You will narrow down the cause and determine if you need urgent care or if it is something that can be taken care of at the local pharmacy with over-the-counter remedies.
Know that:
The severity of the stomach pain may not reflect the magnitude of the problem causing the pain. For instance pain caused by appendicitis is usually dull in the beginning.
Here is why:
Here is why:
Here is why:
Note:
You should only continue if you are not experiencing the question asked.
But wait!
You are not out of the woods yet.
Let's make sure it is not something like kidney stones, appendicitis, or even food poisoning.
Appendicitis usually start with:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Pressing on the right lower belly area increases the pain.
Appendicitis is swelling or inflammation of the appendix caused by infection or fecal matter blockade.
The appendix is a small pouch attached to the beginning of your large intestine.
Tap on the "FYI" button to see a description of the symptoms.
Continue if it is not what you are looking at.
Symptoms may start with:
As the swelling in the appendix increases, in 12 to 24 hours after the start of the illness:
If your appendix ruptures:
If you are nodding your head to any of these, this is a
medical emergency
and you need to get to the hospital now.
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms of gallstones include:
If you nodded your head to the discussion so far, you should go to the nearest hospital or urgent care clinic?
If that is not the case, we can keep looking into what may be causing this stomach pain you are experiencing.
Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. They form inside the gallbladder
These stones are often found during a routine x-ray, abdominal surgery, or other medical procedure. But, if a large stone blocks either the cystic or common bile duct (called choledocholithiasis), you may have a cramping pain in the middle to right upper abdomen.
The pain goes away if the stone passes into the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). Else, you will need surgery as soon as possible if not right away.
If you have these symptoms, you should seek urgent or emergency care if the pain is very severe and:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
kidney stones symptoms include:
kidney stones symptoms include:
Main signs your stomach pain might be due to kidney stones are listed in the "FYI" below.
Severe pain that:
Also severe pain with
If these apply to you, we suggest you go to the nearest hospital or urgent care clinic.
Would you like to do that now or continue if you don't think it is a kidney stone situation?
Here is why:
If you or someone else touch parts of the belly and you feel pain in that part or the area feels tender, we consider this a medical emergency.
If it is followed by diarrhea, then it is due to gas or bloating. You may be suffering from lactose intolerance or food allergies.
If it lasts more than 24 hours or there is fever, then you will need to seek urgent care.
If it gets more severe, your intestines might be blocked.
Here is why:
Here is why:
If it travels to:
Some will require emergency care, others urgent care while others are due to minor stomach discomfort.
Bottom line:
If you are writhing around with severe pain trying to find the best comfortable position for you, you should start heading to the emergency room or seek urgent care.
Especially if it started suddenly and you know you didn't eat anything bad or do not have gas problems.
If you are convinced your stomach pain is not life threatening or does not require urgent care, let's see what a pharmacist recommend you take to relieve the pain that is available over-the-counter.