Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures Appendicitis & Appendectomy Slideshow Pictures What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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When to Seek Medical Care

Call or see a health care practitioner if the affected person has any of the following:

• Abdominal pain that lasts more than six hours or continues to worsen
  
  
• Pain that stops the person from eating
  
  
• Pain accompanied by vomiting more than three or four times
  
  
• Pain that worsens when the person tries to move around
  
  
• Pain that starts all over, but settles into one area, especially the right lower abdomen
  
  
• Pain that wakes the person up at night
  
  
• Pain with vaginal bleeding or pregnancy, even if the person only thinks she might be pregnant
  
  
• Pain accompanied by fever over 101 F (33.3 C)
  
  
• Pain along with inability to urinate, move the bowels, or pass gas
  
  
• Any other pain that feels different from a simple stomach ache
  
  
• Any other pain that alarms the person, or concerns them in any way

If the person has any of the following, or cannot reach their health care practitioner, go to a hospital emergency department:

• The "worst pain of your life" or very severe pain
  
  
• Pain so bad the affected person passes out or almost passes out
  
  
• Pain so bad the affected person cannot move
  
  
• Pain and vomiting blood, or any vomiting that lasts more than six hours
  
  
• Pain and no bowel movement for more than three days
  
  
• Pain the person thinks might be in their chest, but they aren't sure
  
  
• Pain that seems to come from the person's testicles