The abdomen is a crowded box: stomach, bowel, liver, gallbladder, appendix, kidneys — and in women, the uterus and ovaries. Most of its pains pass, but some are surgical emergencies that don't tolerate "I'll see tomorrow".
In short — what to do
- Sudden severe pain that woke you from sleep, or a board-rigid abdomen painful at the lightest touch.
- Pain settling in the lower right abdomen with nausea and fever (the appendix doesn't wait).
- Vomiting blood, or tar-black stool.
- Pain with bloating and complete stoppage of gas and stool.
- Abdominal pain in pregnancy, or sudden severe testicular pain in males (a few golden hours!).
- Severe pain in the elderly, diabetics or heart patients — their bodies "mute" dangerous symptoms.
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The full details
To the ER immediately if
- Sudden severe pain that woke you from sleep, or a board-rigid abdomen painful at the lightest touch.
- Pain settling in the lower right abdomen with nausea and fever (the appendix doesn't wait).
- Vomiting blood, or tar-black stool.
- Pain with bloating and complete stoppage of gas and stool.
- Abdominal pain in pregnancy, or sudden severe testicular pain in males (a few golden hours!).
- Severe pain in the elderly, diabetics or heart patients — their bodies "mute" dangerous symptoms.
Until it's clear
- Don't eat or drink if the pain is severe — you may need anaesthesia and surgery.
- Paracetamol is acceptable for pain; avoid anti-inflammatories on an inflamed stomach.
- No hot compresses on an acutely painful abdomen, and no laxatives to "move things along".
A detail your doctor loves
Where did the pain start and where did it move? Appendicitis, for example, starts around the navel then moves right — that one sentence saves an hour of questions.
This content is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call 998.