Abdominal Pain in Ocean Springs, MS
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Find a ProviderWhat is abdominal pain?
Individuals often have a hard time finding words to explain abdominal pain. It can sometimes be described as pain in the lower abdomen, upper abdomen, upper stomach pain, or generalized pain in the stomach. Abdominal pain can present as any form of discomfort in the area between the chest and the pelvis. It might be non-specific and difficult to put into words. A lot of the time, abdominal pain can be a minor issue, but it is always important to pay attention to your body and the signs that it is sending you. There may be several possible conditions or explanations for the source of your stomach pain. If you suffer from persistent on-and-off stomach issues, it may be time to consult a provider who can offer treatment options for abdominal pain in Ocean Springs, MS. You can request a consultation with a gastroenterology specialist near you by contacting Digestive Health Center.
What causes abdominal pain?
Stomach or abdominal pain may be caused by numerous minor situations. These commonly include:
- Food poisoning: A foodborne illness due to toxins in food from bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting.
- Allergies to foods (such as gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance). Common food allergies include nuts, milk, fish, eggs, and shellfish.
- An excess of gas
- Irritable bowel syndrome: Pain often presents in the lower abdomen but can be in any portion of the abdomen. Pain may worsen soon after eating.
- Virus: This could be a stomach flu or another virus
- Constipation
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
Additional and potentially more serious conditions that also manifest with abdominal pain involve:
- Bowel obstruction or blockage: Prevention of digested material from passing through the intestine
- Colon cancer: Symptoms can include extreme and persistent abdominal pain, as well as a change in bowel habits
- Ulcerative colitis: IBS that can result in abdominal and rectal cramping and pain
- Cholecystitis: Swelling of the gallbladder that can present as severe pain in the center or upper right of the abdomen
- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas. Pain is often felt from the upper abdomen, radiating to the back.
- Decreased blood supply to the intestines (intestinal ischemia): This may be due to a blocked blood vessel and could affect intestinal function
- Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis): Symptoms manifest as severe pain in one's back and side from the groin to the lower abdomen
- Ulcers: Wounds in the stomach lining that can present with abdominal pain
- Cancer of the stomach: Symptoms might include pain and an unusual feeling of “fullness” in the upper abdomen
- Diverticulitis: Infection/inflammation of the colon. This could be the cause of bowel blockage and abdominal swelling.
- Appendicitis: Swelling in the appendix. This may feel like a dull pain in one's abdomen that moves to the lower right abdomen and becomes sharper.
- Crohn’s disease: An inflammatory disease of the intestines that presents with frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid regurgitates back into the esophagus. Symptoms can involve recurring heartburn.
What is the cause of lower abdominal pain?
In some cases, pain in one's abdomen might be isolated to the lower portion of the abdomen. Some of the most common causes of lower abdominal pain include:
- Constipation: The inability to pass and/or difficulty passing stool
- Celiac disease (celiac sprue): Triggered response of the body to gluten, found in wheat, barley, and rye
- Gas: Presents as the sensation of pressure in your abdomen and may include burping and flatulence
- Indigestion: Pain resulting from indigestion in one's lower abdomen is rare and due to a buildup of acid after eating
- Flu (stomach flu): Infection of the intestines. It might manifest as cramping, nausea, and fever.
- IBD (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis): A term describing any chronic swelling of the digestive tract
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Common disorder affecting the large intestine
- Hernia: When another body part or organ pushes into the abdominal wall
- Lactose intolerance: The inability to fully digest lactose found in dairy
- Bowel obstruction: The complete halting of digested waste from traveling through the intestine
- Appendicitis: Swelling of one's appendix. This may feel like a dull pain in the abdomen that travels to the lower right abdomen and becomes worse.
- Diverticulitis: Swelling or infection of the walls of the intestines
When should I go to the hospital for abdominal pain?
Emergency care may be necessary if you or a loved one are having extreme, unrelenting abdominal pain along with any of the following symptoms.
- Pain that extends from your stomach to the back
- Your stomach is unusually tender to the touch
- Your abdominal pain is accompanied by a fever
- Bloody stool or bloody urine
- Difficulty breathing or chest pain
- Inability to eat without vomiting
- Blood in your vomit
- Unusual heartbeat
The best guideline to follow is that it is better to be safe than sorry. If your stomach pain is recurring but not excruciating, consulting with your nearest gastrointestinal specialist may still be advisable. Our skilled specialists regularly provide treatment for individuals with abdominal pain in Ocean Springs, MS, and can help you with your gastrointestinal needs. Blood in the stool should never be ignored and should always be evaluated by a medical practitioner. If you have blood in your stool, we urge you to connect with Digestive Health Center today.
Treatment of abdominal pain
Due to the variety of sources of abdominal pain, the most effective and efficient way to treat abdominal pain is to seek a diagnosis from a GI specialist. The experienced group of gastroenterologists at Digestive Health Center strive to provide the highest standard of patient-focused service. As leaders in GI health, our specialists are happy to perform diagnostic tests and provide treatment for various problems that cause abdominal pain. To meet with a provider who can offer treatment for abdominal pain in Ocean Springs, MS, please contact our office today to request a consultation.
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Great Doctor walked in talking to my dad as if he'd known him all his life and then he mentioned why he does what he does ...the Lord! This is the Doctor that will do my Dads procedure....Wonderful man.
I am definitely appreciative & thankful for Dr. Angela Pressley Wallace. She is very easy to work with, honest, understanding, very knowledgeable about her career being a physician, cares for her patients, terrific leader, kind hearted, genuine. One of the best & top Gastroenterologist Physicians in the Gulfport, MS area. I highly recommend Dr. Angela Pressley Wallace❗️You will not be disappointed.
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I love Dr. Presley-Wallace she is very easy to talk to. She listens to all my concerns. My son suffered for a long time with his stomach, and after seeing her she finally figured out what was wrong. My son loves her and it just warms my heart to have a loving and caring doctor like her.
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