ABDOMINAL PAIN

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Anatomical landmark...

Abdominal organs

Digestive system

Appendicitis

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SYMPTOM CHECKER

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Abdominal pain
Pain

Home Care

For mild pains:

• Sip water or other clear fluids.
• Avoid solid food for the first few hours. If you have been vomiting, wait 6 hours. Then eat small amounts of mild foods such as rice, applesauce or crackers.
• If the pain is high up in your abdomen and occurs after meals, antacids may provide some relief, especially if you feel heartburn or indigestion. Avoid citrus, high-fat foods, fried or greasy foods, tomato products, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages. You may also try H2 blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac) available over the counter. If any of these medicines worsen your pain, CALL your doctor right away.
• AVOID aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications, and narcotic pain medications unless your health care provider prescribes them. If you know that your pain is not related to your liver, you can try acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Call your health care provider if

Seek immediate medical help or call your local emergency number (such as 911) if you:

• Are unable to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
• Are vomiting blood or have blood in your stool (especially if maroon or dark, tarry black)
• Have chest, neck, or shoulder pain
• Have sudden, sharp abdominal pain
• Have pain in your shoulder blades with nausea
• Your belly is rigid, hard, and tender to touch

Call your doctor if you have:

• Abdominal discomfort that lasts 1 week or longer
• Bloating that persists for more than 2 days
• Burning sensation when you urinate or frequent urination
• Diarrhea for more than 5 days, or if your infant or child has diarrhea for more than 2 days or vomiting for more than 12 hours -- call right away if a baby younger than 3 months has diarrhea or vomiting
• Fever (over 100°F for adults or 100.4°F for children) with your pain
• Pain that develops during pregnancy (or possible pregnancy)
• Prolonged poor appetite
• Unexplained weight loss

Reviewer Info: Jacob L. Heller, M.D., M.H.A., F.A.C.E.P., Section of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., 04/25/2008