If you are dealing with chronic abdominal pain, your primary care doctor will likely refer you to a gastroenterologist. Gastroenterologists are medical doctors who specialize in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating conditions within or involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and digestive system. With that in mind, gastroenterologists focus on the health of various organs, including the esophagus, colon (large intestine) and the stomach. As such, gastroenterologists are extremely well-trained to provide accurate diagnoses and highly effective treatment for abdominal pain.

At Diamond Gastroenterology in Oak Park, IL, our leading gastroenterologist, Dr. Ilysa Diamond, DO is board-certified in gastroenterology with over 15 years of experience treating various gastrointestinal disorders with skill and expertise. If you are dealing with abdominal pain, we would be happy to see you at Diamond Gastroenterology and help you find relief from abdominal pain!

Since there is a diverse variety of organs that can contribute to abdominal pain, there is also a diverse variety of symptoms that could cause the same. With that said, some common symptoms that cause abdominal pain include the following:

– Change in bowel habits: while small changes in bowel habits frequently occur, significant changes in bowel movement frequency or appearance could lead to abdominal pain.

– Constipation: abdominal pain commonly results from constipation, as gas can buildup in the abdomen and lead to abdominal pain discomfort. You may also experience abdominal pain with constipation when you need to have a bowel movement but are unable to. Such pain can be experienced as bloating, cramps, a feeling of fullness, or a general stomach ache. Mild to moderate abdominal pain with constipation is not typically a cause for concern.

– Diarrhea: abdominal pain and diarrhea commonly occur together, whether as a result of an infection, such as viral gastroenteritis, food sensitivity, such as gluten or dairy, indigestion, overeating, stress, or inflammation in the bowels.

– Difficulty swallowing: also referred to as dysphagia, difficulty swallowing can be a symptom of another condition or its own condition and can often lead to abdominal pain due to acid reflux, inflammation, or ulcers.

– Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): frequent pain in the upper abdomen commonly results with individuals who suffer from GERD, which is a condition that occurs when the lower valve in your esophagus is weakened, leading to chronic acid reflux with severe and frequent bouts typically occurring two to three times per week.

While many cases of mild or moderate abdominal pain will go away on their own with minimal intervention, if you are dealing with severe abdominal pain or pain that does not go away or continues to come back, you should seek the medical expertise of a doctor or gastroenterologist. Furthermore, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms along with your abdominal pain, you should seek medical attention:

– Bloody, black, or tarry stools
– Dehydration
– Difficulty breathing
– Distended belly or that is tender to the touch
– Fever
– Frequent vomiting or vomit that contains blood
– Painful or more frequent urination than normal
– Skin that appears yellow
– Unable to have a bowel movement

For more information, please call us. We serve patients from Oak Park IL, River Forest IL, Cicero IL, River Grove IL, Forest Park IL, Berwyn IL, Melrose Park IL, Elmwood Park IL, Chicago IL, La Grange IL, Broadview IL, and surrounding areas.