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What Your Tummy Could Be Telling You

1,777 views · Published 7 December 2014 · 1:37 · Indexed 29 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2014 · Science & Technology

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There are stomach aches and then there are stomach aches. They can range from harmless indigestion to serious organ issues. The difference is in the details.

“One of the most important parts of identifying abdominal pain is really eliciting patient history. And that’s where you have to determine location, location, location. Because that’s what it’s all about,” says Arlene Wright, a nurse practitioner with Lee Memorial Health System. 

Abdominal pain is a common cause for medical visits. Diagnosing the cause can be tricky. 

“Right side, lower abdominal pain can be indicative of appendicitis. Left lower quadrant pain could be diverticulitis, upper right quadrant pain could be gall bladder problems. The epigastria area could be peptic ulcer disease or it could be worsening GERD,” says Wright.

Most times stomach pain is not serious, once diagnosed it can be easily treated. But experts say to look out for alarm symptoms: like sudden weight loss, severe vomiting with or without blood, bloody diarrhea, fever, when the abdomen is tender to the touch and pain that last for several days.

“It all depends once again, on their presentation because that is going to elicit what you do, if it is something that will have diagnostic testing such as an ultra sound. Is it something more severe and possibly warrants having a cat scan?”

The golden rule: when in doubt, check it out. Finding the cause of your tummy trouble can alleviate your pain and set your mind at ease. 

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

Visit leememorial.org

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