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Children's health

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Original poster

Could this be appendix?

33 replies

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 14:57

7yo dd c/o pain lower abdo around the belly button on and off since ystd afternoon, low fever. Eating and drinking fine, bowels o.kay.

Have rung 111 and waiting got G.P to ring back as suddenly got concerned this might be her appendix. Anyone with any experience?

The pain seems severe.

tia

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RandomMess · 27/07/2013 14:58

It could be, she needs to be seen.

Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 15:09

Thanks, she seems bit better now but had calpol and junifen, will see what G.P says.

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throckenholt · 27/07/2013 15:18

If appendix the pain will likely get more intense and move down to lower right side.

At about that age one of mine started getting mesenteric adenitits which is basically pain around the bellybutton due to swollen glands resulting from a virus (some people it gives sore throat, some it goes to the stomach). That might tie in with a low fever.

Hope she feels better soon.

Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 15:24

Thats interesting throckenholt, she has c/o sore throat ystd evening but not at all today. Spoke to nurse practitioner and have an app with dr at 7pm so will have to wait and see.

Thanks for replies.

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Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 15:27

Just googled mesenteric adenitis and it does sound very like what my dd has so am hoping it is that rather than appendix!!

Thanks - why do they wait til the hols to get ill ?!

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throckenholt · 27/07/2013 15:51

The first time he had it was quite severe - went to GP who sent us to the hospital for tests. Had to have a blood test (nasty !) which showed increased white blood cells. They eliminated any other cause and diagnosed mesenteric adenitis (no treatment except normal pain killers which generally didn't help much sadly).

He had it every time he had a cold (well brothers had a cold and he got that instead) for a few years. Now he is 10 and I can't remember the last time he had it (they grow out of it apparently).

It was always around belly button or a bit higher. We were told lower right pain was possible appendix and lower left was likely constipation, as was pain just below the ribs.

I hope the GP doesn't think it is anything worse.

Holidays and Friday evenings are favourite times for getting ill.

Onesleeptillwembley · 27/07/2013 16:12

Could be - it doesn't always move to' appendix area' until the point of bursting looks at 28 year old scar. Get it checked, just in case.

Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 17:29

Thanks she is still in quite a lot of pain and didn't want any of her dinner is just lying on the sofa watching harry potter.

7pm can't come quick enough.

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SoupDragon · 27/07/2013 17:32

DS1 had appendicitis symptoms, aged 5, and it turned out to be pneumonia. No cough, just pain, lethargy and a temperature.

CaptainJamesTKirk · 27/07/2013 17:36

I had appendicitis at 15 years old overseas. The doctor smelt my breath (I thought it very odd) but he said he wanted to see if he could smell a bad breath smell. He also wanted to look at my tongue for a white coating. Does your dc have either of these?

The pain and low fever could be a sign? She's too young for her periods to start (I think) so I would suspect the pain to be appendix elated potentially.

CaptainJamesTKirk · 27/07/2013 17:37

Does the pain go away if she bring her knees up to her chest?

Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 17:41

Yes def hasn't started her periods Captain tongue and breath look/smell alright i think...

Thats weird soup, you would think cough/ chest pain for pneumonia, was the pain in his abdo?

Can't cope with seeing her in pain

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CaptainJamesTKirk · 27/07/2013 17:42

Has she had any pain relief at all?

Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 17:42

No doesn't appear to Captain although she is very guarded of her tummy and didn't want to bring her knees up too high.

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Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 17:43

Yes calpol and junifen, can have some more in about an hour. Seems to take the edge of but not take the pain away completely iyswim.

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SoupDragon · 27/07/2013 17:50

Yes. Apparently it's very common for it to present as appendicitis in children.

PutOnAHappyFace · 27/07/2013 17:59

My DD is exactly the same right now, just deciding if I need to take her to a&e. She has cystic fibrosis as well so have to be extra careful with illness but can't decide if this is just a tummy bug or not

Hope you DD is ok.

Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 18:04

Thanks, only an hour to wait now..

Hope your dd is o.kay putonahappyface as well, maybe ring 111 for advice? I was surprised at how quick I got a response, was expecting it to be a nightmare.

Thankyou ladies foer keeping me company while we wait, now watching return of the jedi as harry potter has finished!!

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PutOnAHappyFace · 27/07/2013 18:09

111 just tell us to go to hospital because of her illness which is annoying. Why do kids always get sick at the weekend when it's awkward.

Happypiglet · 27/07/2013 18:14

Ha she been sick? That usually happens with appendix but not always. My DS1 had it removed last year after a sudden acute attack which came out of no where. If she can bear it press on appendix are (low down right hand side)...it should hurt but when you release the pressure after say a second it should hurt more....classic appendicitis sign...

Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 18:24

She won't let me touch her tummy at all, even very slight pressure makes her cry good luck to the dr who has to examine her!!

My dd always gets ill at weekends, when we are away or in the hols!!

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Original poster

girliefriend · 27/07/2013 18:24

She hasn't been sick but felt sick on and off...

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CaptainJamesTKirk · 27/07/2013 18:26

The fact the pain doesn't go away or ease when she brings her knees up to her chest is also a sign (from what I remember from 20 years ago. You only have 35 mins. I expect the doctor will want to examine her.

paulapantsdown · 27/07/2013 18:33

My ds9 had some tummy pain a few weeks ago,ate his dinner fine at 6pm, but had a little bit of a high temp. By 7.30 we were carrying him in to a&e, and he had an emergency appendectomy the following morning.

Appendix can turn nasty very quickly, but its a very minor OP these days. Ds was back at school 2 days later.

Please don't leave her, best to get it checked out. Good luck.

throckenholt · 27/07/2013 18:34

I can still remember appendicitis pain from when I was 11 (now mid 40s). Started during a cross country run just after lunch - I thought it was a stitch. By 4.30 I was doubled over and crying with the pain :(.

Hopefully the GP will be able to give her something to ease whatever it is.

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