Question about Appendicitis..?

Question

Okay, i have had lower stomahce pains and pains on my right side for a while now. I started losing my appetite for about a week, but i have been eating a little more now, and i just started getting a fever but its not every day. It does hurt when i press up against the lower right tummy. Could this be Appendicitis? Or just a conisidence that this is all happening @ once?

I am also 31 weeks pregnant, could the pains jsut be my uterus? My doctor just left me so i am in the middle of looking for a new doctor, but i talked to my aunt whos a nurse and says it sounds more like Appendicitis

Answer 1

SEE A DOCTOR STAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. The pain is at first diffuse and poorly localized, that is, not confined to one spot. (Poorly localized pain is typical whenever a problem is confined to the small intestine or colon, including the appendix.) The pain is so difficult to pinpoint that when asked to point to the area of the pain, most people indicate the location of the pain with a circular motion of their hand around the central part of their abdomen. A second, common, early symptom of appendicitis is loss of appetite which may progress to nausea and even vomiting. Nausea and vomiting also may occur later due to intestinal obstruction.

As appendiceal inflammation increases, it extends through the appendix to its outer covering and then to the lining of the abdomen, a thin membrane called the peritoneum. Once the peritoneum becomes inflamed, the pain changes and then can be localized clearly to one small area. Generally, this area is between the front of the right hip bone and the belly button. The exact point is named after Dr. Charles McBurney--McBurney's point. If the appendix ruptures and infection spreads throughout the abdomen, the pain becomes diffuse again as the entire lining of the abdomen becomes inflamed.

How is appendicitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of appendicitis begins with a thorough history and physical examination. Patients often have an elevated temperature, and there usually will be moderate to severe tenderness in the right lower abdomen when the doctor pushes there. If inflammation has spread to the peritoneum, there is frequently rebound tenderness. Rebound tenderness is pain that is worse when the doctor quickly releases his hand after gently pressing on the abdomen over the area of tenderness.

White Blood Cell Count

The white blood cell count in the blood usually becomes elevated with infection. In early appendicitis, before infection sets in, it can be normal, but most often there is at least a mild elevation even early. Unfortunately, appendicitis is not the only condition that causes elevated white blood cell counts. Almost any infection or inflammation can cause this count to be abnormally high. Therefore, an elevated white blood cell count alone cannot be used as a sign of appendicitis.

Urinalysis

Urinalysis is a microscopic examination of the urine that detects red blood cells, white blood cells and bacteria in the urine. Urinalysis usually is abnormal when there is inflammation or stones in the kidneys or bladder. The urinalysis also may be abnormal with appendicitis because the appendix lies near the ureter and bladder. If the inflammation of appendicitis is great enough, it can spread to the ureter and bladder leading to an abnormal urinalysis. Most patients with appendicitis, however, have a normal urinalysis. Therefore, a normal urinalysis suggests appendicitis more than a urinary tract problem.

Abdominal X-Ray

An abdominal x-ray may detect the fecalith (the hardened and calcified, pea-sized piece of stool that blocks the appendiceal opening) that may be the cause of appendicitis. This is especially true in children.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound is a painless procedure that uses sound waves to identify organs within the body. Ultrasound can identify an enlarged appendix or an abscess. Nevertheless, during appendicitis, the appendix can be seen in only 50% of patients. Therefore, not seeing the appendix during an ultrasound does not exclude appendicitis. Ultrasound also is helpful in women because it can exclude the presence of conditions involving the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus that can mimic appendicitis.

Barium Enema

A barium enema is an x-ray test where liquid barium is inserted into the colon from the anus to fill the colon. This test can, at times, show an impression on the colon in the area of the appendix where the inflammation from the adjacent inflammation impinges on the colon. Barium enema also can exclude other intestinal problems that mimic appendicitis, for example Crohn's disease.

Computerized tomography (CT) Scan

In patients who are not pregnant, a CT Scan of the area of the appendix is useful in diagnosing appendicitis and peri-appendiceal abscesses as well as in excluding other diseases inside the abdomen and pelvis that can mimic appendicitis.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure in which a small fiberoptic tube with a camera is inserted into the abdomen through a small puncture made on the abdominal wall. Laparoscopy allows a direct view of the appendix as well as other abdominal and pelvic organs. If appendicitis is found, the inflamed appendix can be removed with the laparascope. The disadvantage of laparoscopy compared to ultrasound and CT is that it requires a general anesthetic.

There is no one test that will diagnose appendicitis with certainty. Therefore, the approach to suspected appendicitis may include a period of observation, tests as previously discussed, or surgery.

Answer 2

Its hard to say based on just these comments as appendicitis can appear in all sorts of ways.

The classical description of appendicitis is having right sided lower abdominal pain associated with fever, nausea/vomiting, anorexia, and possibly some mild diarrhea. It sometimes begins around the belly button (periumbilical).

However, many people may not have all these symptoms. Some people won't have significant pain. Others won't even have a fever.

If you are concerned that you may have appendicitis, you should go to the emergency department at your local hospital. Tests including bloodwork and possibly a CT scan will need to be done depending on the doctors evaluation through questions and a physicial examination.

And its also annoying for people to copy and paste large volumes of text without giving credit for the source like one responder above - that would be called plagiarism if not a copyright infringement depending on the source.

Answer 3

Just to be safe, see a doctor immediately. You have some of the classic symptoms. You never know when it could rupture. I had mine out over 20 years ago and the doctor said it was 4 times larger than normal, just about ready to burst. Even if it is not appendicitis, it will give you peace of mind and the doctor can diagnose the concern. You can't put a price on having peace of mind when something is knawing at you. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Pain with appendicitis is REBOUND pain - that is it doesn't hurt when you press on it but when you let go. What you are describing is probably not appendicitis. Abdominal pain happens during pregnancy- ligaments supporting the uterus have to stretch.

PLEASE find a new OB/GYN quickly. Your doctor should not have abandoned your care (its an ethics violationat the least) without seeing that you had a replacement.

Answer 5

Ive had appendicitis and the symptoms are, fever, pain or burning on the lower right parts of your belly, another thing that show or its a symptom is that you vomit whatever you eat, if you have these symptoms dont let it explode go to a doctor and have it removed!!

Answer 6

Go to a doctor. A friend went thinking it was an appendicitis when it turned out to be a kidney stone. The doctors didn't even know till they opened him up.

If anything, you don't want to die from a ruptured appendix.

Answer 7

It could be. Been there done that myself. If its lasting a week, it could be progressing slowly, but you should go to the DR to get checked to be sure. If you start to feel incredibly sick, with intense pain in that region & shortly thereafter start to feel a little better;it could be that the appendix has ruptured. this causes the temporary relief. (and I do mean TEMPORARY!!) from there, it gets real serious if you put off going to the ER. Just go, better safe than sorry

Answer 8

It definitely can be. Especially if there is constipation associated with it. You should go to the ER and have an MRI done b/c if an appendix ruptures, it can be very toxic and sometimes fatal.

Answer 9

Go to the Dr. Soon. My friend had symptoms like this but it was a hernia that turned really serious rather quickly.

Answer 10

YEs definitely go see a doctor now!

If it is your appendix and it perforates you are in deep trouble. Specially you are almost in your third and last trimester. You are risking the fetus....