Abdominal pain can range in intensity from a mild stomach ache to severe acute pain.
Since there are many organs within the abdominal cavity, the pain is often nonspecific and can be caused by a variety of conditions.
Sometimes the pain is directly related to a specific organ such as the bladder or ovary. Usually, abdominal pain originates in the digestive system. For example, the pain can be caused by appendicitis, diarrheal cramping, or food poisoning.
Home care for mild abdominal pains:
- Drink water or other clear fluids.
- Avoid solid food for the first few hours. If you have been vomiting, wait 6 hours. Then eat small amounts of mild foods such as rice, applesauce, or crackers.
- If the pain is high up in your abdomen and occurs after meals, antacids may provide some relief, especially if you feel heartburn or indigestion. Avoid citrus, high-fat foods, fried or greasy foods, tomato products, caffeine and alcohol, because they may make the pain worse.
- Place a hot water bottle or heated wheat bag on your abdomen.
- Soak in a warm bath. Take care not to scald yourself.
- Get plenty of rest.
- If you have stomach ache drink a glass of milk, because it will neutralize the acid in your stomach.
- Sometimes the abdominal pain is plainly caused by an accumulation of gas in the intestinal tract. When that is the case, the easy and immediate remedy is to drink a gas of soda, or aerated drink. The soda helps to bring out the accumulated gas, turning so in an immediate cure for abdominal pain.
- You may also try H2 blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac) available over the counter.
- If any of these medicines worsen your pain, CALL your doctor right away.
- AVOID aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications, and narcotic pain medications unless your health care provider prescribes them. If you know that your pain is not related to your liver, you can try acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- If you suffer from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) take immediately a pain killer, drink chamomile tea and try to have some sleep. You can put your feet in hot water. That would help, too.
