Medical Treatment

The patient's treatment will depend on what the doctor thinks is causing the abdominal pain.

The patient may be given IV fluids. The healthcare provider may ask the patient not to eat or drink anything until the cause of the pain is known. This is done to avoid worsening certain medical conditions (for example adding food to the stomach if there is a ruptured ulcer) or to prepare the patient in case they need to go to the operating room (an empty stomach is better when general anesthesia is needed).

The patient may be given pain medication.

• For pain caused by bowel spasm, they may be given a shot in the hip, arm, or leg.
  
  
• If the patient is not throwing up, they may receive a drink that has antacid in it or pain medication.
  
  
• Although the patient's pain may not go away completely, they have the right to be comfortable and should ask for pain medicine until they are made comfortable.