When Should You Seek Care For Abdominal Pain

Everyone suffers from abdominal pain at least occasionally. A spicy meal or a stomach virus can make you feel very uncomfortable, although the symptoms are usually short-lived. When you experience abdominal pain frequently, or your pain is severe, it's time to call your gastroenterologists in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV, at Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada.

7 Times to Reach for the Phone

If you have abdominal pain, give your Las Vegas and Henderson, LV, gastroenterologist if:

  • You've had dull pain or pain that comes and goes for a week or longer
  • You've been experiencing pain that's somewhere in-between dull and severe for a day or two
  • Your pain is getting worse
  • Urinating is painful or burns
  • You have a fever and pain
  • You've noticed that your abdomen looks a little bloated
  • You've begun to lose weight, even if you haven't been dieting
  • You've had diarrhea in addition to pain for a few days

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if your abdominal pain is accompanied by frequent vomiting, nausea or chest pain. You'll also want to visit the ER if you can't have a bowel movement, have trouble breathing, are bleeding from your anus, have yellow skin, or the pain is severe.

What can cause abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain can occur for many reasons, including:

  • Viruses and infections
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Food poisoning
  • Gas
  • Indigestion
  • Constipation
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
  • Lactose intolerance
  • An ulcer
  • Endometriosis
  • An abdominal injury
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Gallstone or kidney stones
  • Hepatitis
  • Appendicitis
  • Intestinal blockage
  • Pneumonia
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Cancer
  • A hernia
  • Stress

Your gastroenterologist will narrow the list of possibilities by asking you to describe your symptoms, performing an examination, and recommending a few tests. Treatment depends on the cause of your pain. If you have GERD, your gastroenterologist may recommend or prescribe medications that reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes or strengthens the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus.

Medication can also be helpful for abdominal pain caused by lactose intolerance, pneumonia, infections, indigestion and other issues. In some cases, surgery may be needed to treat your pain.

Are you suffering from abdominal pain? Call your Las Vegas and Henderson, NV, gastroenterologists at Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada at (702) 483-4483 to schedule an appointment.

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Las Vegas, NV Gastroenterology Doctor

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Henderson, NV Gastroenterology Doctor

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed