What Makes Your Stomach Hurt

Can I Still Get Diverticulitis If Ive Had The Affected Part Of My Colon Removed

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If the affected area of your colon is removed, another surgery is usually not needed. The most common location for diverticulitis is the sigmoid colon, which is the S-shaped near end portion of your colon. Although this is the most common location, its possible for diverticula to form in other areas of your colon. Because each person is different, be sure to ask your healthcare provider, surgeon, or colon specialist about your risk for return appearance of diverticulitis.

How Much Fiber Should I Eat

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease recommends eating 14 grams per 1,000 calories consumed per day. For example, if you follow a 2,000 calorie diet every day, you should try to eat 28 grams of fiber each day. Every person, regardless of whether they have diverticula, should try to consume this much fiber every day. Fiber is the part of plant foods that cant be digested.

How Is Abdominal Pain Treated

Treating abdominal pain depends on its cause. Options include:

Medications for inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux disease or ulcers.
Antibiotics for infection.
Changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages.
Local or spinal injections of numbing agents or corticosteroids by pain management physicians.

In more severe cases like appendicitis and hernia, surgery is necessary.

The Many Causes Of Stomach Pain

Stomach pain can have a number of root causes, and most of the time you may be able to determine the cause yourself.

By monitoring your symptoms carefully and thinking about possible stressors, you can often figure out why youve got stomach pain, says Dr. McKee.Common causes of stomach pain include:

When To Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Get medical help immediately if:

You have abdominal pain that is very sharp, severe, and sudden.
You also have pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder.
Youre vomiting blood, have bloody diarrhea, or have black, tarry stools
You have a high fever.
Youre having difficulty breathing.
You develop consistent nausea and/or vomiting.
Your abdomen is stiff, hard, and tender to the touch.
You cant move your bowels, especially if youre also vomiting

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Stomach Ache After Drinking Cold Water

During summer, a tall glass of chilled water might seem like a great idea. However, experts usually recommend that you switch to warm water instead. This advice is especially true if you are drinking water after a workout.

Since you generate a lot of body heat when you exercise, drinking chilled water immediately after might shock your digestive tract. Coldwater will also require your body to warm it up before any absorption can take place. This shock can cause your stomach to hurt.

When To Contact A Medical Professional

Get medical help right away or call your local emergency number if you:

Are currently being treated for cancer
Are unable to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
Are vomiting blood or have blood in your stool
Have chest, neck, or shoulder pain
Have sudden, sharp abdominal pain
Have pain in, or between, your shoulder blades with nausea
Have tenderness in your belly, or your belly is rigid and hard to the touch
Are pregnant or could be pregnant
Had a recent injury to your abdomen
Have difficulty breathing

Signs And Symptoms Of Pain In Upper Stomach

People experiencing pain in the upper stomach may have only one symptom or may have a combination of several symptoms. Here are some of the most common symptoms of pain in the upper stomach:

Belching

Belching is natural and common. Its your bodys way of getting rid of excess air. Everyone belches from time to time. However, if it interferes with your day-to-day life, it could be a sign of something more serious.

Nausea is an uncomfortable sensation in the stomach that leads to the urge to vomit, but doesnt always cause vomiting. Vomiting happens when you empty your stomach contents through your mouth.

Poor appetite

Most people have a regular desire to eat, but if you lose this desire, or appetite, the reason could be connected to pain in the upper stomach.

An unexplained drop in weight can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Pain in the upper stomach combined with weight loss could be related to disorders that prevent your body from absorbing the nutrients it needs.

What Is Abdominal Pain

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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.

Is Stomach Flu Contagious

Viral stomach flu spreads easily to others. You can catch a stomach flu virus any time of the year, but the common norovirus is more widespread from November to April when people tend to be more indoors. Because a variety of viruses can cause stomach flu, you might get different versions of gastroenteritis many times throughout life.

Its spread from person to person by coming into contact with tiny, invisible particles from a sick persons stool or vomit if you:

Touch a surface and come in contact with the germs and you touch food or your mouth.
Eat or drink food or beverages that have a sick persons germs.
Have close contact with someone who has stomach flu .

How Is Diverticulitis Diagnosed

If you have symptoms of diverticulitis, its important to be seen by your healthcare provider to get the correct diagnosis.

First, your healthcare provider will ask you about your medical history including your current symptoms, the types of foods you normally eat, how often you have bowel movements and other questions about your bowel movements, and will review any medications you are currently taking. Your healthcare provider will check your abdomen for pain and tenderness.

Other tests that may be performed or ordered to help diagnose your condition include:

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Other Abdominal Pain Causes

Abdominal pain can also occur due to the following.

Bowel issues: Both diarrhea and constipation can cause abdominal pain symptoms. If your bowel movements are less than normal, you can expect some form of abdominal pain.
Stress: Many diseases can come from mental and physical distress. Anxiety and panic disorders are connected to abdominal pain as well.
Internal injuries: Internal bleeding, stomach ulcers, and tearing in any of the stomach muscles, lining, or nearby organs can cause severe abdominal pain that should be treated as soon as possible.

How Common Are Stomachaches

Just about everybody will experience abdominal pain at one point or another. Most causes of abdominal pain are not serious and resolve spontaneously. A healthcare provider can usually readily diagnose and treat these conditions. However, abdominal pain can also be a sign of a serious illness, or even an emergency. Abdominal pain is responsible for some 5% of emergency room visits.

Causes Of Pain In Upper Stomach

There are several causes of pain in the upper stomach. Some upper stomach pain goes away on its own. For others, pain in the upper stomach may indicate there are underlying issues, such as:

Heartburn

When the muscle that normally keeps acid down in the stomach doesnt work properly, it can lead to heartburn . If you experience heartburn a few times a week or if over-the-counter antacids arent working, you may want to call your doctor.

Inflammation of the stomach

Sometimes pain in the upper stomach may be caused by gastritis. Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach as a result of a bacterial infection.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the large gland behind the stomach , Normally, digestive fluid travels from the pancreas to the small intestine and activates to help digest food. If this fluid activates while its still inside the pancreas, it causes irritation and inflammation.

Ulcers

Pain in the upper stomach may be due to ulcers . Different things can cause ulcers, most commonly bacteria or anti-inflammatory drugs that damage the stomachs lining over time. Symptoms of ulcers may include a burning sensation, nausea, vomiting, or heartburn.

What Can Be Expected Following Surgical Treatment For A Hernia

After surgery, you will be given instructions. These include what diet to follow, how to care for the incision site, and how to take care to avoid physical strain. Hernias may recur regardless of the repair operations. This is sometimes caused by inherent tissue weakness or protracted healing. Smoking and obesity are also major risk factors for hernia recurrence.

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What Causes Diverticulosis And Diverticulitis

Scientists arent really sure what causes diverticulosis, but they think its caused by not eating enough fiber. Not eating enough fiber causes a buildup of waste in your colon. Constipation puts extra strain on the walls of the colon. This increased pressure causes the little pockets the diverticula to form in weak areas in your colon.

Again, scientists arent sure what causes diverticulitis, but they think the infection starts due to the bacteria in stool that gets pushed into the diverticula. Another theory is that the walls of the diverticula itself erode from the increased pressure on the colon walls.

When To Go To The Er With Stomach Pain

How to stop stomach ache pain naturally and fast

You should seek immediate medical attention or go to the ER if you have:

Constant or severe abdominal pain
Pain associated with a high fever
Changes in pain intensity or location, such as going from a dull ache to a sharp stab or starting in one area and radiating to another
Pain accompanied by other serious or unusual symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or change in behavior
Pain localized to one particular area
Right lower quadrant could indicate appendicitis
Right upper quadrant could indicate cholecystitis or a gallbladder infection
Left lower quadrant could indicate diverticulitis or a colon infection

What Foods Are High In Fiber

High-fiber foods include:

Whole grain foods such as breads, pasta, crackers, barley, brown rice and oatmeal.
Berries and other fruit.
Vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, carrots, asparagus, squash and beans.
Brown rice.
Bran products, made from rice, corn, wheat, oats, barley rye and millet.
Cooked dried peas and beans.

Besides preventing constipation, eating a high-fiber diet helps lower blood pressure, reduces blood cholesterol, improves blood sugar and reduces the risk of developing certain intestinal disorders such as colorectal cancer.

For more tips and food examples of high-fiber foods, visit:

11 Best High-Fiber Foods

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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General Abdominal Pain With Diarrhea

Possible explanation: gastroenteritis

What is it: In simplest terms, gastroenteritis is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, typically involving the stomach and/or small intestine. Most of the time gastroenteritis is caused by a virus norovirus is one example of a common cause. The viral infection causes the inflammation, and that, in turn, causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes vomiting.

Treatment: As a generally non-serious condition, gastroenteritis is often treated by focusing on managing diarrhea and any other symptoms. A central aspect of this treatment is counteracting the dehydration that often accompanies the infection by pushing fluids. In the past, doctors recommended diet changes such as the BRAT diet, but this is no longer the generally accepted practice.

How Is Appendicitis Diagnosed

Abdominal Pain Is it just gas or something serious

Youll describe your symptoms and have a physical exam. Your doctor may order a blood test to check for infection. You also may have an imaging scan. Any of these tests can show signs of blockage, inflammation or organ rupture:

Computed tomography scans show cross-sections of the body. They use a combination of X-rays and computer technology.
Magnetic resonance imaging uses radio waves and magnets to produce detailed images of abdominal organs.
An abdominal ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to show images of organs.

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What Can I Do At Home To Feel Better

Get plenty of rest and keep drinking lots of liquids until your symptoms pass. Drinks that have both sugar and salt help your intestine absorb fluids better and replace the lost electrolytes. Nibbling salty crackers along with ginger ale or a similar sweet drink could also help. Avoid dairy products like cows milk for one or two days milk can make diarrhea worse due to temporary lactose intolerance that often come with gastroenteritis.

To control severe diarrhea, your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter medication such bismuth subsalicylate . You shouldnt use these medicines if you have a high fever or bloody diarrhea, which can be signs of deeper infection from bacteria or a parasite. Antidiarrheal medications arent safe for children to use. Instead, see your healthcare provider for treatment.

Nearly everyone gets a bout of stomach flu at some point. Its not pleasant, but it usually passes in less than a week. Give yourself time to rest and recover before you go back to your daily activities. Fortunately you can take steps to avoid the likelihood of passing it on to others or picking it up again in the future.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/26/2020.

References

A Bladder Or Kidney Infection

Bladder infections can definitely cause abdominal pain, as well as painful and urgent urination, and/or blood in the urine. If its a kidney infection youre dealing with, you may also have a fever, chills, thigh pain, and joint tenderness.

How to treat it: Most cases can be treated with a course of oral antibiotics, though severe cases may require hospitalization and IV antibiotics. In rare cases, surgery may be required, says Dr. Dann.

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Whats The Difference Between Diverticulosis And Diverticulitis

Diverticulosis is simply the presence of these tiny bulges or pockets in your colon. They usually dont cause any symptoms or need to be treated. However, diverticulosis can lead to diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is inflammation and infection in one or more diverticula. You may feel pain, nausea, fever and have other symptoms. This is a much more serious and potentially dangerous condition.

What Is The Prognosis For People With Appendicitis

Why Does My Stomach Constantly Hurt? What to Do

Because the appendix has no known purpose, you shouldnt notice any difference after having surgery to remove it. Some people who have laparoscopic surgery go home the same day or within 24 hours. Most people return to their usual active life within two to three weeks.

Youll need more time in the hospital to recuperate from open surgery. If your appendix ruptured, you may need long-term antibiotics to clear out the infection completely. Your recovery time may take six weeks or longer.

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What Kind Of Doctor Do You See For A Hernia

When you have a hernia, treatment will start with your primary care provider. If you need surgery to repair the hernia, youâll be referred to a general surgeon. In fact, ventral hernia repairs are one of the most common operations U.S. general surgeons perform.

If you think you have a hernia, donât wait to seek help. A neglected hernia can grow larger and more painful â this can lead to complications and possibly emergency surgery. Early repair is more successful, less risky and offers a better recovery and outcome.

How Is Stomach Flu Diagnosed

Healthcare providers often can diagnose stomach flu from your symptoms. But your provider may want to rule out other illnesses with some tests:

Stool samples: Tests look for bacteria, viruses or parasites in your stool
Sigmoidoscopy: A doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera from the anus into the lower large intestine to look for signs of inflammatory bowel disease. The sigmoidoscopy is a 15-minute procedure that doesnt usually require sedation.

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How Is Diverticulitis Treated

If your diverticulitis is mild, your healthcare provider will prescribe an oral antibiotic, such as metronidazole , trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole , ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin and clavulanic acid . Rest, taking over-the-counter medications for pain and following a low-fiber diet or a liquid diet may be recommended until your symptoms improve. Once your symptoms improve, you can slowly return to soft foods, then a more normal diet, which should be one that includes many high-fiber foods. You and your healthcare provider will discuss the specifics of your treatment plan.

If your diverticulitis is severe, you have rectal bleeding or are having a repeat bout of diverticulitis, you may be admitted to the hospital to receive intravenous antibiotics, IV fluids or possibly be considered for surgery.