Common questions / 05/01/2019

Who is the best ER doctor for stomach pain?

As a follow-up to “ER or Not: Severe Stomach Pain,” emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen takes us step-by-step through what physicians do when a patient with abdominal pain comes into the ER and what signs you can look for at home when deciding whether to go to the hospital.

What causes stomach pain that is life threatening?

Stomach pain can be caused by a life-threatening condition, such as appendicitis, bowel obstruction (blockage of food material somewhere in the small or large intestine), or a bowel perforation (a leak of food material from the intestines). 1

How to find out if you have a stomachache?

So the first thing I’m going to do of course is find out more about the stomachache, when did it start, where does it hurt. Have there been any other symptoms with it like fever or any pain elsewhere, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain with urination, any blood in the urine or in the stool.

When to go to the ER for a stomachache?

Interviewer: One of our most popular pieces on TheScopeRadio.com is “I have a severe stomachache, ER or not?” And in that particular episode, we were told that if you have a severe stomachache, you should go to the ER and have a look at because it could be a couple of things.

What causes stomach pain and when to see a doctor?

Causes of Stomach Pain and Treatment Options 1 Upper Gastrointestinal Tract. Besides your run-of-the-mill stomach bug or the occasional bout… 2 Lower Gastrointestinal Tract. Constipation is very common and often associated with uncomfortable… 3 Both GI Tracts. Some health conditions that cause perceived stomach pain may affect both…

When is stomach pain is and is not an emergency?

These emergencies usually cause very noticeable and often intolerable signs and symptoms. Your stomach pain is probably a sign of an urgent medical problem if: Your pain started within a week of having abdominal surgery or a gastrointestinal procedure (even a diagnostic endoscopy)

Is it normal for my stomach to hurt all the time?

Most causes of abdominal pain aren’t worrisome, and your doctor can easily diagnose and treat the problem. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign of a serious illness. Learn which symptoms to watch out for and when you should get medical help. What Are the Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain?

When to call 911 if your stomach hurts?

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 her as soon as you can if you have symptoms along with the pain, such as: Your belly is tender to the touch. Pain lasts more than a few hours.

When to see a doctor for stomach pain?

While indigestion may be the case, anyone with risk factors such as diabetes or hypertension should see a doctor as soon as possible, Arthur says. A sudden pain in the lower part of the abdomen may be signs of appendicitis. It may also be accompanied by a fever. Pain often begins around the belly button area and becomes worse with time.

Can a skillful doctor make a diagnostic error?

Skillful doctors can and do make diagnostic errors even when using reasonable care. The key is determining whether the doctor acted competently, which involves an evaluation of what the doctor did and did not do in arriving at a diagnosis. This means looking at the “differential diagnosis” method the doctor used in making treatment determinations.

Why do emergency room doctors fail to diagnose?

Further, doctors in emergency rooms may be inexperienced or recent medical school graduates. Some emergency room doctors fail to make differential diagnoses; that is, they get focused on one particular diagnosis and fail look at other possibilities.

Who is the ER doctor on the front lines?

Announcer: This is “From the Front Lines” with emergency room physician, Dr. Troy Madsen, on The Scope. Interviewer: One of our most popular pieces on TheScopeRadio.com is “I have a severe stomachache, ER or not?”

What happens when the Doctor gets it wrong?

Misdiagnosis: When the Doctor Gets it Wrong. A misdiagnosis occurs when a doctor fails to recognize symptoms which are clearly attributable to one illness and instead attributes them to another illness. When this occurs, the actual illness may go untreated, resulting in worsening, sometimes life-threatening symptoms.

When to go to the hospital for stomach pain?

When Should You Go to the Hospital for Stomach Pain? Dr. Madsen: This is a really great question because you may think to yourself, “Okay, my stomach hurts. I’m going to go to the ER and they’re going to look at me and say, ‘Why are you here?’ They’re going to send me home.”

What causes severe abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting?

The pain can be extremely severe and debilitating. Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, is usually associated with nausea and vomiting. The gall bladder, liver, and kidneys can also become inflamed. Infection: Bacterial and viral infections that affect the abdomen can also result in severe abdominal pain.

When to go to the ER for abdominal pain?

Along with severe abdominal pain, you may experience: Also, pay attention to the quality and location of the pain. Your pain may be localized and limited to one area of the abdomen. It may be intermittent, or colicky, which is a term that describes the pain that is sudden and feels like a severe muscle spasm.

Why does my stomach hurt so much after eating?

Having abdominal pain after eating, also known as postprandial pain, can also be associated with nausea or diarrhea immediately after eating. Abdominal pain that gets worse after eating commonly occurs when there is infection or irritants to the organs of the digestive system.

Why do people go to the ER for stomach pain?

Abdominal pain is the single leading reason for emergency room visits in the U.S. according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accounting for more than 12 million of the nearly 139 million annual ER visits. Most people call it stomach pain, but it’s not always a stomach problem.

What causes sharp pains in the stomach and nausea?

Gastroenteritis is a common reason for sharp pain in the stomach and nausea. Irritation or infection of the intestines or stomach is the reason for cramping stomach pain and feeling like vomiting.

When does stomach pain become an urgent medical problem?

These emergencies usually cause very noticeable and often intolerable signs and symptoms. Your stomach pain is probably a sign of an urgent medical problem if: You are pregnant. Your pain started within a week of having abdominal surgery or a gastrointestinal procedure (even a diagnostic endoscopy)

When to go to the emergency department for abdominal pain?

Evaluation of the emergency department patient with acute abdominal pain is sometimes difficult. Various factors can obscure the presentation, delaying or preventing the correct diagnosis, with subsequent adverse patient outcomes.

What to do if you have pain in your upper abdomen?

Placing an ice pack on the area, for example, can help ease symptoms of muscle strain. Just remember that taking aspirin or ibuprofen can cause stomach irritation, which can make abdominal pain worse. But, if your upper abdomen pain is severe or lasts for more than a few days, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

What does it mean when you have severe abdominal pain?

When abdominal pain is severe, it indicates an underlying problem. Severe abdominal pain is often referred to by the medical term acute abdomen. Severe abdominal pain, in some cases, requires emergency care.

When to go to the doctor for stomach pain?

Get help right away. There’s a bit of a gray area in terms of which stomach pain cases need immediate attention and which would warrant a call or visit to your doctor instead, as there can be symptom overlap. Again, listen to your body and your instincts if you’re not sure.

Is it normal to wake up with stomach pain?

Although it may not be common to wake up to stomach pain, what’s causing the stomach pain might be considered common. Use the symptoms you’re experiencing in addition to the stomach pain, to help you identify possible causes and find the treatment you need. What can cause stomach pain at night? Stomach pain is a common symptom of many conditions.

When to go to the emergency room for stomach pain?

However, cases such as abdominal pain accompanied by immense vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be treated as an emergency being that it may prove to be fatal to the unborn child and the expectant mother.

When does stomach pain start after abdominal surgery?

Your pain started within a week of having abdominal surgery or a gastrointestinal procedure (even a diagnostic endoscopy) Your pain started shortly after you experienced severe abdominal trauma Your stomach pain may be mild in the beginning, and then you may develop associated symptoms after a few hours.

How long does stomach pain last after eating?

The pain becomes worse after eating, lasts 30 to 60 minutes and may come and go, becoming more constant and severe over time, says Singh. Lower “crampy” abdominal pain accompanied by bloating and diarrhea or constipation can be signs of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), says Singh.

When to go to the emergency room for abdominal pain?

Emergency medical providers routinely check patients with abdominal pain for such things as appendicitis, gallstones, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, internal bleeding, kidney problems and pregnancy. And most are found to have …none of the above.

When to see a doctor for gastritis or duodenitis?

This can lead to stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. In some cases, chronic inflammation of your stomach lining can change the cells over time and increase your risk for developing stomach cancer. Talk to your doctor if your gastritis or duodenitis symptoms occur more than twice a week.

If you have these symptoms, don’t try to wait them out. Call your doctor or seek out medical care as quickly as possible. “Appendicitis requires immediate attention,” Dr. Tripathi says.

When to see the doctor for a stomach virus?

Stomach viruses are often mild and go away on their own in 1 to 3 days. Babies, older adults, or people who have low immune systems should see the doctor right away. This can help prevent their infection from getting worse.

What do doctors do when they tap your stomach?

So that’s what doctors are doing when they tap your stomach: listening to sound and to the patient to discern normal from abnormal and reach a diagnosis, prognosis, and inform a treatment plan. Due to different densities, solid and fluid filled organs have a flatter tone than air filled organs.

Stomach pain and nausea are often short-lived and get better on their own. However, persistent symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition. The NIDDK recommend that people see a doctor if their indigestion, which can cause symptoms such as stomach pain and nausea, lasts for more than 2 weeks.

When to see a doctor for abdominal pain?

When to See a Doctor for Abdominal Pain. Abdominal pain is a relatively common symptom that often needs no treatment. But there are also some serious conditions that cause abdominal pain which shouldn’t be ignored. They may require medical attention and, in some cases, even emergency care.

When to be concerned about a stomach ache?

Stomach ache and abdominal pain. A stomach ache is a term often used to refer to cramps or a dull ache in the tummy (abdomen). It’s usually short-lived and is often not serious. Severe abdominal pain is a greater cause for concern. If it starts suddenly and unexpectedly, it should be regarded as a medical emergency,…

For instance, eat smaller meals if your pain is accompanied by indigestion. Avoid taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) because these can cause stomach irritation that may worsen abdominal pain.

What should I do if I have stomach pain?

In the meantime, find ways to ease your pain. For instance, eat smaller meals if your pain is accompanied by indigestion. Avoid taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) because these can cause stomach irritation that may worsen abdominal pain.

When to go to the doctor for abdominal pain?

Let your doctor know right away if you or your child has: Severe pain. Blood in your stool, vomit, or pee. Trouble swallowing. Nausea that doesn’t go away. Yellow-looking skin. Swelling in your stomach.

How often do you go to the ER for abdominal pain?

The CDC estimates that about 17% of all ER visits for abdominal pain are due to what it classifies as “serious diagnoses.” Second, the tools we use to look in that black box are far from perfect. Take the CT scan — the two-dimensional X-ray is one of the most commonly ordered ER tests for patients with belly pain.

How long does it take for stomach pain to go away?

A stomachache that comes and goes, but never goes away for good, can truly be a pain. If you have at least three of them over 3 months, and they’re severe enough to keep you from doing everyday activities, you have what doctors call “recurrent abdominal pain ” (RAP). The treatment you need will depend on the cause of your pain.