Seek Immediate Medical Care If:
- You have pain and tenderness to the touch in the lower right abdomen with fever and/or vomiting. These may be signs of appendicitis.
- You are pregnant and have abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding. This may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
1. Treat Symptoms
- For heartburn from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), take an over-the-counter antacid or acid reducer.
- For constipation, take a mild stool softener or laxative.
- For pain, take acetaminophen (Aspirin Free Anacin, Liquiprin, Panadol, Tylenol). Avoid NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Midol, Motrin), or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan), because they can cause stomach irritation or bleeding.
2. When to Call a Doctor
Seek medical help if the person:
- Has severe abdominal pain or pain that lasts several days
- Has nausea, fever, or inability to keep food down for several days
- Has bloody stools
- Has painful urination
- Has blood in the urine
- Cannot pass stools, especially if also vomiting
- Has difficulty breathing
- Had an injury to the abdomen in the days before the pain started
- Has heartburn that isn't relieved by over-the-counter drugs or last longer than two weeks
3. When to Call 911
Call 911 if the person:
- Vomits blood
- Has severe difficulty breathing
SOURCES:
FamilyDoctor.org: “Abdominal Pain, Short-Term.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease;” “Constipation;” and “Treatment of Abdominal Pain.”
Merck Manual: “Symptoms: Abdominal Pain.”
eMedicineHealth: "Abdominal Pain in Adults."
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