What do they do to figure out whether you have it? And if you do, before surgery, do you have to have a physical or anything? If so, what do they do? I just want to know, I have a really bad pain in my right side, and i was wondering how they figure out if it's appendicitis and what they do for it. THanks.
2006-12-16 08:26:07 · 7 answers · asked by May M 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
I'm afraid of doctors that's why i'm curious.
2006-12-16 08:30:26 · update #1
The most specific physical findings in appendicitis are rebound tenderness (when you push down on the area, it doesn't hurt as bad as when you let up after pushing), pain on percussion (place your hand on the area and tap the back of your hand), and rigidity of the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. As everyone else has said, they will likely draw a blood panel (though the physical exam is much more important, because the blood panel changes could come from any part of the body. Also, they will surgically remove the appendix if it is inflamed. The surgery has become very advanced, so there will be little to no scarring and minimal pain.
2006-12-16 08:33:33 · answer #1 · answered by Peeps 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Diagnosis of appendicitis depends on history; physical examination; laboratory tests; and imaging.
The classic history involves pain in the center of the abdomen, often crampy. It is followed ny nausea and possibly vomiting. The pain then "migrates" to the right lower quadrant of the abdomen to a spot called McBurney's point. This is usually followed by fever and possibly chills. The whole process can be fast (as little as 6 hours) or slower over a day or more. The pain at Mc. Burney's point tends to become worse, and even the slightest 'jiggle' of the abdomen causes pain there.
The typical finding on physical exam is tenderness at McBurney's point, which is located a little more than halfway along a line from the umbilicus (belly button) to what some people call their right "hip bone"--the bony prominence at the front of your hip. As the appendicitis worsens, pushing at the mirror image place on the left side causes pain on the right side (Rovsing's sign). There are a couple of other maneuvers on physical exam.
There are things that one wants to exclude on physical exam. For example, a kidney stone or a kidney infection can cause severe right sided pain as well. So can an ruptured ovarian cyst. Or a pelvic infection (STD).
The laboratory studies in appendicitis show an elevated white blood count and a normal urinalysis.
Imaging (Xray) studies can include a CT scan or an ultrasound exam.
A good surgeon can often figure this out from a history and physical exam, with the lab and imaging information confirmatory.
2006-12-16 16:35:48 · answer #2 · answered by Long view 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, they'll do a number of things. They'll ask you a lot of questions to start with, such as where the pain is, how bad it is, what makes it worse, what makes it better. They'll check you for pain by gently palpating the right lower quadrant of your abdomen (where the appendix is). They'll see if you have a fever. They'll draw blood to see if you have elevated WBC's. They'll probably observe you for a while. They'll check for rebound tenderness (pushing deeply on your abdomen and then letting go fast to see if you have pain) to see if you've ruptured yet and have signs of peritonitis.
If they decide that you do have appendicitis, you'll be prepared for surgery. This involves having it explained to you detail-for-detail, lots of paperwork, they'll start an IV antibiotic and IV fluids, and then you'll have anesthesia and that's all you'll be aware of until you wake up.
Don't be afraid. Its very routine, and you'll want to have it taken care of before it ruptures, because that is very dangerous. So if you think you have appendicitis, you should head for the ER right away. If it ruptures (and once its infected, that's the only thing left to happen -- it will NOT get better) you could die. Good luck!
2006-12-16 16:38:33 · answer #3 · answered by Sara 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My Mom worked as a nurse in an extremely busy ER and one of the little trickes they would use to "diagnosis" appendicitis was to have the person jump up and down a few times. A person who has appendicitis would rather murder you than jump up and down because the pain would be so bad.
2006-12-16 16:38:36 · answer #4 · answered by robbet03 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bad pain in right side, possible teperature, nausea,DON'T wait, see your doctor. If it is appendicitis, your doctor will probably recommend surgery, which has become SO advanced for these procedures. Good luck!
2006-12-16 16:30:39 · answer #5 · answered by Tweet 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They do a blood test. If the white count is way high, it indicates something going on, usually the appendix. The only way to take care of a 'hot' appendix is to remove it surgically. The pain in your right side could be bowel or ovary stuff, too.
2006-12-16 16:29:40 · answer #6 · answered by beez 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Headache, nausea, one big sign is usually A hard lump in your side where the pain is.
2006-12-16 16:34:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋