When Should Patients See a Doctor for Stomach Pain?
9/27/2022
Almost everyone has experienced stomach pain at one point or another. In most cases, stomach pain resolves on its own and is nothing to worry about. However, there are times when stomach pain may be indicative of a more serious and even potentially fatal condition. In these situations, it is critical that patients seek evaluation and treatment for their stomach pain right away. To better understand when you should visit your doctor or make a trip to your nearest Rockwall, TX urgent care for stomach pain, use the helpful information below from board-certified physician Dr. William Fieldsmith and the knowledgeable team of experts at Rockwall Rapid Care.
What could be causing my stomach pain?
Stomach discomfort can be related to a wide variety of illnesses, injuries, and medical conditions, which often makes it challenging for patients to identify the cause of their pain. In some cases, the cause of stomach pain may be fairly obvious – such as when a person has experienced several days or weeks of constipation. Other times, there may be multiple potential causes for the patient’s symptoms – or no apparent cause at all. Some of the most common causes of stomachache include:
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Gas
- Food poisoning
- Food intolerance/allergy
- Flu
- Stomach virus
- UTI
These conditions are not typically considered medical emergencies and may resolve on their own, but treatment is available at Rockwall Rapid Care to help patients find relief faster. More serious problems that can cause stomach pain and should be addressed right away include:
- Appendicitis
- Obstructed bowel
- Perforated bowel
- Cholecystitis
- Diverticulitis
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Pancreatitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Gastrointestinal cancers
How do I know if my stomach pain is serious enough to go to urgent care?
When in doubt, it’s always best to have your stomach pain evaluated by a medical professional to rule out a serious condition and, at the very least, to help identify the cause of your pain and direct you to the most appropriate treatment so that you start feeling better as soon as possible. However, there are some scenarios when stomach pain should be addressed immediately. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms in addition to stomach pain, visit your nearest urgent care:
- Prolonged pain
- Severe pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Fainting/loss of consciousness
- Blood in stool
- Difficulty breathing
After a prompt and thorough evaluation at Rockwall Rapid Care, we will determine whether your stomach pain can be treated at our facility or requires further assessment and care by a specialist or at an emergency room.
When should I take my child to the doctor for stomach pain?
Stomach pain in children is very common and, again, usually nothing to be overly concerned about. Like adults, however, children can also develop dangerous conditions that cause stomach pain. If your child’s pain is severe, is not improving, or is accompanied by any of the symptoms above, visit your nearest urgent care or emergency facility.
Get rapid relief from your stomach pain in Rockwall, TX
Stomach pain can come on suddenly and often keeps people out of work, school, and other daily activities. Start feeling like yourself again and rule out a more serious condition by visiting Rockwall Rapid Care to have your stomach pain evaluated by board-certified physician Dr. William Fieldsmith today.