Digestive Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms When Stomach Pain Is and Is Not an Emergency By Barbara Bolen, PhD twitter Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome. Learn about our editorial process Barbara Bolen, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD on November 03, 2020 linkedin Priyanka Chugh, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist in practice with Trinity Health of New England in Waterbury, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Review Board Priyanka Chugh, MD on November 03, 2020 Print Stomach pain can have a variety of causes, some of which you can address by resting, avoiding heavy and spicy foods, taking medication, or using a heating pad. Others, however, may require urgent medical care. While it can be hard to determine this on your own, at least with total certainty, there are some guidelines you can use to figure out if you should head to the ER, your doctor's office, or try some at-home solutions. Regardless of how your case matches up if you feel severe, out-of-the-norm pain that you think needs immediate attention, seek it. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell When Stomach Pain Is an Emergency Stomach pain can be caused by a life-threatening condition, such as appendicitis, bowel obstruction (blockage of food material somewhere in the small or large intestine), or a bowel perforation (a leak of food material from the intestines). These emergencies usually cause very noticeable and often intolerable signs and symptoms. Your stomach pain is probably a sign of an urgent medical problem if: You are pregnantYour pain started within a week of having abdominal surgery or a gastrointestinal procedure (even a diagnostic endoscopy)You have ever had a gastric bypass, a colostomy, or a bowel resectionYour pain started shortly after you experienced severe abdominal traumaYour abdomen appears bruised or is rapidly expanding in size Your stomach pain may be mild in the beginning, and then you may develop associated symptoms after a few hours. You should get help immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms along with your stomach pain: Abdomen is extremely hardAbdominal tenderness when it is touchedCoughing up or vomiting bloodPersistent vomitingBloody diarrheaChest pain or pressureDifficulty breathingDizzinessFaintingInability to have a bowel movement accompanied by vomitingPain in neck, shoulder or between shoulder bladesVision changes Call for an ambulance or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room. In these instances, you should not "wait and see" or take medicine for the pain. Get help right away. When to Call Your Doctor There's a bit of a gray area in terms of which stomach pain cases need immediate attention and which would warrant a call or visit to your doctor instead, as there can be symptom overlap. Again, listen to your body and your instincts if you're not sure. If you don't have any of the symptoms listed above and instead have any of the following features of your abdominal pain, it is important that you contact your doctor within a day or two: Burning with urination or urinary urgencyBlood in the urinePain, discomfort, or nausea when you eatDiarrhea that lasts more than five daysFever above 100 degreesFever lasting for three days or longerSignificant loss of appetitePain worsens or doesn't get better within one or two daysRectal bleeding or blood in the stoolExcessive vaginal bleeding or blood clotsVaginal bleeding that lasts for longer than usual You should also call your doctor if you experience stomach pain while you are being treated for cancer. When It's Not an Emergency If your stomach pain is not severe, persistent, or associated with concerning symptoms like those already discussed, it is likely to resolve on its own. Abdominal pain is usually caused by minor problems such as constipation, trapped gas, or eating something that didn't agree with you, like a high dairy meal or a spice that you aren't used to. Waiting a few hours, having a bowel movement, or passing gas usually helps. There are a few things you can do so that you can be more comfortable and to help relieve your symptoms as your pain resolves: Limit yourself to clear liquids for a few hours.If you experience vomiting and/or diarrhea, stick with the BRAT diet and other mild foods until your symptoms start to subside.Avoid foods that are tough on the digestive system, such as food that is high in fat, fried foods, spicy foods, and drinks containing alcohol or caffeine.Try an over-the-counter antacid or gas-relieving product.Try to have a bowel movement. Often, eating raw fruit, vegetables, beans, or high-fiber cereal can help.Use a hot water bottle or heating pad. This may help to soothe your pain. Place the pad on your abdomen for half-hour intervals and be sure to use a towel under the pad to protect your skin. Your symptoms may completely improve within one to two days. If they do not, call your doctor's office for advice. A Word From Verywell Stomach pain is very common, and you have probably experienced some that got better on its own. Severe stomach pain can be alarming, and there are so many causes that it can be hard to figure out whether your stomach pain is due to something serious or not. Often, if you have other associated symptoms, or if your pain is severe or persistent, this is a clue that a serious condition is to blame. If you are not sure whether your stomach pain is serious, it is best to seek medical attention. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! One of the most challenging aspects of having IBS is trying to figure out what's safe to eat. Our recipe guide makes it easier. Sign up and get yours now! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cervellin G, Mora R, Ticinesi A, et al. Epidemiology and outcomes of acute abdominal pain in a large urban Emergency Department: retrospective analysis of 5,340 cases. Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(19):362. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.10 Macaluso CR, Mcnamara RM. Evaluation and management of acute abdominal pain in the emergency department. Int J Gen Med. 2012;5:789-97. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S25936 Additional Reading Poonai N, Cowie A, Davidson C, et al. Reported provision of analgesia to patients with acute abdominal pain in Canadian pediatric emergency departments. CJEM.2016 Sep;18(5):323-30. doi: 10.1017/cem.2015.112. Epub 2016 Jan 25. Wöhrl S. NSAID hypersensitivity - recommendations for diagnostic workup and patient management. Allergo J Int.2018;27(4):114-121. acute abdominal: 10.1007/s40629-018-0064-0. Epub 2018 May 25.