Abdominal Pain in Washington
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Find a ProviderWhat is abdominal pain?
Individuals often have a hard time describing abdominal pain. It can be described as lower abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, pain in the upper stomach, generalized pain in the stomach, etc. Abdominal pain can manifest as any form of discomfort between the chest and the pelvis. It might seem vague and hard to define. Many times, pain in your abdomen is a minor issue, but it is always important to pay attention to your body and the messages that it is trying to send to you. There may be several possible conditions or contributing factors causing your stomach pain. If you struggle with frequent reoccurring stomach problems, it might be time to visit a specialist who provides treatment for abdominal pain in Washington. You can request a consultation with a GI provider in your area by contacting Washington Gastroenterology.
What causes abdominal pain?
Stomach or abdominal pain might be rooted in several minor issues. These often include:
- Difficulty with digestion (dyspepsia)
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Food poisoning: A foodborne illness due to toxins in food from bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
- Allergies to foods (such as lactose or gluten intolerance). Common food allergies include nuts, milk, fish, eggs, and shellfish.
- Virus: This could be a stomach flu or another virus
- Irritable bowel syndrome: Pain commonly occurs in the lower abdomen but can be in any portion of the abdomen. Pain may increase shortly after eating.
Other potentially more serious conditions that cause abdominal pain include:
- Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis): Symptoms manifest as extreme pain in the back and side from the lower abdomen to the groin
- Decreased blood supply to the intestines (intestinal ischemia): This can be due to a blocked blood vessel and might affect intestinal health
- Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix. This can feel like a dull pain in the abdomen that transfers to the lower right abdomen and grows sharper.
- Colon cancer: Symptoms can include severe and persistent pain in the abdomen and/or change in bowel habits
- Ulcerative colitis: Inflammatory bowel disease that can manifest in rectal and abdominal cramps and extreme discomfort
- Ulcers: Sores in the lining of the stomach that can result in pain in the abdomen
- Cancer of the stomach: Symptoms could include pain and unusual “fullness” in the upper abdomen
- Cholecystitis: Swelling of the gallbladder that can present as severe pain in the upper right or center of the abdomen
- Bowel blockage or obstruction: Inability of digested material passing through the bowel
- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas. Pain is experienced in the upper abdomen, radiating to the back.
- Diverticulitis: Infection/inflammation of the colon. This could progress to bowel obstruction and abdominal inflammation.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Occurs when stomach acid regurgitates backward into the esophagus. Symptoms might include frequent heartburn.
- Crohn’s disease: An inflammatory disease of the intestines that presents with frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain
What are the causes of lower abdominal pain?
At times, abdominal pain may be isolated to the lower portion of the abdominal area. Some common causes of pain in the lower abdomen include:
- Constipation: The inability to pass and/or difficulty passing stool
- Bowel blockage: The prevention of digested waste from passing through the bowel
- IBD (Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease): A term describing any chronic inflammation of the digestive tract
- Hernia: When a body part or organ pushes into the wall of the abdomen
- Gas: Feels like pressure in your abdomen and might include flatulence and burping
- IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome): Common disorder of the large intestine
- Lactose intolerance: The inability to fully digest lactose found in dairy
- Celiac sprue (Celiac disease): Adverse reaction to gluten, found in wheat, barley, and rye
- Appendicitis: Swelling of one's appendix. This may present as a dull pain in the abdomen that moves to the lower right abdomen and grows sharper/intensifies.
- Flu (stomach flu): Infection of the intestines. It can manifest as cramping, nausea, and fever.
- Indigestion: Discomfort from indigestion in one's lower abdomen is uncommon and caused by the buildup of acid following eating
- Diverticulitis: Swelling or infection of the intestinal wall
When should I go to the hospital for abdominal pain?
Emergency care may be necessary if you suffer from severe unrelenting abdominal pain. Abdominal pain should be evaluated by an emergency provider immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Pain that extends from the stomach to your back
- Your stomach is very tender to the touch
- A fever accompanying your abdominal pain
- Bloody urine or bloody stool
- A difficult time breathing or pain in your chest
- Inability to eat without vomiting
- Blood in your vomit
- Atypical heartbeat
The best advice is not to take any risks. If your stomach pain is frequent, even if not extreme, consulting with your nearest gastrointestinal provider may still be necessary. Our talented specialists commonly care for individuals with abdominal pain in Washington and are ready to help you with your GI symptoms. Blood in one's stool should never be ignored and should be evaluated by a medical provider. If you have blood in your stool, we implore you to contact Washington Gastroenterology today.
Treatment of abdominal pain
Due to the various sources of abdominal pain, the most reliable and effective method for treating abdominal pain is to seek a diagnosis from a GI specialist. The physician-led group of gastroenterologists at Washington Gastroenterology strives to offer the highest quality, patient-focused care. As experts in GI health, our specialists are happy to perform a range of diagnostic tests and provide treatment for various issues responsible for abdominal pain. To consult with a specialist who offers therapy for abdominal pain in Washington, please contact our facility at your earliest convenience to request an appointment at a location near you.
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I absolutely loved my appointment with Dr. Ojeaburu. He was kind, sincere, he listened to me, he answered all of my questions, and he was gentle in the exam. I suffer from chronic pain, especially abdominal pain and when he examined me he was very gentle. I have not had a doctor treat me with the level of kindness and respect as I received from Dr. Ojeaburu. I highly recommend him.
I got what I needed. Professional, knowledgeable and caring. Also my blood pressure did not shoot through the roof because of the terrible traffic. It was an excellent visit.
Dr. Butani has been my mom’s Gastroenterologist for year's. His bedside manner has improved quite a lot over time. 😆.
All phases of the procedure went smoothly. I recommend Dr Moussan highly.
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