You are being treated for heartburn or hiatal hernia, and you feel sudden chest or stomach pain, have difficulty swallowing, are vomiting, or are unable to have a bowel movement or pass gas; you may have a hernia that has become obstructed or strangulated, which are emergencies.
One strong possibility for your symptom is gall bladder stones and cholesterol deposits within the gall bladder which can cause sharp pain. Getting an ultrasound of the upper abdomen done in a walk in clinic or the ER will confirm the diagnosis.
Stomach Cramps (Definition) 1  Stomach cramps or pain can be due to problems in digestion or irritation to the stomach. 2  Yes: spatone iron can cause abdominal cramping/pain. 3  Draw a transverse line through the umbilicus and the upper abdomen includes every part of the belly above this line and below the ribs on either side.