When it comes to health care, the most important thing that patients can do for themselves is be informed and be aware of their own body.
Montclair patients who are experiencing abdominal pain and other symptoms should understand when there is cause for concern and when they should seek treatment from an expert general surgeon. These are some of the symptoms that San Bernardino County residents should be aware of in case they should encounter them in their own lives.
What are Abdominal Pain Symptoms that Should Cause Concern?
Abdominal pain that is not severe is generally not a cause for concern, and usually just means that a person is experiencing routine digestive issues that will pass with time. However, if a person is experiencing abdominal pain combined with fever, they will want to contact a doctor as quickly as possible.
Abdominal pain that is sensitive to the touch may also be a sign of a larger issue, and abdominal pain that lasts for several days in a row also should be a cause for concern. If a person cannot keep food or liquids down for several days, it might be best to contact a physician for further examination. A patient should consider it an emergency situation if they begin to vomit blood.
How Will the Doctor Determine the Cause of the Pain?
When you seek treatment for your abdominal pain, your general surgery expert will likely first discuss with you the symptoms that you are experiencing. After the doctor has an understanding of the symptoms that you have at the time, the next step is to perform a complete and thorough examination.Before providing you with a diagnosis, your doctor may ask you to undergo additional tests that might include, but are not limited to, X-rays, CT scans, blood tests or endoscopy.
How Will Abdominal Pain be Treated?
The treatment for the abdominal pain will vary based on the cause of the pain itself. For some patients, a simple infection is causing the pain and an antibiotic is necessary. Other patients may need medication for a chronic condition that was just discovered.
The surgeon also might recommend that patients make dietary changes and alter their lifestyle in order to improve discomfort. In rare cases, surgery may be required. This is typically only the case if the abdominal pain is caused by appendicitis or a hernia.
Patients who understand the strength and severity of their abdominal pain will be more apt to contact a general surgeon when they need help instead of waiting until it is too late. Timing is everything when it comes to diagnosing and treating abdominal pain.
Not only do you want to be comfortable again, but you also want to avoid further complications that could result from letting your body experience the pain for too long. It is important to be both familiar and comfortable with your general surgeon, so that you have someone you can trust available during a time of need.
