“Stomachache” is a vague symptom, so it can be hard to know how to start treating it. These steps will help guide you through soothing the pain.
Head to the bathroom
Pinpointing what’s behind a stomachache can be hard, but pain in the lower abdominal area could be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome, says Steven Fleisher, MD, chief of gastroenterology and director of interventional endoscopy at the Center for Digestive Disease at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. Waking up with some stomach pain in the morning is probably your digestive system trying to kick-start after a night of sleeping, but a trip to the bathroom should help. “The hallmark is that once you get to the bathroom and are able to have a bowel movement, typically the pain or discomfort is relieved as part of the process,” he says.
Call the doctor
Because stomachaches are such a vague symptom, calling a medical expert could help you figure out if you need to worry. Depending on factors like the location and sensation of your pain, a doctor can advise whether you should go to the ER, make an appointment with your general practitioner, or start with some at-home treatments, says Jonathan Cohen, MD, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone School of Medicine and partner at Concorde medical group. “There’s no downside to calling your general doctor and talking it over,” he says. “Doctors, by asking a few questions, can help make a better, smarter decision as to whether it’s an alarm.” Definitely call your doctor immediately if your pain is severe, basic remedies don’t help, you have bloody diarrhea or vomit, or being sick is making you lightheaded, Dr. Fleisher says. Don’t miss this guide to what different stomach pains mean.
Ask if your dining partners are on the same boat
Fear food poisoning? If you ate at a restaurant, you might hear on the news that others got sick too. Check in with your family or anyone else you ate dinner with to see if they’re feeling symptoms like stomach pain in the morning the next day. “Often, more than one person will be afflicted,” says Dr. Fleisher. Here’s how to avoid food poisoning from commonly contaminated foods.