Ideas on How to Stop My Stomach Ache?

Published: February 20, 2018
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Stomach aches during school? I have a stomach ache. It's currently break, and it still hasn't gone. It started just before I left for school, and has continued up to now. When I feel like it's going away, it returns, hitting harder than ever. I think it may be the cause of me not eating breakfast. However, I haven't eaten breakfast a lot of times, and have had no stomach aches nor anything else that bothers me. The last I ate was around 12 hours ago. Any ideas on how to help stop the stomach ache I'm experiencing? Additional info is that I'm 15, M & slightly underweight.
Signed: Ideas on How to Stop My Stomach Ache?

Dear Ideas on How to Stop My Stomach Ache?,

If you are at school when you have a bad stomach ache, it might be helpful to check in with your school nurse who will be able to find out more about any accompanying symptoms, take your temperature and get some more information so that he/she can get a sense of what might be causing the stomach pain and what to do to help alleviate the pain.

Not eating for long periods of time can certainly cause stomach pain because the acid in your stomach is basically churning for long stretches of time without any food in it. If you routinely skip breakfast, this could be a cause of your stomach hurting. FX appreciates that not everyone likes to eat right away when they first wake up, but perhaps you could bring a snack to school to have at some point in the morning so you are not going from dinner the night before all the way to lunch the next day without eating.

If your stomach pain gets worse, doesn’t getting better in the next day or two, or you experience any other concerning symptoms, then FX suggests you reach out to your doctor. If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist or contact your local teen health center. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.

 

Causes of Stomach Pain

There are many things that can cause a stomach ache. TeensHealth lists the following as possible causes of stomach pain:

  • Bacterial or viral infection (such as food poisoning or the stomach flu)
  • Constipation
  • Inflammation or irritation (appendicitis, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome)
  • Food intolerance (lactose intolerance, celiac disease, food allergies)
  • Reproductive problems (menstrual cramps, pelvic inflammatory disease, testicular injuries)
  • Anatomical problems (Chrohn’s disease, hernias)

 

According to TeensHealth:

When to See a Doctor

Sometimes, what seems like one problem — food poisoning, for example — can turn out to be something more serious, like appendicitis. So contact a doctor if pain is very strong, you're vomiting a lot, you already have another health condition, or the discomfort gets worse over time, doesn't go away, or wakes you up while you're sleeping.

Also let the doctor know if you have fever, pain when you pee, trouble pooping or peeing, blood in your poop or pee, if your belly pain is the result of an injury, or if you might be pregnant.

 

TeensHealth provides the following information on prevention and self-care:

What You Can Do

The good news is belly pain isn't usually serious in teens. Although people can get pain for many different reasons, most are easy to treat. You can even lessen your chances of getting belly pain by taking a few simple precautions:

  • Wash your hands before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom.
  • Don't overeat, and try not to eat right before going to sleep.
  • Drink plenty of water and eat fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to keep food moving through your digestive system.
  • Avoid foods that have passed their expiration date or have been out of the refrigerator longer than they should be.
  • If you have a food allergy or intolerance, avoid eating foods that make you sick. If you have a food allergy, always carry two epinephrine auto-injectors, and know when you should use them.
  • Always use a condom when having sex to protect against STDs and pregnancy.
Signed: TeenHealthFX

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