What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. It is also called stomach pain or belly pain. There are many different causes of abdominal pain. If your pain is severe or continues for more than a few days, your doctor may want to examine you and may order tests to help explain why you are having this pain.

In the meantime, here are some steps you can take to begin feeling better：

•   Rest

•   Do not eat solid food until your pain is gone

•   While you have pain: Stay on a clear liquid diet. A clear liquid is one you can see through (water, weak tea, broth or bouillon, ginger ale, jello, Gatorade, apple juice, popsicles or ice chips). Avoid milk or dairy products

•   When your pain is gone: Start a light diet (dry toast, crackers, applesauce, white rice, bananas, broth or bouillon) and increase the diet slowly, as long as it does not bother you. No milk products (including cheese and eggs) and no spicy, fatty, fried or high fiber foods

•   No alcohol, coffee or cigarettes

•   Take your regular medicines unless the doctor told you not to

•   Take any prescribed medicine as directed

•   Do not take medicine containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) unless your doctor says to

Call your doctor if:

•   Your pain becomes worse, changes location or feels different

•   You have a fever or shaking chills

•   You keep throwing up or cannot drink liquids

•   You see blood when you throw up or see blood in your bowel movements

•   Your bowel movements become dark or black

•   You move your bowels frequently

•   Your bowel movements stop (become blocked) or you cannot pass gas

•   You have bloody or painful urination

•   Your skin or the whites of your eyes look yellow

•   Your stomach becomes bloated or bigger

•   There is bleeding or discharge from your vagina

•   You feel dizzy or faint

•   Your abdominal pain moves to your chest or your back

This document is intended to provide health related information so that you may be better informed.It is not a substitute for your care team’s medical advice and should not be relied upon for treatment for specific medical conditions.

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