Abdominal Pain (cont.)
How can I help my doctor to determine the cause of my abdominal pain?Before the visit, prepare written lists of:
- Medications you are currently taking, including herbs,
vitamins, minerals, and food supplements.
- Your allergies to medications, food, or pollen
- The medications that you have tried for your abdominal pain.
- Previous hospitalizations
- Ill family members, particularly those who have symptoms similar to yours.
- Family members with gastrointestinal diseases (involving the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder).
- Be candid with your doctor about your prior and current alcohol consumption and
smoking habits, any history of chemical dependence.
Be prepared to tell your doctor:
- When the pain first started
- If there were previous episodes of similar pain.
- How frequently episodes of pain occur
- If each episode of pain starts gradually or suddenly
- What causes the pain and what makes the pain worse
- The characteristics of the pain. Is the pain sharp or dull, burning or
pressure like? Is the pain jabbing and fleeting, steady and unrelenting or
crampy (coming and going)?
After the visit to the doctor, do not expect an instant cure or immediate diagnosis, and
remember:
- Multiple office visits and tests (blood tests, radiographic studies, or
endoscopic procedures) are often necessary to establish the diagnosis and/or
to exclude serious illnesses.
- Doctors may start you on a medication before a firm diagnosis is made.
Your response (or lack of response) to that medication sometimes may provide
your doctor with valuable clues as to the cause of your abdominal pain.
Therefore, it is important for you to take the medication that is
prescribed.
- Notify your doctor if your symptoms are getting worse, if medications are
not working, or if you think you are having side effects from the
medication.
- Call your doctor for test results. Never assume that "the test must be
fine since my doctor never called."
- Do not self medicate (including herbs, supplements) without discussing
with your doctor.
- Even the best physician never bats 1000. Do not hesitate to openly discuss with
your doctor referrals for second or third opinions if diagnosis cannot be
firmly established and pain persists.
- Self education is important, but make sure what you read came from
credible sources.
Next: Abdominal Pain At A Glance »
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