Elective Appendectomy?

Question

I've been having recurrent pain on the lower right side of my belly for at least two years. Sometimes it's intense, sometimes it's dull, and sometimes there's no pain at all...but it occurs at least every week. When it happens, I can barely move and sometimes it's accompanied by vomiting. I've been to a few doctors, tried all their advice, and no one seems to know what the problem is. Test results are all negative. I don't care what it takes at this point--I can't live in pain any longer. All my doctors have said they don't believe there's such a thing as recurrent appendicitis, but I wonder if this is my problem. Should I just request to have my appendix out, or is it even possible to have this operation if it's not an emergency? Has anyone else had this experience?

Answer 1

Absolutely not!

There is no such thing as an elective appendectomy as the appendix only causes pain when it becomes infected and inflamed. This is an acute (not a chronic) process and it is not subtle.

In addition, the old days of an exploratory laparotomy (a surgical look-see into the abdomen) are over. CT scans and other imaging modalities are sophisticated enough to generally make this obsolete.

Hopefully you won't find a physician to commit this form of malpractice on you.

Answer 2

Elective Appendectomy

Answer 3

I am not sure why you keep having this pain. A lot depends on if you are a man or a woman. Women get cysts on their ovaries. adhesions, irritable bowel etc.
If you are a man, you may have irritable bowel, or some type of adhesion.
I doubt whether a surgeon would do an elective appendectomy. They may consider an elective lap surgery just to look around in there and see what the problem is. after they rule everything out.
Always seek a 2nd opinoin.
RN

Answer 4

I am pretty sure you can't have an elective appendectomy. There is no reason to remove it if it is not inflamed. If you are really insistent you might find a surgeon to do some exploratory surgery which would be about as useful. It does sound like it is a problem with the bowel, go to a GI (gastrointestinal) specialist and ask about a colonoscopy and endoscopy to look for cancer, polyps, and a host of other possible problems.

Answer 5

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There is no such thing as elective surgery for the appendix. Secondly, you don't want your appendix removed. It is a major part of your lymphatic system. Thirdly, if there was something truly wrong with your appendix, they would definitely be able to find and know the cause. If they haven't found something, there is nothing wrong with it. That being said, there are a lot of other things that can be around that area that could lead you to believe you have an issue with your appendix. 1) Ileo-cecal valve- This is the valve between your large and small intestines. Depending on the foods you eat, this can become inflamed and give the sensation that the appendix is being affected. 2) Kidney stones- minor kidney stones can also give mild pains like an appendix issue. Both of these are in the same area. I would start having these other looked at. They are a lot more probable than the appendix. I wish you the best

Answer 6

I've had the same problem, I had a laparoscopy and they found adhesions on my appendix, the doctor said this should not cause pain, but he still offered to take out the appendix. If you are in as much pain as I am (on and off) then you need to try anything. I'm getting my appendix removed very soon.
So yes you can elect to get in out, but just make sure you have all the other test first.
Good luck

Answer 7

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RE:
Elective Appendectomy?
I've been having recurrent pain on the lower right side of my belly for at least two years. Sometimes it's intense, sometimes it's dull, and sometimes there's no pain at all...but it occurs at least every week. When it happens, I can barely move and sometimes it's accompanied...

Answer 8

They are doing elective appendectomies in Europe (UK, Netherlands). It is called the ACCURE Trial.

Answer 9

This actually sounds like a gallbladder issue to me. Did you notice that it mostly happens after eating something greasy or fatty? You can get an ultrasound to test for gallstones. Gallbladder disease is chronic so can happen on and off over long preiods of time.

Answer 10

2 examples of people I know:
- 1 had their life turned around after years of pain when the her inflamed appendix was removed (by observant surgeon during unrelated obstetric operation). Her partner said it was great to have his old non-grumpy girlfriend back after too many years! in spite of years of test there was no sign of appendicitis.
- another was sick for >6 months with waves of exhaustion, nausea etc. pain was so bad one day that he went to hospital, but they kicked him out. next day he was down to crawling, green and smelt like rotten meat, so his friends eventually managed to get exploratory surgery - no appendix left as it had exploded and left black slime in his gut. Again, at no stage did his blood tests show any sign of the infection, so according to modern medical practice he couldn t have appendicitis!
Modern medicine is quite flawed, but there are good people within it. Good luck navigating your way through it!