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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. Most stomach pain comes from indigestion, trapped wind, constipation, stomach bugs or IBS, which a doctor can treat by video; sudden or severe pain needs urgent in-person care.
- Most stomach aches: are not serious and go away within 2 to 3 days; pain that lasts more than a week, or keeps returning, needs a doctor.
- Where it hurts: the place, how the pain started and what eases it point to the cause, such as the lower right for appendicitis or under the right ribs for gallstones.
- Get checked: pain that keeps coming back, bloating that will not go away, difficulty swallowing or weight loss without trying needs a doctor.
- Emergency: call 112 for sudden or severe pain, a tummy that is painful to touch, vomiting blood, or black or bloody poo.
Do not book a video appointment for tummy pain that came on suddenly or is severe, a tummy that is rigid or painful to touch, vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black, sticky or bloody poo, being unable to pass poo or wind, chest pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw, or pain low on one side in early pregnancy with bleeding or fainting. Call 112 or go to an emergency department.
Can an online doctor treat stomach pain?
Yes, usually. Most stomach pain is caused by indigestion, trapped wind, constipation, a stomach bug or IBS, and a doctor can work out the likely cause by video from where it hurts, how it started and what comes with it, then treat it. Pain that is sudden or severe, pain that could be appendicitis, gallstones or an ectopic pregnancy, and pain that needs an examination, blood tests or a scan are assessed in person, and the doctor tells you where to go and how quickly.
Listen: Stomach Pain Treatment Online
The audio version of this topic from the Mobi Doctor podcast. Open the episode.
How an online consultation helps with stomach pain
- Where and how it hurts: The place, the type of pain and what eases it narrow down the cause.
- Emergencies ruled out first: Signs of appendicitis, a blocked bowel, bleeding or a heart problem are checked before anything else.
- Treatment for the cause: Medicine for acid, cramps, constipation or an infection, when it is needed.
- A clear next step: Which tests you need, and which changes mean you should be seen in person.
What the doctor checks in an online stomach pain consultation
The doctor checks the warning signs first, then where and how it hurts. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: sudden or severe pain, a tummy that hurts to touch, vomiting blood, black or bloody poo, a high temperature, fainting, or pain spreading to the chest, arm, neck or jaw.
- Where it hurts: the exact place, whether the pain has moved, and whether it spreads to the back, shoulder or groin.
- How it hurts: burning, cramping, waves or constant pain, how long it lasts, and what makes it better or worse, such as food, pooing or moving.
- What comes with it: diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, feeling or being sick, burning when you pee, or a change in your periods.
- Your health: pregnancy or a chance of it, past operations, gallstones or ulcers, diabetes, and medicines such as anti-inflammatory painkillers.
Before the call, note when the pain started, where it began and where it is now, and take your temperature if you can.
What are the four types of stomach pain?
Doctors describe stomach pain by how far it spreads and how it comes and goes. The type of pain is the first clue to the cause:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Type | What it feels like | Common causes | When to worry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generalised | Pain over more than half of the tummy | Stomach bugs, indigestion, trapped wind | Severe pain all over can mean a blocked bowel |
| Localised | Pain in one area | A problem in one organ, such as the appendix, gallbladder or stomach | Use the guide by area below |
| Cramp-like | Pain that tightens and eases | Wind, bloating and diarrhoea | Cramps that keep coming back, last more than 24 hours, or come with a fever or bleeding from the bottom |
| Colicky | Waves of pain that start and stop suddenly, often severe | Kidney stones and gallstones | Severe waves of pain need a doctor promptly |
Where does it hurt? Stomach pain by area
Where the pain is gives the next clue. ‘Right’ and ‘left’ mean your own right and left. This overview shows the usual causes in each area and the emergencies to rule out; the sections below link to each condition.
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| Where it hurts | Common causes | Can be an emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Upper middle | Indigestion, acid reflux, gastritis, a stomach ulcer | Pancreatitis, a heart attack |
| Upper right, under the ribs | Gallstones | Gallstones with a very high temperature or yellow skin |
| Around the belly button | A hernia at the belly button | Early appendicitis |
| Lower right | IBS, a hernia in the groin | Appendicitis, an ectopic pregnancy |
| Lower left | IBS, diverticular disease, ulcerative colitis | Diverticulitis with severe pain, an ectopic pregnancy |
| Lower middle | Cystitis, period pain | An ectopic pregnancy |
| All over | Stomach bugs, trapped wind, constipation, food intolerance | A burst appendix, a blocked bowel |
| The bottom | Piles, an anal fissure | Heavy bleeding that will not stop |
Upper middle stomach pain
Pain or burning in the upper middle of the tummy, below the breastbone, is often indigestion or acid, which a doctor can usually treat online. Upper left pain has similar causes.
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| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Indigestion | Pain or discomfort in the upper tummy, feeling full and bloated, burping, feeling sick | Treated online |
| GORD and hiatus hernia | A burning feeling in the chest, often after eating, and bringing up sour or bitter-tasting fluid | Treated online |
| Gastritis | Upper tummy pain or discomfort, feeling full too soon, feeling sick; often no symptoms | Treated online |
| Stomach ulcer | Burning pain in the upper tummy, often worse at night, with indigestion or feeling sick | Treated online |
| H. pylori | A stomach infection that can cause ulcers; found with a breath, poo or blood test | Treated online |
| Nausea and vomiting | Feeling sick or being sick, with or without pain | Treated online |
| Acute pancreatitis | Sudden, severe pain in the upper tummy that can spread to the back, with vomiting | Emergency: call 112 |
| Heart attack | Crushing chest pain, or a burning feeling like indigestion, spreading to the arm, neck or jaw, with sweating or breathlessness | Emergency: call 112 |
Upper right stomach pain, under the ribs
Pain under the right ribs often comes from the gallbladder or the liver rather than the stomach. Pain there, or in the middle of the tummy, that lasts from 30 minutes to several hours is typical of gallstones. Yellow skin or eyes, or a very high temperature, with this pain is an emergency.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Gallstones | Pain under the right ribs or in the middle of the tummy, lasting from 30 minutes to several hours | Assessed online |
| Fatty liver disease | Usually no symptoms; found on blood tests or a scan | Partly online |
| Kidney stones | Waves of pain that can spread towards the groin, with feeling sick and pain when you pee | In person |
Pain around the belly button
Pain around the belly button matters because appendicitis usually starts here, before it moves to the lower right after a few hours and gets worse. Pain in the middle that spreads across the tummy is covered under pain all over.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Hernia | A bulge at the belly button that gets bigger when you cough and smaller when you lie down | Assessed online |
| Appendicitis, early | Pain around the belly button that moves to the lower right after a few hours | Assessed online |
Lower right stomach pain
Pain in the lower right needs care, because it can be appendicitis. Appendicitis pain feels worse when you move, cough or press on the area, and often comes with feeling sick, a poor appetite or a high temperature.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Appendicitis | Pain that moved from the belly button and keeps getting worse | Assessed online |
| Hernia in the groin | A bulge in the groin or upper thigh, bigger when you cough | Assessed online |
| IBS | Cramps that are worse after eating and better after a poo, with bloating | Treated online |
| Crohn’s disease | Tummy pain, diarrhoea, blood or mucus in poo, and weight loss | Partly online |
| Ectopic pregnancy or an ovarian cyst | In women: pain low on one side; in early pregnancy, with bleeding or shoulder-tip pain | Emergency: call 112 |
Lower left stomach pain
Pain in the lower left often comes from the lower bowel. Diverticulitis, with constant pain and a high temperature, becomes more likely with age, because most people develop small pouches in the bowel wall as they get older. In women, the ovaries can also cause pain on either side.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Diverticulitis | Severe, constant pain low on the left, a high temperature, and sometimes blood in poo | Partly online |
| IBS | Cramps that ease after a poo, with bloating, diarrhoea or constipation | Treated online |
| Ulcerative colitis | Pain mainly in the lower left, with diarrhoea containing blood or mucus | Partly online |
| Ectopic pregnancy or an ovarian cyst | In women: pain low on one side; in early pregnancy, with bleeding or shoulder-tip pain | Emergency: call 112 |
Lower middle stomach pain
Pain low in the middle, above the pubic bone, often comes from the bladder or, in women, the womb and ovaries. Burning when you pee with lower tummy pain points to cystitis or another urine infection, and cramps during a period are period pain.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or an ovarian cyst | Pain low in the pelvis in women | In person |
| Ectopic pregnancy | Pain low down on one side, bleeding or brown discharge, or shoulder-tip pain, between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy | Emergency: call 112 |
Pain all over the tummy
Pain over more than half of the tummy is typical of a stomach bug, indigestion or trapped wind. Severe pain all over, or a tummy that is hard and painful to touch, can mean a blocked bowel or a burst appendix, and both are emergencies.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Bloating and trapped wind | A swollen, tight tummy and lots of wind | Handled online |
| Gastroenteritis and food poisoning | Watery diarrhoea with feeling or being sick | Treated online |
| Constipation | Straining, hard poo, or feeling you cannot empty your bowels fully | Treated online |
| Lactose intolerance | Wind, bloating, cramps and diarrhoea after milk or dairy | Handled online |
| Coeliac disease | Diarrhoea, bloating, wind and tiredness, caused by gluten | Partly online |
| Burst appendix | Pain that eases briefly, then severe pain spreading over the whole tummy | Emergency: call 112 |
| Blocked bowel | Severe cramping pain, a swollen tummy, vomiting, and being unable to poo or pass wind | Emergency: call 112 |
Pain in or around the bottom
Pain in or around the bottom often comes from piles or a small tear in the skin called an anal fissure. Bleeding that will not stop, a lot of blood, or large clots needs emergency care.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Piles (haemorrhoids) | Bright red blood after a poo, an itchy bottom, lumps or pain around the anus | Treated online |
| Anal fissure | Severe, sharp pain when you poo, then burning pain that can last several hours | Treated online |
| Anal itching | Itching around the bottom | Treated online |
| Blood in poo | Red or black blood in or on your poo | Partly online |
Which stomach pain treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment follows the cause. This is the framework the doctors use, in line with NHS guidance:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burning upper pain after meals, or heartburn | Antacids or an acid-reducing medicine; an H. pylori test if it keeps coming back | Yes | With difficulty swallowing, weight loss or repeated vomiting |
| Cramps with bloating and diarrhoea or constipation | Treatment for IBS, trapped wind or constipation | Yes | With blood in your poo or weight loss |
| Sudden diarrhoea and vomiting with cramps | Fluids, rest, and medicine for sickness if needed | Yes | If you cannot keep fluids down, or there is blood |
| Lower tummy pain with burning when you pee | Treatment for a urine infection | Yes | In pregnancy, or if it is no better 48 hours after starting treatment |
| Pain under the right ribs lasting more than 30 minutes | Assessment for gallstones | Yes, to assess | For an ultrasound scan and blood tests |
| Lower left pain with a high temperature | Assessment for diverticulitis | Partly | If the pain is severe or you are being sick |
| Pain that moved from the belly button to the lower right | Urgent assessment for appendicitis | Only to assess | Urgently; call 112 if the pain is severe |
| Pain low on one side in early pregnancy | Emergency assessment for an ectopic pregnancy | No | Go to an emergency department now |
| Sudden severe pain, a rigid tummy or vomiting blood | Emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
Not sure what is causing your stomach pain? A doctor can tell you in one consultation what is likely and what to do.
See available times →How to relieve stomach pain
What you can do yourself
- Sip water or clear fluids, and avoid solid food for the first few hours.
- After vomiting, wait about 6 hours, then try small amounts of bland food.
- Hold a warm water bottle on your tummy, or have a warm bath.
- For burning upper pain, try an antacid from a pharmacy, avoid fatty or fried food, citrus, tomato, caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks, and do not eat in the 3 to 4 hours before bed.
- Take paracetamol for pain rather than ibuprofen or aspirin, which can cause stomach ulcers.
- Ask a pharmacist about medicines for indigestion, constipation or trapped wind.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. Treatment depends on the cause: the doctor may prescribe an acid-reducing medicine for indigestion, reflux or gastritis, antibiotics with an acid-reducing medicine for H. pylori, an antispasmodic for cramping pain, a laxative for constipation, or a medicine for sickness. Codeine and other opioid painkillers are never prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Stronger and stronger painkillers for pain that is severe or keeps coming back: it needs a diagnosis. Anti-inflammatory painkillers for stomach pain, which can cause ulcers. Waiting at home with pain that is getting worse, or that has moved to the lower right.
Special situations
Pregnancy
Tummy pain in pregnancy needs a doctor promptly. Pain low on one side with bleeding or shoulder-tip pain between the 4th and 12th week can be an ectopic pregnancy, which is an emergency. Sickness and indigestion in pregnancy are covered on the morning sickness and indigestion in pregnancy pages.
Older adults
Appendicitis and other serious causes can show up differently in older people, sometimes with sudden confusion rather than typical pain, so see a doctor early.
Diabetes
Tummy pain with vomiting in someone with diabetes needs urgent help.
Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety can cause stomach problems and set off IBS. The stress and anxiety pages cover what a doctor can do.
While travelling in Europe
On holiday, stomach pain with diarrhoea is often travellers’ diarrhoea or food poisoning, and a doctor by video can help wherever you are staying.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When stomach pain is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: indigestion and reflux, gastritis and ulcer symptoms, trapped wind and bloating, constipation, stomach bugs and food poisoning, IBS, urine infections, and pain that keeps coming back and needs a plan.
In-person care: sudden or severe pain, possible appendicitis, gallstones, diverticulitis with a high temperature, a hernia that hurts or will not go back in, a possible ectopic pregnancy, and pain that needs an examination, blood tests or a scan.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- tummy pain that came on suddenly or is severe, or a tummy that is rigid or painful to touch
- vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- black, sticky, very smelly poo, or a lot of blood from your bottom
- being unable to pass poo or wind, especially with vomiting or a swollen tummy
- chest pain or pressure spreading to the arm, neck or jaw
- pain low on one side in early pregnancy, with bleeding, fainting or shoulder-tip pain
- tummy pain with vomiting if you have diabetes
Get medical advice the same day for:
- pain that is getting much worse, will not go away or keeps coming back
- tummy pain with a high temperature
- a hernia that hurts
- pain or burning when you pee that has come on suddenly
- diarrhoea that lasts more than a few days
- tummy pain in pregnancy
Difficulty swallowing, losing weight without trying, or bloating that does not go away needs prompt tests in person: see a doctor rather than waiting for it to settle.
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about the pain: say where it hurts, when it started, how it has changed, and what comes with it, such as diarrhoea, sickness or a temperature.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Stomach pain can have more than one cause. Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Not sure this is the right page? Look up any symptom in the full symptom checker, or book and describe it to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions about stomach pain
How do I know if my stomach pain is serious?
Call 112 for pain that came on suddenly or is severe, a tummy that is rigid or painful to touch, vomiting blood, black or bloody poo, or being unable to pass poo or wind. Pain that keeps coming back, or comes with weight loss or difficulty swallowing, needs a doctor.
What are the four types of stomach pain?
Generalised pain over most of the tummy, localised pain in one area, cramp-like pain that tightens and eases, and colicky pain that comes in severe waves. Localised and colicky pain more often point to a problem in one organ.
Is it indigestion, a stomach bug or something more serious?
Stomach pain from indigestion burns in the upper middle after meals and eases with antacids; a stomach bug cramps all over with diarrhoea or vomiting and clears in days; trapped wind moves around and eases when gas passes; constipation aches low and left and lifts after a poo; period pain is cyclical. Pain that settles in one spot and keeps getting worse, a tummy that hurts to touch, fever, vomiting blood or black poo means an in-person assessment.
How can I get rid of a stomach ache quickly at home?
There is no instant fix. For mild pain, sip water, avoid food for a few hours, use a warm water bottle and take paracetamol. Antacids help burning upper pain. See a doctor if the pain is severe, getting worse or not going away.
What causes pain in the middle of the stomach?
Upper middle pain is often indigestion, acid reflux, gastritis or a stomach ulcer. Pain around the belly button can be a hernia or the start of appendicitis, which moves to the lower right after a few hours.
How can I relieve upper stomach pain?
An antacid from a pharmacy, smaller meals, avoiding fatty food, alcohol and caffeine, and not eating in the 3 to 4 hours before bed help indigestion-type pain. Severe upper pain spreading to the back, chest, arm or jaw needs 112.
What causes lower left abdominal pain?
In men and women, IBS, diverticular disease and ulcerative colitis are common causes, and diverticulitis becomes more likely with age. A hernia can cause an aching bulge in the groin. In women, an ovarian cyst or an ectopic pregnancy can cause pain low on one side.
What causes stomach cramps?
Most stomach cramps come from wind, bloating, diarrhoea, a stomach bug, IBS or constipation, and in women from period pain. See a doctor if cramps keep coming back, last more than 24 hours, or come with a fever or bleeding from the bottom.
How long does stomach pain last?
Most stomach pain settles within 2 to 3 days: trapped wind within hours, indigestion within a day, a stomach bug within 2 to 4 days and constipation once the bowels move. Stomach pain that lasts more than a week, that keeps coming back over several weeks, or that wakes you at night needs a consultation, because recurring pain points to reflux, an ulcer, gallstones, IBS or inflammatory bowel disease, each of which has a treatment. Sudden severe pain is never waited out.
How can I prevent stomach pain?
Eat regular meals slowly, keep fibre and fluids up so constipation does not build, limit alcohol, fatty and spicy food and caffeine if they set off indigestion, do not lie down straight after eating, wash hands and store food safely to avoid stomach bugs, manage stress, which drives IBS, avoid ibuprofen or aspirin on an empty stomach or for long periods, and keep active. Recurring stomach pain with a known cause, such as reflux or IBS, is prevented by treating that cause.
Can stress or anxiety cause stomach pain?
Yes. Stress and anxiety can cause stomach problems and are common triggers of IBS. Pain should still be checked if it is new, severe or keeps coming back.
What can I take for stomach pain?
Paracetamol for pain, and an antacid for burning upper pain. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin, which can cause stomach ulcers. A pharmacist or doctor can suggest medicines for constipation, wind or diarrhoea.
Can an online doctor treat stomach pain?
Yes, usually. A doctor can work out the likely cause by video and treat indigestion, trapped wind, constipation, stomach bugs and IBS. Sudden or severe pain, and pain that needs an examination or a scan, need in-person care.
- Stomach ache, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 26 May 2023.
- Abdominal pain, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, reviewed 13 January 2026.
- Abdominal pain, Cleveland Clinic, updated 20 November 2025.
- Appendicitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 9 August 2024.
- Diverticular disease and diverticulitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 7 September 2023.
- Stomach ulcer, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 August 2025.
- Indigestion, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 5 May 2023.
- Symptoms and causes of gastritis and gastropathy, NIDDK, US National Institutes of Health, reviewed August 2019.
- Hiatus hernia, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 8 May 2024.
- Gallstones, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 11 August 2025.
- Heartburn and acid reflux, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 20 November 2023.
- Acute pancreatitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 11 March 2026.
- Heart attack, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 31 March 2026.
- Ectopic pregnancy, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 23 August 2022.
- Hernia, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 19 May 2026.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): symptoms, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 17 March 2025.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 11 July 2025.
- Piles (haemorrhoids), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 1 April 2026.
- Anal fissure, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 26 June 2025.
- Generalised anxiety disorder: symptoms, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 22 October 2024.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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