Appendicitis - Your Stories
 

Hey guys,

I've searched for a thread on this however I haven't found one.
I've done some research on symptoms of appendicitis; pressure on the side of the abdomen associated with pain occasional nausea and lack of appetite.

Since this morning around 10:00 the right side of my abdomen and partial lower back have been aching however the left side is completely fine. I was trying to go to sleep and I just can't because my sides hurting. I'm half tempted to go to the ER (since its nearly 1am here) although the pain is not excruciating so I don't know if I really need to go or not. It's uncomfortable for sure just not unbearable. James mentioned that if its getting completely awful I should go right away. My symptoms include: pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. I haven't been hungry however I have been eating for no particular reason. I know several folks are going to say go ahead and go to the doctor which is probably what I should do...however a trip to the ER does cost a good bit of money and should not happen unless absolutely necessary, which who knows this might be absolutely necessary.

What are some stories of those who have (or know of those) had their appendix removed? I'm curious to see if maybe brushing this off is a mistake or if I should take it more seriously. Has anyone else been in my position and found out later it was or wasn't appendicitis? Stories! Advice! Information on these things is always helpful!

Oddly, my appendix has never given me a lick of trouble.

Appendicitis typically presents with lower right abdominal pain, accompanied by any combination of loss of appetite, fever, nausea or vomiting. The pain is typically very acute and may be accompanied by hip pain as well.

Based on what you've described, I'm inclined to say that what you're dealing with is not appendicitis. It sounds more like muscular pain to me, or possibly a mild case of gastroenteritis (which may have been caused by something you ate).

It's important to note, however, that I am not a doctor. Also, if you ever find yourself having to ask whether or not you should go to the hospital, it usually means you should. Money spent on your health is always money well spent.

Go get it checked out asap. My Mom ignored her pain and waited until it had burst before getting help. It almost killed her.

I had similar symptoms to yours when I had my appendix removed... two things about my appendix.

1) it had it removed on Jan 15, 1991. I went under just before desert storm started and came out from the anesthetic after it had started.

2) my appendicitis resulted in me getting married.

I had similar symptoms way back and it was related to the ovaries.

Get it checked.

I had my appendix out when I was 17. I was throwing up for a few days before I was taken to the ER. It had actually ruptured and I had a mild (luckily) case of peritonitis. I was pretty much laid up for 3 months till the infection cleared and they could go in and take the appendix out. Watching an open abdominal incision heal slowly was kind of interesting.
I was insistent on not going to the doctors because I was certain it was just a stomach bug.
The area/pain you describe could be an ovarian cyst as easily as it could be your appendix. Only way to know for sure is to see a doctor.

I'd get it checked out.

I am male, and had similar pains when I was about 10.

I went to the emergency clinic in absolute agony in my abdomen, and was examined and they decided it was appendicitis (I'm not sure if it is hereditary, but if it is, my dad had it, so that may have affected their decision).

Anyway, I spent a night in the hospital ready for an op in the morning, only to wake up feeling normal, so didn't have the op in the end.. apparently it could have just been a serious stomach ache or something along those lines.

Still, I'd say it's worth checking it out, since it could be many unsavoury problems from leaving it too late iirc. Obviously it is different for you given that you don't have the NHS, but still.

Even if it's not appendicitis it could be something else that needs sorting!

Gall stones are another possibility, although it tends to be more centrally located. The back pain is usually a tipoff for that.

And believe me, some of the gall stone attacks can be mild, others can feel like a knife has been rammed into your stomach, and some sicko is standing there twisting it.

I let it go a few times instead of going to the doctors. Eventually I had one that was so bad, I blacked out from the pain, and now have a nice scar on my foot from where it was resting against the radiator as I lay sprawled out on the floor.

as mentioned time and time again..

go see a dr. if your asking medical questions to non medical people about whether u should see a dr, i think the answer is quite obvious.

hope everything is ok and good luck!

Could be fecal impaction.

Gross on the fecal impaction...ew.
Well I woke up, still pain in my side but not horrendous. I figure if its still there tonight I'll take myself to the doctor once I'm back in Houston. I trust Houston hospitals more than College Station ones.
Gall stones are likely possibility too..although I would need more research for that.

2) my appendicitis resulted in me getting married.
Please elaborate!

Gallbladder pain would most likely be directly under the ribs near the base of the sternum.
Appendix/ovarian cyst pain is more towards the beltline.
All three can radiate to the back.

Could you have a kidney infection?

Had my appendix out 25 years ago - mum says she knew I was really sick, because I had no appetite. A burst appendix can be life threatening - no money is worth the risk of dying IMO. (this could be taken with a grain of salt - going to emergency in this country is free)

I had my appendix removed when I was a teenager. I had a very slight feeling of discomfort in my right side for about a day - specifically, right in the area my right elbow touches my side.

I, too, made the mistake of waiting to go in to the doctor - it gradually got worse, and eventually crossed the threshold into excrutiating pain - I could barely move.

My advice? Head in to the doctor asap - it's not worth the risk for a couple of hundred bucks.

A few months ago I had the same issues you were having. Every time I took a step my lower right side had a sharp pain shoot through it. Finally, I went to a doctor who did some x-rays and then sent me to the ER because he thought it could be appendicitis. Once at the ER, I received more x-rays and had some pretty embarrassing stuff done to me (nothing will ever embarrass me again) and the doctor decided my ovaries looked enlarged. I'm not saying you shouldn't go to the doctor, but I spent quite a bit of money even though I had insurance and it turned out to be nothing.

BINGO.

Went to the ER at 7:45 just now got home 10 minutes ago...all to find out I had a nasty kidney infection. Thankfully I have insurance. Lots of water, bed rest, and keeping hydrated. Also 3 prescirptions of antibiotics...the 10 day one. For some strange reason I'm super prone to getting UTIs...so figures one day one would get bad enough to get to my kidneys! Bummer.