Abdominal Pain: When to Worry, What Causes It, and How to Get Answers Fast in London

Last Updated: March 2026 | Medically Reviewed by GMC-Registered Doctors at The Online GP by The Wellness

Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor — and one of the most common reasons they do not, hoping it will resolve on its own. Sometimes it does. A mild stomach ache after a heavy meal, a brief cramping episode, or a passing bout of indigestion rarely requires investigation.

But persistent, recurrent, or worsening abdominal pain is your body telling you something needs attention. The challenge is knowing when to wait it out and when to get checked — and getting checked quickly when you need to.

This guide covers the most common causes of abdominal pain, the warning signs that should prompt you to see a doctor, and how to get investigated quickly in London without waiting weeks for an NHS referral.

Common Causes of Abdominal Pain by Location

Where your pain is felt provides important diagnostic clues. While pain can radiate and referred pain is common, location is the starting point for any clinical assessment.

Upper Right Abdominal Pain

The upper right abdomen houses the liver, gallbladder, and right kidney. Common causes of pain in this area include gallstones (which affect an estimated 10–15% of the UK adult population), cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), hepatitis or liver inflammation, and kidney stones or infection. Gallstones are one of the most frequent findings on abdominal ultrasound. The classic presentation is pain after fatty meals, but many patients experience atypical symptoms including bloating, nausea, and a dull ache below the right ribcage.

Upper Left Abdominal Pain

This area overlies the stomach, spleen, and left kidney. Common causes include gastritis, peptic ulcers, splenic enlargement, pancreatitis (which often causes pain radiating to the back), and left kidney stones.

Central Upper Abdominal Pain (Epigastric)

Pain in the centre of the upper abdomen is frequently caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), gastritis, peptic ulcers, and pancreatitis. This is also where cardiac-related pain can present, particularly in older adults. Any central upper abdominal pain associated with breathlessness, sweating, or radiation to the jaw or left arm requires immediate emergency assessment — call 999.

Lower Abdominal Pain

Lower abdominal pain has a wide range of causes depending on sex. In both men and women, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, and appendicitis (typically right-sided) are common. In women, additional causes include ovarian cysts, endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy. In men, testicular torsion (acute onset, severe) and inguinal hernia are important considerations.

Generalised Abdominal Pain

Pain that is diffuse or difficult to localise may indicate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroenteritis, constipation, food intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, or — less commonly — mesenteric ischaemia or bowel obstruction.

When to Worry: Red Flag Symptoms

Most abdominal pain is caused by benign conditions. However, certain symptoms are red flags that require prompt medical assessment.

Call 999 immediately if you have:

• Sudden, severe abdominal pain that makes you unable to move

• Abdominal pain with vomiting blood or passing blood rectally

• Abdominal pain with rigid, board-like abdomen

• Abdominal pain with signs of shock (pale, clammy, rapid heartbeat, faintness)

• Central chest/upper abdominal pain with breathlessness, sweating, or jaw/arm pain

See a doctor urgently (today or next day) if you have:

• Persistent abdominal pain lasting more than 48–72 hours

• Pain with fever

• Pain with unexplained weight loss

• Pain with blood in your urine or stool

• Pain that wakes you from sleep

• Progressively worsening pain

• Pain with persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down

• New abdominal pain if you are pregnant

If you are experiencing any of these urgent symptoms and cannot see your NHS GP today, a private GP consultation can provide immediate assessment and investigation.

Worried about abdominal pain? Speak to a GMC-registered doctor today. Same-day phone consultations from £49. Abdominal ultrasound from £225 — doctor-performed, results within 2 hours.

📱 Speak to a Doctor via WhatsApp 📧 Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com

How Abdominal Pain Is Investigated

When you see a doctor about abdominal pain, the investigation typically follows a structured approach.

Step 1: Clinical Assessment

Your doctor takes a detailed history — when the pain started, its character (sharp, dull, cramping, burning), location, what makes it better or worse, associated symptoms, and relevant medical history. A physical examination assesses tenderness, guarding, distension, and bowel sounds.

Step 2: Blood Tests

Blood tests provide critical diagnostic information. The key tests for abdominal pain include:

• Full blood count (FBC) — detects infection, anaemia, and inflammation

• Liver function tests (LFTs) — identifies liver or gallbladder pathology

• Amylase or lipase — screens for pancreatitis

• Kidney function (U&Es) — assesses kidney disease

• CRP (C-reactive protein) — measures inflammation levels

• Urine dipstick — screens for urinary infection, blood, and glucose

At The Online GP by The Wellness, blood tests can be arranged on the same day as your consultation with results within 24–48 hours.

Step 3: Ultrasound

Abdominal ultrasound is the first-line imaging investigation for most causes of abdominal pain. It is non-invasive, radiation-free, and highly effective at detecting:

• Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation

• Kidney stones and urinary tract obstruction

• Liver disease including fatty liver, cirrhosis, and masses

• Pancreatic abnormalities

• Aortic aneurysm

• Splenic enlargement

• Free fluid in the abdomen

• Ovarian cysts and pelvic pathology (women)

• Bladder and prostate abnormalities (men)

This is where the quality of your ultrasound matters. At most clinics, a sonographer captures images and a radiologist reports later — you wait days for answers. At The Wellness, a GMC-registered doctor performs your scan, identifies findings in real time, and gives you answers during the appointment. Your written report arrives within 2 hours.

Abdominal Ultrasound Price Guide – The Wellness (London, 2026)

• Upper Abdominal Ultrasound: £225

• Full Abdominal Ultrasound: £265

• Abdominal + Pelvic Ultrasound: £295

• Liver Ultrasound (Focused): £195

• Gallbladder & Biliary Tree: £195

• Kidneys & Urinary Tract: £195

Step 4: Further Investigation (If Needed)

If ultrasound and blood tests do not provide a definitive diagnosis, further investigations may include CT scan, endoscopy (gastroscopy or colonoscopy), or MRI. Your doctor at The Wellness can arrange these promptly through private or NHS referral pathways.

The Fast Track: From Symptoms to Answers in London

If you are experiencing abdominal pain and want answers quickly, here is the fastest route through The Online GP by The Wellness.

Today: Phone consultation (£49). Speak to a GMC-registered doctor who assesses your symptoms, determines the urgency, and recommends the right investigations.

Today or tomorrow: Blood tests and ultrasound. If investigation is needed, your doctor arranges blood tests and books your ultrasound — often for the same day or next day. Abdominal ultrasound from £225. Blood tests from £245 when added to a scan appointment.

Same day: Results and next steps. Blood test results return within 24–48 hours. Your ultrasound report is written by the doctor who scanned you and sent within 2 hours. If referral is needed, it is arranged immediately.

Compare this to the NHS route: Call your practice at 8am, hope for a telephone callback, potentially wait days for a GP appointment, wait for a blood test appointment, wait 1–2 weeks for blood results, wait for an ultrasound referral to be processed, wait weeks or months for the ultrasound, then wait for the report and a follow-up appointment to discuss it.

The difference is not luxury. It is clinical efficiency. When your body is telling you something is wrong, waiting months for answers is not just inconvenient — it is potentially harmful.

Do not sit with pain and uncertainty. Same-day consultations. Same-day ultrasound. Doctor-performed. Answers today.

📱 Book Now via WhatsApp 📧 Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com

The Online GP by The Wellness — Private GP consultations from £49. Doctor-performed abdominal ultrasound from £225. Same-day results. No referral needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I worry about abdominal pain? Seek emergency care for sudden severe pain, pain with vomiting blood, rigid abdomen, or signs of shock. See a GP urgently for persistent pain beyond 48–72 hours, pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, blood in stool/urine, or pain that wakes you from sleep.

What tests are done for abdominal pain? Typically blood tests (FBC, liver function, kidney function, amylase, CRP) and abdominal ultrasound. At The Wellness, the doctor who consults you can arrange both investigations the same day.

How much does a private abdominal ultrasound cost in London? At The Wellness, upper abdominal ultrasound costs £225, full abdominal £265, and comprehensive abdominal and pelvic £295. All scans are doctor-performed with a written report within 2 hours.

Can I get a same-day ultrasound for abdominal pain in London? Yes. The Wellness offers same-day and next-day appointments. A doctor phone consultation (£49) can be arranged first to discuss whether ultrasound is the right investigation for your symptoms.

Should I go to A&E for abdominal pain? A&E is appropriate for severe, sudden-onset pain, suspected surgical emergencies (appendicitis, bowel obstruction, ruptured aneurysm), or pain with shock symptoms. For persistent but non-emergency abdominal pain, a same-day private GP consultation and ultrasound provides faster, more thorough investigation than A&E for non-emergency presentations.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek immediate medical attention for severe abdominal pain. Call 999 in a medical emergency.

Sources: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries — Abdominal Pain (2025); British Society of Gastroenterology Guidelines; NICE Gallstone Disease Guideline (CG188); BMA Pressures in General Practice (January 2026).