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Original poster

It might be appendicitis or something else A&E or carry on waiting for a call back from 111

39 replies

Whatmonth · 19/08/2023 16:20

DD (38) has been having sharp pains in her lower right side for months.
Last night they have got worse her tummy looks as though she is heavily pregnant.
Didn't phone 111 as had a couple of wines.
This morning she phoned 111 at 9.15am who told her a doctor will phone her back.
At 1pm she rang to be told don't go to a&e until you have had this call.
It's now after 4pm.
She is eating, drinking and going to the loo. If she lies down the pain is bearable.
Should she ignore what 111 say and just go to A&E.

OP posts:
DarkPsy · 19/08/2023 16:22

Does the pain get worse when she coughs? Unless she is in serious pain I'd wait for the call, or perhaps call them back.

fourelementary · 19/08/2023 16:22

What’s the pain like if she’s upright? How much is it on a scale of 0-10 when
lying down…

if ifs high I’d go… but bear in
mind it’s a Saturday so go
sooner than later!!!

Floralnomad · 19/08/2023 16:26

If it’s been going on for months I’d just go to the GP as an emergency on Monday and have some bloods done , I wouldn’t sit in A&E on a weekend

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WetBandits · 19/08/2023 16:26

I’d go to A&E (and having worked in A&E I don’t suggest it willy-nilly!)

I would also suggest she doesn’t eat anything until she’s been seen, and sip only water. If it does turn out to be appendicitis, she may well need emergency surgery but will need an empty stomach.

NeedTheSeaside · 19/08/2023 16:27

My experience with appendix was vastly different, if I was eating/drinking weeing /pooing I'd leave it for now BUT having said that, I ended up being operated on as midnight emergency with mine. It was apparently very septic & very ready to burst.

Original poster
Whatmonth · 19/08/2023 16:27

Lying down the pain is 5 standing up it shoots to a 8/9
She does have a high pain threshold.
She describes it as not as bad as giving birth.
All her children have been delivered without pain relief.
And stitched up after.

OP posts:
hashbrownsandwich · 19/08/2023 16:44

As someone who has worked in A&E I would be taking her there now. If the swelling is that obvious then there is all sorts it could be.

hashbrownsandwich · 19/08/2023 16:45

I am not saying it is any of the following but what I'm saying is, don't just presume appendicitis. Could be ovarian cyst, hernia etc.

anyolddinosaur · 19/08/2023 19:00

Phone again, say she is going to a&e as she hasn't received a call back. No food until she has been seen and as little water as she can manage..

whatabeautifulwedding · 19/08/2023 19:02

Does she have a temperature?

RoseAndRose · 19/08/2023 19:04

I'm all for using 111 to triage for A&E attendance, but when something (even something that has been grumbling for some time) has rapidly worsened to the point where standing up is painful/impossible, then I'd go anyhow

Bromptotoo · 19/08/2023 19:07

Swelling of the abdomen is the clincher for me.

A&E asap before it gets full of the usual Saturday clients...

whatabeautifulwedding · 19/08/2023 19:14

Bromptotoo · 19/08/2023 19:07

Swelling of the abdomen is the clincher for me.

A&E asap before it gets full of the usual Saturday clients...

True. Don't wait til after 11pm.

MargaretThursday · 19/08/2023 19:15

Ds has a very high pain threshold. He put appendicitis as between 2 and 4 out of 10, so they nearly sent him home again. Luckily they didn't as his was ready to burst when they finally got in.

But he really couldn't eat or drink, and I don't recall his tummy looking swollen. So I'd be getting her to A&E but not assuming it's appendicitis.

The tests I seem to remember them doing was trying to get him to jump (he ended up vomiting badly afterwards, but I don't think they were looking for that) and they pressed where the pain was then released it, I've half an idea the pain is worse when released, but I may be wrong.

Switchingoff · 19/08/2023 19:19

I’d go. Appendicitis and ovarian cyst are quite emergent and there may well still be a wait once she’s there.

Bromptotoo · 19/08/2023 19:23

MargaretThursday · 19/08/2023 19:15

Ds has a very high pain threshold. He put appendicitis as between 2 and 4 out of 10, so they nearly sent him home again. Luckily they didn't as his was ready to burst when they finally got in.

But he really couldn't eat or drink, and I don't recall his tummy looking swollen. So I'd be getting her to A&E but not assuming it's appendicitis.

The tests I seem to remember them doing was trying to get him to jump (he ended up vomiting badly afterwards, but I don't think they were looking for that) and they pressed where the pain was then released it, I've half an idea the pain is worse when released, but I may be wrong.

Son had appendicitis at 13.

He'd fallen off a bike that was too big for him the day before and we thought he'd pulled something. Pain seemed to respond to paracetamol and we thought little more of it.

Friend of ours picked him up from cinema next day. Ian's a GP and spotted the way The Lad was carrying himself as he walked to the car. Back at our place he had son lie down on sofa and poked his abdomen..

We were due to go on holiday to France a few days later; first question for us was whether we had Travel Insurance....

Icantsleepagain · 19/08/2023 19:29

Speaking as someone who had a ruptured appendix, here's what I was u experienced.

Abnormal bloods (noticed at A&E, my docs would not help me)
Dull pain in lower right hip and stomach quadrant.
Cough or sneeze was agony
Fast heart rate
Temp
Thinking I had a kidney infection
Too painful to wee
Occasional episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea over many months

Feel silly as anything but please don't wait for 111 (they got it wrong for me).
Just go to A&E and stand your ground.
I had sepsis.
I'm lucky to be still here.

Good luck. Skim read thread so sorry if not read all posts. X

Poppercorn · 19/08/2023 19:33

I also had a burst appendix and subsequent peritonitis. My belly swelled and I also looked heavily pregnant. Do go to A&E.

Allhailkingcharlie · 19/08/2023 19:36

I'd go to a and e for that. Hope she's well soon.

Bromptotoo · 19/08/2023 19:36

Sister had a 'grumbling' appendix for several months at age 11/12.

YukoandHiro · 19/08/2023 19:37

Does it come and go? Has anyone checked her gallbladder?
A&E will at least do the bloods to rule out emergency gallbladder surgery and refer for a scan within the next couple of weeks if not needed immediately

hauntedvagina · 19/08/2023 20:04

Is there any chance she could be pregnant? I'd be concerned about ectopic pregnancy or appendicitis. Go to A&E.

Wishing her a speedy recovery whatever it is.

Bonfire23 · 19/08/2023 20:05

I had similar recently and it turns out I have loads of endometrial cysts. Stomach massively swollen, excruciating right side pain low down

Original poster
Whatmonth · 20/08/2023 09:31

Update
DD phoned back 111 to hear that there had been a glitch and her name wasn't on the list for a phone call.🤔 Told not to go to a&e as it was very very busy.
Someone did phone back at 9.45pm who is the most cleverest doctor he was able to diagnose without seeing her. According to him DD has irritable bowel plus a water infection. If she had gone to hospital she wouldn't be scanned as to busy.
She was told that it can't be appendicitis as it would have burst by now.
He has sent to the late night chemist antibiotics and a diet sheet.
Yes it might be IBS but there is no water infection. She told him her side hurt when she went the loo but not in passing water.

OP posts:
anotheranotheranotheranother · 20/08/2023 09:39

Bloody hell that is absolutely shocking 'treatment'

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