Abdominal pain is obviously quite common. There are so many situations in which people are faced with something like this and the real question that appears is: when should you go talk to the doctor? Most people take over-the-counter medication whenever such pain is felt. That is the perfect solution in most situations and in others we just have to wait, as with abdominal pain caused by muscle soreness from a workout.
Go To The Doctor When
If you have fever, go to the doctor. The same rule applies in the event that you were not able to eat for a couple of days and/or there is some dehydration that appeared. It there is inability to properly pass stool, especially when the patient is vomiting, it can be a sign of a serious condition as combined with abdominal pain, unusual urination frequency and painful urination.
Touch your abdomen region and see if it is tender. If so, schedule a meeting with the health care provider. The same goes when pain lasts for over a few hours as there may be some sort of internal problem that has to be taken care of.
Go To The Emergency Room When
Seeking immediate medical help in some situations is a necessity. The most common situation is that in which you vomit blood or have breathing difficulties that are associated with the abdominal pain. Also, if you are pregnant and abdominal pain lasts a few hours, it is a good idea to go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Abdominal Pain Cause – How Is It Determined?
Abdominal pain can be caused due to so many different symptoms. With this in mind, you do need to go through various tests, including a thorough physical exam. It is also important to discuss symptoms, together with other symptoms that may be experienced. There are always questions that are asked about:
- pain type that is experienced – localized or general in the entire area
- type of pain – dull, severe, stabbing, etc
- medications taken
- supplementation taken
- potential pregnancy
- recent injuries in the area
After the initial evaluation was completed, the health care provider needs to go through tests in order to see pain cause. That can include blood tests, endoscopy, ultrasounds, CT scan, X-ray, barium enemas, urine tests or stool tests. Based on what is discovered, new tests may be necessary or the cause is determined.