Indigestion and pancreatitis: what to know

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach. Its pain is usually deep in the upper abdomen and may spread through to the back. Nausea, vomiting, fever, a tender abdomen, or feeling very unwell can accompany it. Simple indigestion more often causes burning, belching, fullness, or discomfort after meals without severe ongoing pain.

Gallstones and heavy alcohol use are recognised causes, but several other problems can affect the pancreas. Indigestion symptoms alone cannot confirm or exclude pancreatitis, so the pattern and severity matter more than the label.

If upper abdominal pain is strong, continuous, or accompanied by vomiting, stop trying to manage it as ordinary indigestion and seek same-day medical advice. Avoid alcohol, and do not take unfamiliar medicines to mask the symptoms. A GP Consultation can assess your abdomen and decide whether urgent hospital care or tests are needed.

An Abdominal Ultrasound may help look for gallstones and other causes. Take a list of medicines and describe when the pain began, whether it travels to the back, and how much you can drink.

Go to emergency care for severe or worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, faintness, breathing difficulty, confusion, fever with marked illness, or inability to keep fluids down. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or severely unwell.

Ask whether your symptoms suggest pancreatitis or another abdominal problem, whether blood tests or imaging are needed, and what warning signs should prompt immediate return.