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Original poster

Have I got appendicitis?

29 replies

northernsunshine · 11/12/2023 20:09

Hey, wondering if anyone can help share their experiences and thoughts.

I have had worsening pain in my lower right hand side abdomen for the last four days or so, it’s always there and it hasn’t gone away. It’s worse with coughing and some movement.

I also seen to be going to the loo more often and increasingly feel nauseous like I want to be sick and I’m not hungry at all but have forced myself to eat as normal.

gp today said it could either be period which is not at all likely given the fact I have pcos and it’s not near that time of the cycle for me or she said it could be inflamed appendix?

she told me to keep an eye on symptoms and come back if it gets worse … It isn’t going away and is making me really feel sick. I don’t know what to do next but I don’t want to make a fuss.

any experiences or words of wisdom? Pain is about a 4/5, nauseous level 7.

OP posts:
HareSong · 11/12/2023 20:22

When I had similar symptoms - though the pain was stabbing, not constant - I called 111 (it was evening time) and they referred me to an out of hours GP at the local hospital, who sent me up for a blood test. Despite the doctor being pretty confident it was nothing much, since I wasn't in enough pain (apparently 🙄) the blood test results showed a problem, so they sent me for a CT scan, which confirmed appendicitis.

I had my appendix out the next day.

Worth trying for a blood test referral?

Cwtshcwtsh · 11/12/2023 20:40

I had appendicitis and thought it was food poisoning. Had increasing pain in the ovary area for a week but ignored it because I’d had the ovary removed the year before and it was extraordinarily painful, so I assumed I’d upset it being sick. A week later I collapsed with sepsis, ruptured appendix and peritonitis. The doctors agreed that the pain can be very similar. I’m very lucky to be here - don’t take any chances. Go to A&E if you suspect it might be. Let us know what happens.

Cwtshcwtsh · 11/12/2023 20:41

Agree with PP you need a CT.

Original poster
northernsunshine · 11/12/2023 21:54

@HareSong thanks for replying and for your advice. The pain is stabbing at times it’s like low level then sharp pain when I move.
did you feel nauseous too?

I feel ok ish at the moment but I don’t know whether I should just bite the bullet and call 111 now / go to A&E but I can still move around etc as normal.

OP posts:
Original poster
northernsunshine · 11/12/2023 21:55

@Cwtshcwtsh oh blimey, you were so lucky. Thanks for replying. My honest thought is at this stage it might be inflamed as the doctor said but don’t want to take any chances as you say so might call again in the morning

OP posts:
TomeTome · 11/12/2023 22:00

It hurt much less than I expected. So a bit agonising and then period pain like. I’d go go to an and e if it feels tiringly painful, fever inducing or you feel faint/nauseous.

QuestionableMouse · 11/12/2023 22:02

Why are you mucking about? No one here can tell you. You need to seek proper medical help either via 111 (who will likely send you to A&E) or a&e/urgent care.

Notcookie · 11/12/2023 22:08

They won't do a CT scan but might do blood tests and ultrasound. I had appendicitis and my blood test was normal. Had to wait 12 hrs for an ultrasound at which point they rushed me into surgery as it was about to burst.
Definitely worth getting it looked at properly.

olympicsrock · 11/12/2023 22:13

Could possibly be appendicitis, more likely a ruptured ovarian cyst . Worth a trip to ED for bloods and an US scan tomorrow am if pain still there.

autienotnaughty · 11/12/2023 22:19

I had what I thought was appendicitis but it was a kidney infection. Presented exactly the same.

Flibbertygibbetty · 11/12/2023 22:20

When DD had this she had rebound tenderness. When her abdomen was pressed it hurt more when hand removed but dont know if that is reliable symptom or not. Worth being checked in A and E OP as can be v dangerous if peritonitis I believe.

HareSong · 11/12/2023 22:23

northernsunshine · 11/12/2023 21:54

@HareSong thanks for replying and for your advice. The pain is stabbing at times it’s like low level then sharp pain when I move.
did you feel nauseous too?

I feel ok ish at the moment but I don’t know whether I should just bite the bullet and call 111 now / go to A&E but I can still move around etc as normal.

I would bite the bullet. I was at work until 8pm and at the GP by 10pm. It was uncomfortable, not agonising. I could work through the spasms. I thought it could be ovarian, too.

I had no nausea, but I did spike a temperature the day before.

Call 111. Get it checked out.

@Notcookie - they did a CT scan on me, once the bloods showed there was an inflammation issue.

Littlebelina · 11/12/2023 22:26

Any chance you could be pregnant? Wondering about ectopic, mine was nowhere near as painful as I thought it would be. Either way I'd get it checked out

Notcookie · 11/12/2023 22:27

That's interesting. I understood that the NHS doesn't routinely use CT scans for things like that. Too expensive!

igglepigglegingin · 11/12/2023 22:29

OP, mine started as a rumbling appendix just as you described. Out of hours GP sent me to a&e, bloods were taken and the pain suddenly kicked in to another level. It was removed the next morning. I would be proactive when it comes time your appendix as it's so unpredictable!

Gloaminggnome · 11/12/2023 22:31

Notcookie · 11/12/2023 22:27

That's interesting. I understood that the NHS doesn't routinely use CT scans for things like that. Too expensive!

I was just sent for surgery?! 'Not sure if it's appendicitis or an ovarian cyst. We'll pop a camera in and have a look. We'll take out your appendix whatever, might as well while we're in there'.

Thankfully it was appendicitis and I didn't get cut open for nothing!

(OP I think you should probably go and get checked out. I had one really sharp stab of pain and then it was surprisingly manageable for the 24 hours I waited for surgery)

Bluelightbaby · 11/12/2023 22:34

I’d probably pop along to ED. 111 are a waste of space and will probably send you an ambulance you don’t need.
could be soooo many different things, such as grumbling appendix to appendicitis or an ovian cyst or in fact a pain of unknown origin

but best get it checked out

ChiNonFaNonFalla · 11/12/2023 22:37

Just a few symptoms so you can compare.

I had rumbling for months. I kept getting flu like illness, the runs and being sick then I would be ok. I developed a heart arrhythmia and chest pain and fast heart beat they couldn't explain.

Then I thought I had a kidney infection. The pain was pretty bad. Then it died down. Agony to cough. They missed it at a and e because I had at that point had a ruptured appendix and abscesses had formed through out the lower abdomen.

It was the abnormal bloods that made them take notice, a consultant knew immediately (thank god). I was sent for a CT. The pain was like being cut with a blunt knife. Dull and heavy. The stabbing was intermittent and very deep.

I hope you will be ok. I had to be operated within six hours and it wasn't a pretty recovery, here to tell the tale however.

Sending you well wishes x

bluepencilstoo · 11/12/2023 22:38

I had appendicitis in July - I felt nauseous and awful pain in my right abdomen just below my hip bone that I couldn't stand anyone touching. I felt very tired, I was in bed sleeping almost the whole weekend and I could hardly move with the pain. I've had this on and off for about 3 years and thought it was something I'd eaten or gastritis.

I got myself to my gp on the Monday and my temp was 38/9 and she sent me to hospital and they did a blood test and my inflammatory markers were very high - that triggered a ct scan where they found an inflamed appendix. I was treated with high doses of intravenous antibiotics

I was in hospital for 4 days until my inflammatory markers had gone down

A good indicator of appendicitis, the consultant told me is this rebound pain mentioned up thread by another poster whereby you react strongly to touch

christmaspaws · 11/12/2023 22:41

I had similar and it was a big ovary cyst and endometriosis

Vinrouge4 · 11/12/2023 22:42

I think there is something called a rebound test. So if you press the area and it hurts it's not appendicitis. But if you press in and then take your hand away and then it hurts then it's more likely to be. Something like that anyway. Maybe google it.

vipersnest1 · 11/12/2023 23:00

DC2 had a grumbling appendix and was left to get over it on the first occasion by the ambulance staff, which worked out fine as it resolved.
The second time, they were sent away from A&E as they didn't have the classic symptoms (useless doctor only dipped urine and having found a trace of blood assumed a UTI). We were back the next morning, DC finally had an ultrasound (you don't need a CT to diagnose) and despite being first on the list, due to emergencies, eventually had their appendix out first thing in the morning.
It's worth getting checked.

Elphame · 12/12/2023 09:25

Notcookie · 11/12/2023 22:27

That's interesting. I understood that the NHS doesn't routinely use CT scans for things like that. Too expensive!

I had a CT recently for suspected appendicitis. I guess it depends on the local policy

gingergiraffe · 12/12/2023 10:26

I had niggly pain and tenderness for a couple of weeks before which I put down to strained stomach muscles. Had been lifting heavy floor tiles. Then the pain increased, nothing too painful. When I realised I had taken max pain killers for the day I went to a&e. Blood confirmed an infection somewhere. Kept in overnight. Scan next day confirmed appendicitis but by then a pod around organ to contain infection had built up. That’s why I has no other symptoms. Spent nearly a week in hospital on intravenous antibiotics, feeling so poorly. When infection had gone about three weeks later appendix was removed by keyhole surgery.
I think you need to go to a&e and get it checked out.

fishstiks · 12/12/2023 10:47

I thought appendicitis pain was a pulled stomach muscle or trapped wind. Only after 3 days did I bother wondering if it was something else as it hadn't moved or gone. 20 hours in A&E then assessed and sent for surgery. I really thought I had gone in and was wasting my time, was certain after getting checked I would be sent home! Def go to A&E to be in the safe side