Sudden Onset Acute Stomach Pain? Here’s What to Do Next
Mise à jour le : 18 Feb 2026
Sudden pain in the stomach is common. You need to understand the right way to tackle it.
Acute stomach pain (or acute abdomen) refers to the sudden and severe abdominal pain. This is a sign of a medical emergency in certain cases, which requires immediate surgery. Well, an acute abdomen is also a symptom of a nonsurgical condition.
To identify the reason behind acute pain, you can go for a stomach pain endoscopy. Also, colonoscopy is a probable option. In this article, we will discuss what to consider when you witness a sudden onset of acute stomach pain.
What are the Common Causes of Sudden Stomach Pain?
Are you feeling a pain in your belly? If so, it can be due to multiple reasons. The common digestive causes are indigestion, gastric ulcer, diarrhea, etc. Well, the non-digestive causes are kidney stones, gynecological emergencies, etc. Let’s see the common causes and the related symptoms.
| Condition | Pain Location | Onset Speed | Additional Symptoms |
| Indigestion | Upper abdomen | Gradual | Bloating, fullness, and belching |
| Gastric ulcer | Upper abdomen | Sudden or gradual | Nausea, black stools, etc. |
| Diarrhea | Lower abdomen | Within a few hours | Bloating, nausea, gas, etc. |
| Kidney stones | Lower back or side | Sudden or gradual | Nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine, etc. |
Table 1: Key Causes and Symptoms of Acute Stomach Pain
When to Seek Medical Attention?
Stomach pain, if it appears all of a sudden, should not be ignored. Here are some of the conditions when you need to visit a clinic.
- Pain lasting longer than normal: Are you experiencing abdominal pain for more than six hours? If yes, you should consult a doctor.
- Fever or chills: Often, stomach pain comes with an additional symptom like fever. This is not normal, and you must ignore it. Visit a clinic immediately.
- Blood in vomit or stool: Blood in vomit or stool indicates a serious health condition. Therefore, you need immediate medical attention.
- Severe bloating: Bloating is not a serious condition, but a severe one is. You must seek medical attention if you have a hard and tight abdomen.
How Doctors Diagnose Abdominal Pain?
Acute stomach pain is diagnosed by the doctors in several ways. Let’s talk about them in detail.
Physical Examination
The first thing that a doctor will do when dealing with abdominal pain is to examine you physically. Like, your body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate will be checked. Additionally, a clinician can check swelling or listen to bowel sounds.
Laboratory Tests
A physical examination does not give any conclusive evidence of why you are experiencing abdominal pain. This makes the doctor prescribe laboratory tests. You might have to go for a blood test (CBC, CMP, CRP, etc.). Also, you might have to undergo a urine or stool test to check for infection, blood, or parasites.
Imaging
Ultrasound is a common imaging procedure to find the causes of stomach pain. This is effective in identifying gallbladder stones, kidney stones, etc. The other option can be an X-ray or a CT scan.
Endoscopy and colonoscopy are the two common tests that are performed while treating patients experiencing abdominal pain. An endoscopy is a process that examines structures inside your body up close. In a stomach pain endoscopy, a long, thin tube (endoscope) is placed in your body until it reaches the organ that is to be checked.
The colonoscopy is a procedure where the large intestine is examined by a flexible tube (colonoscope) with a lighted camera on the end. Unlike an endoscopy, the colonoscope is passed through your anus and rectum into your colon during this test. The picture of your large intestine is displayed on the screen.
Here are the fundamental differences between endoscopy and colonoscopy.
| Procedure | Area Examined | Common Reasons | Sedation Used |
| Endoscopy | Esophagus and stomach | Ulcers, reflux, bleeding, etc. | Yes |
| Colonoscopy | Colon and rectum | IBD, cancer screening, etc. | Yes |
Table 2: Endoscopy vs Colonoscopy
What are the Waiting Times for Endoscopy and Colonoscopy?
In most cases, persistent pain leads a patient to opt for an endoscopy or colonoscopy. Your waiting time for endoscopic procedures can vary from a few days to several weeks. Contrarily, the colonoscopy wait times in Quebec can vary from a few weeks to months.
What are the crucial factors that affect the waiting time of a test? Well, urgency is a fundamental factor. Also, waiting duration depends on whether you have opted for a public clinic or a private one. Here is the approximate waiting time for the two tests in Quebec.
| Procedure | Public Clinic | Private Clinic |
| Endoscopy | Weeks to months | Days to 1–2 weeks |
| Colonoscopy | 2 to 6 months | 1 to 3 weeks |
Table 3: Public Clinic vs Private Clinic
When Do You Need to Visit an Endoscopy Clinic in Quebec?
Here are a few instances when you need to visit an endoscopy clinic.
- Persistent pain: A normal abdominal pain is relieved by medications, but not an unexplained one. If the pain is persistent and is not treated with medicines, then you must visit an endoscopy clinic in Quebec.
- Recurring symptoms despite treatment: In several cases, patients continue experiencing the symptoms even after going for the initial treatments. Here, you must go for the endoscopy procedure.
- Family history of GI disease: Do you have a family history of gastrointestinal diseases? If yes, it’s better to consider an endoscopy test if you witness acute stomach pain.
When To Go for a Colonoscopy?
A doctor can consider a colonoscopy in certain scenarios. These include:
- Challenging symptoms: A colonoscopy is recommended if you are dealing with persistent diarrhea or constipation. Also, this test is done for patients experiencing blood in the stool or urine.
- Comprehensive diagnosis: Often, doctors opt to examine the overall digestive tract (from the esophagus to the colon) to understand the cause of abdominal pain. In this case, an endoscopy is insufficient, and a colonoscopy is required.
- Examining the lower digestive tract: If your lower digestive tract (colon or large intestine) is to be examined, the doctor will opt for a colonoscopy test. Here, the endoscopy procedure is not ideal because it mainly examines your upper GI.
Tips to Follow While Waiting for an Evaluation
Are you waiting for an endoscopy or colonoscopy? If yes, here are the tips that you need to keep in mind.
- Avoid NSAIDs and alcohol
- Prioritize bland foods
- Understand when to escalate to emergency care
What Are The Side Effects of Endoscopy and Colonoscopy?
Normally, endoscopy and colonoscopy are safe. Well, there are some normal and mild side effects. Let’s check out.
- Sore throat
- Bloating and gas
- Nausea
- Bleeding and infection (Rare)
To Conclude
Abdominal pain can lead to serious diseases. Hence, you need to seek immediate care if the pain persists for more than six hours. Some of the common causes are indigestion, diarrhea, gastric ulcer, etc. Endoscopy (upper GI evaluation) and colonoscopy (lower GI evaluation) are the two significant tests that are considered to deal with stomach pain.
Dealing with Acute Abdominal Pain?
From endoscopy to colonoscopy, we offer different tests that are needed to deal with stomach pain. Visit us and consult with a gastroenterologist if you start experiencing sudden abdominal pain. Get the right test performed and seek the right treatment before it’s too late.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Can I Alleviate Mild Stomach Discomfort at Home?
There are home remedies to deal with mild stomach discomfort. You can drink lukewarm water or herbal tea like ginger or peppermint to treat mild stomach discomfort. To relax your muscles, you can apply a warm compress to your abdomen. If the remedies do not work and you continue experiencing pain, seek medical attention.
2. How Can I Prepare Myself on the Day of My Endoscopy?
Stop eating and drinking at least six hours on the day of your endoscopy. Try to drink clear liquids the day before. If you have any daily medicine to take, consult with the doctor about whether you can take it on the day of the test. Don’t wear tight or restrictive clothes.
3. Can I Drive Home After an Endoscopy or Colonoscopy?
In short, no. You will be given sedation when you engage in an endoscopy or a colonoscopy. This might affect your memory and reaction time. Hence, you must arrange a responsible driver to drive you home after the test.
4. What is the Duration of an Endoscopy and a Colonoscopy?
Surprisingly, the actual examination is quick. An endoscopy is done within 15 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, you have to wait for 30 to 45 minutes to get your colonoscopy done. Your doctor might keep you waiting for some time to check for any complications.