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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Follow-up

If the person is allowed to go home after their evaluation, they may be given instructions about what they can and cannot eat and drink and which medications they may take. The person may be told to return to the emergency department if certain conditions occur.

If the person is given no specific instructions, then follow these recommendations:

• As soon as you feel like eating, start with clear liquids.
  
  
• If clear liquids cause no further pain or vomiting, progress to bland foods such as crackers, rice, bananas, applesauce, or toast.
  
  
• You may return to a normal diet in a few days if your symptoms do not return.

Go back to the emergency department or to your doctor in the following situations:

• Your pain worsens or if you start vomiting, get a high fever, or cannot urinate or move your bowels.
  
  
• You have any symptom that seems worse or alarms you.
  
  
• Your abdominal symptoms are not better in 24 hours.