What better way to start your day than with a cup of coffee and abdominal pain?
Waking up with stomach pain can leave you feeling uncomfortable, confused, and concerned about what lies behind your symptoms. While most of the common causes behind your stomach aches and pains will likely go away on their own, when do symptoms become severe enough to warrant a visit to your local gastroenterology specialists?
Keep reading as we help you understand the severity of your stomach pain, its potential causes, and when to pay a visit to our trusted team at Charleston GI.
Understanding Stomach Pain
While we often interchange the terms “stomach pain” and “abdominal pain,” the pain in your belly region is comprised of more than just your stomach.
Your abdomen is home to not only your stomach but several other vital organs, including the:
Liver
Gallbladder
Pancreas
Small intestine
Large intestine
Together, these organs form your digestive system. Unfortunately, abdominal pain can manifest in various ways and signal a range of issues within your digestive tract.
Varying from mild to severe, symptoms have the potential to manifest in varying degrees. Your pain may feel:
Dull or sharp
Burning or aching
Crampy or colicky (intense pain from gas)
Constant or intermittent
Localized to one area or all-over pain
Abdominal pain is subjective, meaning only you can describe your feelings or symptoms. Our GI doctors near you are trained to listen and take your pain seriously.
Common GI Conditions Behind Your Morning Stomach Pain
When it comes to abdominal pain in the morning, there could be a number of GI conditions behind it. Here, we’ve compiled some of the most common causes of your morning stomach pain.
Indigestion
Indigestion causes pain in the upper abdomen and is often accompanied by bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Also referred to as dyspepsia, indigestion can be the result of the following lifestyle factors:
Smoking
Consuming too much alcohol
Eating too quickly
Eating a diet rich in spicy, greasy, or fatty foods
Stress
Drinking too much caffeine
While indigestion will likely resolve itself, it can be a sign of other underlying health issues, such as ulcers, gallstones, or GERD.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a common GI condition, affecting an estimated 12% of the United States population. Symptoms of IBS include:
IBD refers to ongoing inflammation of the GI tract, typically as a result of either Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate colitis.
IBD can cause pain at any time of the day, including the moment you wake up. Along with intermittent pain, those suffering from IBD may experience fatigue, weight loss, blood in their stool, or consistent diarrhea.
Constipation
Finding yourself spending more time on the couch than on your feet? If so, you might be at risk for constipation.
A person is considered constipated if they pass less than three bowel movements a week. This can lead to difficulty or pain when passing stools, lumpy or hard stools, and sometimes severe cramping and pain in the morning and throughout the day.
Peptic Ulcers
A peptic ulcer is a sore found on the lining of the stomach. Ulcers often cause a burning or dull ache in the abdomen, intense enough to wake a person from sleep due to the pain.
When Should You Visit a Charleston Gastroenterology Specialist?
In most cases, stomach or abdominal pain in the morning is nothing to worry about. It’s often linked to the foods eaten the night before or other lifestyle habits.
However, if you experience stomach pain that causes you to wake from sleep, it may be indicative of a more serious GI condition.
Seek the help of a gastroenterologist near you if you find yourself with morning stomach pain and experiencing any of the following:
Pain in the chest, neck, or shoulders
Difficulty passing stools
Blood in your stool
Vomiting
Tender stomach
Difficulty breathing
If symptoms of stomach pain continue for several days, schedule an appointment with Charleston GI immediately, as it may be a sign of a more pressing GI issue.
Waking Up with Stomach Pain? Find Relief with Charleston GI
Your mornings should be spent with a cup of coffee and the birds chirping–not clutching your stomach in pain.
At Charleston GI, we are here to help you find relief from your stomach pain and give you peace of mind for your symptoms. Whether it’s due to pent-up gas or an ulcer, we are here to help!
We have four convenient Charleston, SC area locations to choose from, in West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, and Carnes Crossroads.
