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In previous articles I’ve given mystery symptoms and shown how doctors make the diagnosis. But something needs to happen before the doctor can make a diagnosis: the patient has to come in. Deciding when to worry about symptoms is one of the hardest decisions. One one side, you don’t want to feel foolish coming in for something small; on the other side, you don’t want sit at home with a serious problem.
When to Worry About Abdominal Pain
So I am starting a series called, “When to Worry….” I’ll try to give you guidelines as to when a symptom is worrisome, and when it is OK to wait. Let me emphasize, however, that this is general advice that doesn’t apply to all circumstances. It is far better to be seen for a problem that ends up not being serious than to sit at home with a dangerous condition.
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It’s two in the morning and you wake up with pain in your abdomen, or perhaps it is your child that wakes you up with a stomach ache. When should you seek immediate help, when should you make a doctor’s appointment, and when is it OK to wait?
