Recurring Abdominal Pain: What It Is and What to Do About It - Legacy ER

It can be tough to know what to do about abdominal pain, especially if you’re experiencing chronic or recurring pain. These episodes could be the result of minor injuries and illnesses, but they could also be the first sign of a more serious disorder. Do you know what to look for or what to do about recurring abdominal pain? Here’s a quick guide to help you out when your stomach starts to churn.

Warning Signs

Abdominal pain after a rich meal or during menstruation is normal, but if you’re experiencing multiple episodes on a regular basis, a more serious issue could be behind your pain. Some of the most concerning symptoms to look out for include:

• High fever
• Loss of appetite
• Blood in stool or urine
• Pain that disrupts sleep
• Abdominal or leg swelling
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea

Seeking Emergency Care

Any of these warning signs coming on should trigger a visit to the ER, an urgent care clinic, or your primary care physician (PCP). If you can’t wait for an appointment with your PCP, seek out urgent medical care immediately. The majority of urgent care centers operate seven days a week, so there’s no excuse for waiting until the weekend is over! The development of any of these symptoms with abdominal pain is a serious matter, and should not be ignored.

These situations are often mistaken for food allergies or intolerances, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. A bad stomach ache might turn out to be a serious illness or disorder that you never knew you had!

Proceeding to Testing

Before your doctor knows what to do about abdominal pain that you’re experiencing, a variety of tests will need to be performed. Blood tests will evaluate how the liver and pancreas are functioning, and a complete blood cell count. Additional tests and even ultrasounds may be performed to further confirm a diagnosis for chronic abdominal pain.

Above all else, make sure you’re not ignoring serious abdominal pain when it comes on. And if you’re experiencing severe abdominal pain on a regular basis, it’s important that you seek out the appropriate medical help immediately. Fortunately, this short guide should be able to help you determine whether or not the symptoms you’re experiencing are severe or nothing to worry about.