People with the following symptoms need to see a doctor:
- steady, severe pain or regularly recurring pain;
- pain lasting for hours or days;
- pain that wakes you from sleep;
- pain that impairs your ability to work or perform routine activities;
- loss of weight or appetite.
Immediate medical attention is required if abdominal pain is accompanied by:
- fever;
- diarrhea;
- persistent constipation;
- blood in the stool;
- change in the color of urine;
- persistent nausea or vomiting;
- vomiting blood;
- severe tenderness of the belly;
- jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes);
- swelling of the abdomen.
The ACG also recommends that people see a doctor if they are regularly taking any medicines that can cause ulcers, such as aspirin or other medications commonly used to treat arthritis or headaches.
