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| Waves of sharp pain that “take the breath away” | Renal or biliary colic (episodes of intense pain in the kidneys or gallbladder) |
Waves of dull pain with vomiting | |
Colicky pain that becomes steady | Strangulating intestinal obstruction (blockage that cuts off the blood supply to the intestines) |
Sharp, constant pain, worsened by movement | |
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Did the pain begin suddenly? | Sudden ("like a light switching on”) | |
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| | A tear (perforation) in an organ |
Severe pain but a comparatively normal physical examination | |
Does the pain travel to any other part of your body? | | |
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| Sometimes perforated ulcer |
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Lying as quietly as possible | |
What other symptoms occur with the pain? | Vomiting that precedes the pain and is followed by diarrhea | |
Delayed vomiting, no bowel movements, and no passing of gas (flatulence) | |
Severe vomiting that precedes intense pain in the upper middle of the abdomen, left chest, or shoulder | |