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Original poster

Could this be appendicitis?

34 replies

fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 22:59

12 year old has a pain in his right side, but it only hurts when he lies down.

He's had it all day and is currently unable to get to sleep as he can't lie down.

I wouldn't be that worried only it's on his right side.

Could it be the beginning of appendicitis or should I not worry?

And, has anyone got any tips for helping him to be able to sleep?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 03/10/2021 23:00

If you are worried he has appendicitis, you need to seek proper medical advice for him. Have you done that? Do it now if not.

Original poster
fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 23:02

I don't know if I am worried he has appendicitis, I don't know enough about it, hence asking on here.

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 03/10/2021 23:03

I think you need to ring 111 for advice. If he can't lie down because it's too painful and the pain has gone on all day then he needs to be seen by a medical professional.

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OppsUpsSide · 03/10/2021 23:03

DD had that, I called 111 who sent us to out of hours about this time on a Sunday night! You’re best off ringing 111 for advice.

PurpleDaisies · 03/10/2021 23:05

@fiveleftfeet

I don't know if I am worried he has appendicitis, I don't know enough about it, hence asking on here.
Phone 111. Don’t rely on randoms you don’t know the qualifications of.

Pain that’s too bad to lie down and sleep through is a worry that need at least a conversation with someone about.

Original poster
fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 23:08

He isn't in a lot of pain, e.g. he's not shouting out with pain, he's saying, perfectly calmly, "I can't lie down, mum, it hurts".

He's generally quite unfit and has pulled muscles a few times.

My gut instinct (no pun intended) is that it's nothing serious but I wanted to know if a mild pain that only hurts when you lie down sounds like appendicitis or not.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 03/10/2021 23:09

Ffs.

sohypnotic · 03/10/2021 23:09

Could be, I had appendicitis as a child, mine came on during a PE lesson and felt like a severe stitch in right side that wouldn't go away. Pain bad enough to make me want to lay down, although it still hurt. I didn't have any of the other common symptoms such as fever and vomiting. I struggled through the night and went to the doctors in the morning who sent me straight to hospital. They operated promptly and appendix was close to bursting. The surgery before mine the appendix big burst and the child was very poorly. I would delay getting help - 111 at least, A&E immediately if also has any of these:

•	Pain in your lower right belly or pain near your navel that moves lower. This is usually the first sign
•	Loss of appetite
•	Nausea and vomiting
•	Swollen belly
•	Fever of 99-102 degrees
•	Can't pass gas
PurpleDaisies · 03/10/2021 23:09

Ring 111
It is inappropriate to use mn for medical advice like this

sohypnotic · 03/10/2021 23:10

Typo- Wouldnt* delay getting advice

fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 23:13

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 23:13

@sohypnotic

Could be, I had appendicitis as a child, mine came on during a PE lesson and felt like a severe stitch in right side that wouldn't go away. Pain bad enough to make me want to lay down, although it still hurt. I didn't have any of the other common symptoms such as fever and vomiting. I struggled through the night and went to the doctors in the morning who sent me straight to hospital. They operated promptly and appendix was close to bursting. The surgery before mine the appendix big burst and the child was very poorly. I would delay getting help - 111 at least, A&E immediately if also has any of these: 
•	Pain in your lower right belly or pain near your navel that moves lower. This is usually the first sign
•	Loss of appetite
•	Nausea and vomiting
•	Swollen belly
•	Fever of 99-102 degrees
•	Can't pass gas</div></div>

Thanks, that's useful. He doesn't have any of those symptoms.

OP posts:
Original poster
fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 23:15

If I give him a hot bottle for the pain while I go talk to him, could that be a bad idea if it is his appendix?

OP posts:
Original poster
fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 23:17

He first felt the pain this morning and it hasn't troubled him all day, only when he lies down. That's not typical appendicitis, is it?

OP posts:
Scautish · 03/10/2021 23:19

Might be. Might not be. Be a proper parent and speak to a professional and not rely on internet randoms.

(Though I see you’ve been given this advice already and told them to fuck off)

sohypnotic · 03/10/2021 23:19

I didn't either. Also would have described as quite unfit as a child, pull muscles frequently, always got a stitch when running. This felt different - would you son normally complain about pain like he is? Or have pain affect his sleep? I would phone 111 for advice, that's what they are they're for, don't delay for fears of it being nothing etc, they will be knowledgeable of what questions to ask or symptoms to look out for. And how and when to access more help if needed.

Crispynoodle · 03/10/2021 23:23

If ever in doubt A&E every time. My son aged 14 had sore abdomenal pain, took him straight to out of hours docs by which time his temperature soared. Straight to hosp where he had appendix out within 2 hours. It can perforate very quickly indeed! Go now!

Aurea · 03/10/2021 23:24

Press gently on the area and if it's appendicitis it tends to hurt more when it's released (rather than when you press). This is called rebound tenderness.

Read the below first though:

The symptoms vary but the classic symptom is a dull pain around your belly button that then moves to become a much sharper severe pain in the right side of your lower tummy. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and fever.
Over the next few hours the pain typically gets worse, and travels to the lower right-hand side of the abdomen. This is the area covering the normal position of the appendix.
Typically the pain becomes worse and worse over 6-24 hours. It may become severe. The pain tends to be sharper if you cough or make any jarring movements. The pain may ease a bit if you pull your knees up towards your chest, and may be worse if you push on your tummy or try to move around. The lower abdomen is usually tender, particularly in the lower right-hand side. You may find that pushing in on this area of your tummy gently with two fingers is very painful. Letting go - releasing the two fingers quickly after you push in - is often even more painful (this is called 'rebound tenderness').

Icanflyhigh · 03/10/2021 23:25

Just phone 111 for advice like almost every other person has told you to do??!

Beggars belief that you've told someone to fuck off for advising you to call 111.

PurpleDaisies · 03/10/2021 23:25

The op should not be trying to diagnose rebound tenderness. She should be ringing for medical advice.

I bloody hate threads like this when it’s obvious the op isn’t going to do the right thing.

DramaAlpaca · 03/10/2021 23:28

If I was in your situation I'd get him checked out. Honestly, I would as if it's appendicitis it can get serious quite quickly. Ring 111 for advice.

Whattheschitt · 03/10/2021 23:31

Ring 111.

ibelieveinangels · 03/10/2021 23:33

i had appendicitis when i was 11. i couldnt lay down it was agony. i had the pain in my right side but that was all.

thingymaboob · 03/10/2021 23:33

Paramedic here. Stop wasting time on Mumsnet and call 111 or take him to A & E. The differential diagnosis list for lower right quadrant abdominal pain is fairly long. He needs a face to face assessment and examination by a trained person not speculation on Mumsnet.

Original poster
fiveleftfeet · 03/10/2021 23:45

Thanks for the people who've given useful advice and helped me talk it over.

I've spoken to DS again, it turns out the pain isn't below the belly button, it's quite a way above and to the side, so it's not in the right place for appendicitis I don't think.

I applied gentle pressure, not so much as a flinch. And anyway it's not troubling him now, he's lying down and going to get some sleep.

DS is on the spectrum and does tend to play up aches and pains which he does get a fair few of. I just worried about this one as it was on the right side. He has low muscle tone (always has done) and he's prone to getting weird pains. He also finds it hard to sleep anyway, it's not unusual for him to be up at this time.

I would say it's got to be more discomfort than pain, else he'd be screaming blue murder, he's not one to keep it in!

I will monitor him, and if it gets worse, moves down or he shows any other symptoms, I'll be straight on the phone to 111. But right now, I'm reassured it's actually nothing like appendicitis. Wrong place, doesn't actually hurt that much, not unusual for him to get random pains and it's not actually troubling him any more.

I imagine some if you will say I should still call 111, but I'm his parent, I know DS, and his medical history and this is my call.

Apologies if I worried anyone.

OP posts: