When should I seek treatment for abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain can vary greatly, from minor to excruciating. But here's the kicker: Sometimes excruciating pain can result from something pretty harmless. For example, most people know what it's like to be doubled over with gas pain. Yet some serious problems, such as celiac disease or colon cancer, may not cause you too much discomfort in the early stages.

So don't judge your problems solely by the severity of your pain. Severe, incapacitating pain is always a reason to see your doctor right away. But for mild to moderate pain, consider the following red flags as well, and call your doctor if you experience them:

• Abdominal discomfort that lasts a week or longer
• Abdominal swelling
• Bloating that lasts longer than 2 days (not associated with premenstrual syndrome [PMS])
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days
• Fever with your pain
• Pain that develops during pregnancy (or possible pregnancy)
• Prolonged poor appetite
• Tenderness of the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Black, tarry stool
• Thin, ribbon-like stool

Signs that you need to see a doctor immediately include a rigid abdomen; a high fever with your pain (over 101 degrees Fahrenheit); bloody diarrhea or vomit; an inability to pass stool, gas, or urine; or pain that is incapacitating, lasts several hours, is accompanied by vomiting, or might be symptomatic of a medical emergency, such as a heart attack.

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