The short explanation
Please go to an emergency department now or call 112. Severe upper abdominal pain spreading to the back, with vomiting, especially after a heavy or fatty meal, can be a sign of pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas, or of a gallstone attack. Both need prompt medical assessment, and pancreatitis can become serious. In hospital, doctors will examine you, check blood tests including pancreatic enzymes and liver tests, and usually arrange an ultrasound. Treatment often involves fluids, pain relief and rest for the gut. If gallstones are the cause, they may discuss removing the gallbladder later.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Alcohol, gallstones and high triglycerides are common causes of pancreatitis.
- Other causes of severe upper abdominal pain include stomach ulcers, heart problems and kidney stones, which doctors will also consider.
- Avoid eating or drinking until you have been assessed.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you what is causing your pain. You need urgent examination and tests.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Is this pancreatitis or a gallstone attack?
- Do I need an ultrasound?
- Will I need surgery?
- How can I prevent this from happening again?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department now if the pain is severe, constant, or comes with vomiting, fever or yellow eyes.
Get help the same day
- If the pain eases, still get checked at a hospital today.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Abdominal pain MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Stomach ache NHS
- Indigestion NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
Did this answer your question?
Whatever you choose is filed against this version of the answer, never against you, and it is never shown as a count.
“Explain more simply” asks you which part was hard to follow, so the author knows what to rewrite. “My question is different” opens a private follow-up with this answer attached.
Saving, following up and reporting are all private. Nothing you do on this page is visible to other readers or to the doctor who wrote it, unless you ask a question.