Developing stomach pain is never pleasant. This is partly because the pain can be rather intense, and partly because you are worrying about what it might be caused by. Stomach pain can indicate many possible problems, and being able to find a stomach pain doctor may be your only solution to get relief.
Symptoms of Abdominal Pain
Although there are a number of things that can cause pain in the abdomen, there are some things that the doctor will inquire about. They will start their questions by asking how the pain started. If it was suddenly, then they will consider blood flow to your colon. If the pain is located in the middle of your abdomen, it could be appendicitis.
A problem with the gallbladder is apt to cause pain in the upper part of your abdomen, either in the middle or in the upper right part of it. If the pain is in the lower left of your abdomen, then the problem may be diverticulitis.
Doctors will also consider the duration of the pain and what will provide some relief. These can provide further clues as to the cause. Other symptoms may include:
- A fever.
- Diarrhea.
- Rectal bleeding.
- A fever with diarrhea.
Each of these symptoms could indicate a different problem. It is time to call a doctor when the pain is on the left or right side of your abdomen, which indicates that the problem is likely with an organ. Pain that starts in your chest and radiates downward could be a heart attack.
Diagnosis
Even though you go to a stomach pain doctor, it does not necessarily mean that a diagnosis will be given. Many stomach or abdomen problems resolve themselves within a couple of hours without a doctor finding the problem.
It is when the problem persists that something must be done. Problems relating to the stomach, or in that area, are best analyzed by a gastroenterologist. This is the kind of doctor that you need to call. A doctor will often use tenderness to determine the severity. Light pressure will be put on the spot of the pain, and if it hurts worse, the there is a problem.
Pain
The pain caused by some problems can be severe. In fact, it could lead to being hospitalized because of the severity. While the doctor may not be too concerned about pain that passes in 10 minutes or so, persistent pain is a cause for concern. A loss of appetite is another alarm, and so is vomiting.
Age and Doctor Visits
If you have stomach or abdominal pain that is not normal, it is even more important for you to go to the doctor’s sooner. When it comes to pain in the abdomen, people 65 and older have a higher risk of death.
It is not unusual to want to see a doctor when you have abdominal pain. A stomach pain doctor can be found in the phone book or by going online. You are better off seeing the doctor than by staying at home and finding out later you should have made the doctor’s visit.
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