the lining itself and the caustic digestive juices. When the mucus barrier is compromised, which can happen as a result of infection, heavy drinking, smoking, aspirin, or a variety of other digestive illnesses, the digestive juices can actually eat away at the stomach lining. The resulting sores cause stomach pain and even potentially bleeding.
Treatment: Treatment depends on the underlying cause, but most treatment options focus on neutralizing or reducing stomach acid enough so that the sores can heal. In the case of infection, antibiotics may also be used.
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Treatment For Abdominal Pain In Adults
Your treatment depends on what is causing your pain, but may include:
- Pain relief â your pain may not go away fully with painkillers, but it should ease.
- Fluids â you may have fluids given into a vein to correct fluid loss and rest your bowel.
- Medicines â for example, you may be given something to stop you vomiting.
- Fasting â your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink anything until the cause of your pain is known.
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What Other Symptoms Relate To Abdominal Pain
Pain in the abdomen may be experienced as aching, stabbing, burning, twisting, cramping, dull, or a gnawing pain.
The pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, constipation, wind , belching , fever, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, fever, dehydration or loss of appetite
The pain might be steady or it might get stronger. It can be made worse or it can be improved by changes in posture or by coughing.
Describing the pattern and location of your symptoms to a doctor may help them in identifying the cause of your abdominal pain. These causes include:
- Peptic ulcer The pain is often felt in the upper abdomen, as a knife-like pain which goes through to the back.
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease The pain usually causes a central burning pain that develops just under the breastbone, and may rise upwards. It may be accompanied by belching.
- Appendicitis The pain usually starts near the navel before moving down to the lower right abdomen when it becomes more constant.
- Gallstones or gallbladder irritation The pain is felt in the upper right abdomen, back or right shoulder.
- Lower abdominal pain: Also referred to as lower stomach pain, it is probably coming from your bowel.
- Period pain This is usually a dull, cramping pain, felt low down, which may radiate through to the back.
What Causes Stabbing Pain In Right Side Of Abdomen
The classic symptoms of appendicitis include: Dull pain near the navel or the upper or lower abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen this is usually the first sign, but it occurs in less than half of appendicitis cases. Loss of appetite. Nausea or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins.
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Right Or Left Lower Abdominal Pain In Women
Sudden onset of right lower abdominal pain or left lower abdominal pain can indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst in a woman who is mid-cycle. This kind of pain could also be a sign of ovarian torsion, which is the rotation of the ovary and part of the fallopian tube, or possibly a twisting of the ovary due to compromised blood supply. Seek treatment immediately at the nearest emergency department. Surgery to remove the ovary may be required.
Stomach Cramps With Bloating
Stomach cramps with bloating are often caused by trapped wind, or constipation. This is a very common problem that can be embarrassing, but is easily dealt with. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend a product, which can be bought over the counter to treat the problem. If problems persist, you should see your GP.
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What Causes Mild To Moderate Abdominal Pain
Most Australians will experience mild or moderate abdominal pain from time to time. Often these episodes last only a few hours or days. They may clear up without the need for treatment. However, you may be more comfortable managing the symptoms with medicines from your pharmacy or doctor.
Some of the causes of short-term abdominal pain are:
The Best Way To Stop Your Stomach Hurting
There is no way to know whether you will get a stomachache when you start eating. Many people report stomachaches as a reaction to eating and many doctors recommend avoiding fatty and spicy foods to reduce stomachache. You may have the experience of having stomachaches while you are eating. One of the best things you can do to stop your stomach from hurting is to avoid eating too much and too fast. If you start to feel a stomachache, stop eating. Wait at least 15 minutes before eating again. If the stomachache doesnt go away, try to eat slowly and only in small amounts at one time.
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In General What Conditions Do Gastroenterologists Treat
Gastroenterologists can evaluate for and treat a wide variety of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease , gastroesophageal reflux disease , celiac disease, peptic ulcer disease, obesity and more. GI doctors also routinely perform screenings for colon cancer.
My area of specialty is in prevention and early detection of cancers such as colorectal, gastric and pancreatic cancer. I enjoy helping patients, especially those with a family history, understand their risk for cancer while offering genetic testing, screening and more.
Overall, its important for patients to openly discuss stress and GI symptoms with their doctors. Primary care doctors can help manage stress and treat symptoms, but in some cases it may be necessary to see a gastroenterologist to evaluate for other conditions.
Common Causes For A Stomach Ache After Sex
Having a stomach ache after sex can be scary, frustrating, and embarrassing. Sex is supposed to be an intimate celebration of your relationship with another person, so feeling bad after sex can be very disconcerting.
If youâre asking yourself: âIs it normal for your stomach to hurt after sex?â donât worry. There are a number of reasons that you could be experiencing this pain. In this article, Ill cover the most common reasons for experiencing a stomach ache after sex and offer advice for easing that pain.
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Its Easier To Prevent An Upset Stomach In Dogs Than To Cure It
When it comes to upset tummies in dogs, itâs important to remember prevention is better than a cure. âI recommend feeding a high quality diet, and limiting the number of treats you give,â says Jordan Turner, a veterinary surgeon. For those dogs who like to scavenge, try to keep things out of reach. For some dogs, its important to keep your trash can secure!
Food Allergy Or Intolerance
Some people may be allergic to certain foods. These can irritate the stomach and may cause pain after eating.
An intolerance is a milder form of an allergy. Both allergies and intolerances can be caused by many different foods.
Common intolerances include gluten, wheat, and lactose.
People can keep a food diary if they think they might have an allergy.
A food diary is a written record of what they have consumed at each meal, including drinks and snacks. They should also include a note of when their stomach hurts.
Keeping a diary can help determine the foods causing an issue. People can then cut this food out of their diet.
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Full Body Discomfort Or Malaise With Diarrhea Or Constipation
Possible explanation: lactose intolerance
What is it: Lactose is a component of milk-based products that requires an enzyme called lactase in order to be digested. In many people, this enzyme stops being produced in sufficient quantities and the lactose gets passed to the large intestine. Once there, it promotes the growth and activity of some gut bacteria that in turn cause a variety of unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms.
Treatment: There is no cure for the gradual lessening of lactase production, but the condition can be mitigated by avoiding milk-based products or by taking lactase supplements that aid in the digestion of lactose.
Gastroenterologist AppointmentSome reasons for your stomach pain are no big deal at all, and theyll usually resolve on their own. But some can indicate a deeper or potentially more dangerous problem. If you have been having stomach pain that lingers, it may be time to talk with a gastroenterologist. Contact Carolina Digestive today to make an appointment and find some much-needed relief.
Sometimes Stomach Pain Can Be Serious While Other Times It Isnt
Some conditions that cause stomach pain, upon diagnosis, require medical care. Per Oxford Academic, 1 in 10 patients suffering from abdominal pain are experiencing a symptom that stems from an acute disease, such as appendicitis , diverticulitis , biliary or pancreatic , or neoplastic diseases. However, unless youre experiencing other acute symptoms, your morning stomach pain is most likely harmless, due to gas, overeating, or constipation.
Stomach pain can also be caused by stress, depression or anxiety. Per U Chicago Medicine, high levels of cortisol the stress hormone can cause gastrointestinal discomfort while dealing with stress.
When a person is stressed, the adrenal glands make and release the hormone cortisol into the bloodstream, according to U Chicago Medicine. This causes the fight-or-flight response and can also trigger abdominal discomfort, stomach cramps, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and other symptoms.
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What Causes Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers occur when the layer protecting the stomach lining from stomach acid breaks down. This allows the stomach lining to become damaged.
This is usually caused by:
- an infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria
- taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen or aspirin particularly if theyre taken for a long time or at high doses
Theres little evidence that stress or certain foods causes stomach ulcers.
More about the causes of stomach ulcers
When To Call The Doctor About 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:
- Can’t keep food down for more than 2 days
- Signs you’re getting dehydrated, including not urinating frequently, dark-colored urine, and being very thirsty
- Can’t have a bowel movement, especially if you’re also vomiting
- Pain when you pee, or you need to urinate often
Also call your doctor if:
- Your belly is tender to the touch
- Pain lasts more than a few hours
You may have other symptoms that could be a sign of a problem inside your body that needs treatment as soon as possible. Get medical care right away if you have abdominal pain and you also:
- Have unexplained weight loss
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Why Is My Stomach Bloated
The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it may be a digestive issue. It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
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What To Do When Sneezing Hurts Your Stomach
You can work on eliminating sneezing triggers to manage the pain in your stomach while sneezing.
Tips for reducing sneezing include:
- Getting allergy tested to find out what your allergies are
- Keeping the home clean and tidy
- Investing in air purifiers
- Killing dust mites by washing your sheets in hot water
In addition, OTC allergy medications such as Claritin and Zyrtec may reduce sneezing. Taking a decongestant may reduce sneezing if you are sick with a cold or virus.
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What Is Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is discomfort or other uncomfortable sensations that you feel in your belly area. Just about everybody at one time or another will get a bellyache.
Most causes of abdominal pain aren’t reasons to worry, and your doctor can easily diagnose and treat the problem. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign of a serious illness that needs medical attention.