Abdominal Pain

A stomach ache or abdominal pain, usually caused by trapped wind and bloating, is often short-lived. It usually involves feeling a dull ache in your abdomen or belly, alongside cramps. Stomach aches are very common.

At IPSA Medical, your doctor can recommend Buscopan or Mebeverine, or other over-the-counter (OTC) products to treat your stomach ache.

If you are suffering from a severe abdominal pain, which started both unexpectedly and suddenly, then treat it as a medical emergency, especially if your pain is located in just one particular area. Call IPSA Medical straight away for an immediate doctor’s appointment.

Treating Stomach Ache at IPSA Medical

At the IPSA Medical clinic, our resident doctor will see you. He/she will have a background in emergency medicine. As soon as you notice your symptoms starting, an immediate appointment can be allocated for you at a time that suits you.

You will have a full consultation/examination with your IPSA Medical doctor. Potential causes for your abdominal pain will be discussed; any other serious causes for your abdominal pain will also be ruled out.

If your IPSA Medical doctor has any cause for concern, you can then be redirected to the local surgical or medical team (without having to go through A & E).

Your IPSA Medical doctor might recommend a full blood screen. This is done to exclude other conditions such as infections, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, liver or kidney problems. The blood tests are done straight away and your IPSA Medical doctor discusses your results with you on a one-to-one basis.

During your IPSA Medical consultation, different ways to treat your symptoms will be discussed. Your IPSA Medical doctor will also discuss diet and management with you for when you go home.

Depending on your presenting symptoms, you will be offered (from among a range of medications) a treatment to help to control your abdominal pain symptoms.

If you require any further advice/support during your recovery, your IPSA Medical doctor is available on the phone 7 days a week.

A sick note can be drawn up for you (during your consultation) if you need it to cover work absences.

Causes of Stomach Ache

Gastroenteritis (a tummy bug) is often responsible for stomach cramps that start unexpectedly and that are accompanied with diarrhoea. Gastroenteritis occurs when the stomach and bowel has a viral or bacterial infection; it usually clears up with no medical treatment in a couple of days.

If your diarrhoea and stomach cramps are severe and making you very ill (for example, combined with chills or a fever), it could be that you have a more serious infection (such as food poisoning). If these symptoms persist for more than a couple of days, then it could be a longer term condition (such as irritable bowel syndrome or IBS).

For persistent or repeated abdominal-pain episodes, book in to see a doctor at IPSA Medical. This is to exclude anything that might be more serious. Often, stomach aches are not serious and they can be managed.

Here are some of the common causes in adults:

Stomach ache in children is often caused by the following:

If you are suffering from a stomach ache, then contact IPSA Medical for an experienced doctor and a same-day appointment. You can also book online.