GP suspects appendicitis and offered hospital or pain relief only - WWYD?

[Tattooedteacher0621]

I’ve just been to the GP re pain I’ve had.
started yesterday in lower left quadrant - I assumed was ovary linked as I often get ovulation pain. I’d say that pain was around a 6. I took painkillers and was fine.

Today pain is between a 5 (at good points) and 9. Went to doc’s - pain in now lower right quadrant. When it’s around 8-9 I have to walk slowly, all hunched over, but it does come and go in terms of intensity. The doctor felt around and thinks it’s my appendix. I’ve got a pretty high pain threshold but today has challenged me - a lot!

He's given me the choice of stronger painkiller and see how to goes; or go to hospital.

I know that you’re not doctors but what would you do? Because I don’t want to feel like I’m wasting anyone’s time and I also hate hospitals.

Mine was abroad but they said bloods can’t confirm appendicitis. I had to have a CT

Appendix is normally on the right hand side! (Google tells me there are exceptions hence the normally)

I had similar. GP sent me to hospital and had lots of tests, scans etc and eventually went for surgery for suspected gall bladder infection. Turns out that was wrong and I had ruptured appendix. Don't delay, it can be very serious.

Definitely go to hospital. If it is appendicitis and they catch it early enough they may be able to treat with IV antibiotics and you could avoid surgery. I do think it’s quite shocking that your GP said it could be appendicitis and suggested stronger painkillers which would mask the pain.

even the mankiest of appendices are usually done laparoscopically these days. Very unusual to do an old fashioned appendix incision. (V occasionally if they look in with a scope and it’s a mess they’ll do a bigger open procedure but it’s not common really).

By the time I got to hospital I had no pain.

I'd had it before I'm sure of it. Exactly like you, hunched over. I had two episodes before the one that got it removed. Rumbling / chronic.. Best got rid of!

I’m shocked that your GP has left it up to you to decide with no tests etc! Hope you did go to A&E and they get you sorted OP. Let us know how you are. Take care x

Maybe things have changed, but when I went they said they can't check with appendicitis, and would just take it out. I asked for a scan but they said no and it would be an immediate op (UK NHS).
After, a friend of my mum's said she got a scan when she had it at the same time, but she's a doctor, so whether she had more clout, or whether she was private I don't know.
OP, I'd go to hospital.

I had a ruptured appendix, and a subsequent infection that kept me in hospital for eight days (probably because I left it too long before going to A&E). So my advice, is go to A&E!

That can be bad the appendix can burst and feel better for a while, or the inflammation may be going down, you need it properly checked out. Also any chance of an ectopic?

I also think you should go to hospital. If the pain goes away a bit when you're hunched over, that's a bad sign. Also watch out for pain under your left shoulder blade, which can be referred pain from abdominal issues. I had terrible abdominal pain and shoulder blade pain years ago and it was a burst endometrial cyst that had caused peritonitis. I had to have emergency surgery. I hope you're OK.

No chance of ectopic as no intercourse for almost 4yrs.
x

Pain is at about a 5 now - bearable and can walk normally, I have had some on off shoulder pain on the left actually! X

I would always go hospital in this situation, simply because I wouldn’t want to get into bed and get tired and then it get worse and have to rush and make decisions in the middle of the night.

You don’t sound like someone who exaggerates, so if you say it’s sometimes a 9, that’s really bad.

No that is what the hospital do. Where do you think the bloods are going to be sent to be processed - the hospital. A positive urine dip doesn’t preclude appendicitis. And obs might be normal or abnormal. I’ve seen plenty of appendicitis with a normal pulse at least in the early stages. The initial suspicion of appendicitis is based on the symptoms and the right iliac fossa pain. The main investigation to rule it out is a CT scan. And guess what? They don’t have one of those at a GP surgery.

Go to hospital OP if you haven’t already.

You can’t take painkillers for appendicitis surely 🤣 if it’s burst it needs to come out!
I’ve had mine out and I remember the pain coming and going (not sure why). Anyway because I left it about 3 days I was told it was gangrenous. Hospital asap!

Yes I’m not really. I’m used to pain and live with a degree of it and I’m usually able to just go about my business. This is different. Waiting for my OH to get home then going - will keep ppl updated if they want. X

It's important you get checked ASAP and ensure you tell them about the shoulder pain. I too have a high pain threshold so often get dismissed and not taken seriously. I had to have my appendix out. Although, not saying that's what yours sounds like though - so go get checked out and get a diagnosis.

That's interesting because my teenage son had an open surgery for appendicitis a couple of years ago. Full laparotomy. And then kicked out of the hospital after 2 nights. Only to go back in with an infection. I've always suspected the whole thing was botched. This was after us being sent home from A&E 2 days running because they thought it wasn't appendicitis.

I agree with others, it's better you go to the hospital to be checked. If the GP is correct, then surely the pain will intensify to the point it will become unbearable, because the appendix needs removing? I'm no medical professional, so could be wrong!

As you mentioned ovary pain, this is another thing to be checked out in case it’s a ruptured ovarian cyst. I went to A and E and they thought it might be appendicitis but it turned out to be a ruptured ovarian cyst that needed surgery. Either way, don’t delay getting help!

Grumbling appendix is a thing. My DH had it for months leading up to his full appendicitis which did burst.

I had a pain lower left 9 absolutely- also vomiting. Turned out to be a twisted ovarian cyst. Was admitted and CT scan, internal scan and blood tests. I’m post menopausal and blood markers negative for cancer so I’m waiting to have a MRI before they remove it.
Pain at a 9 means something is seriously wrong.

be sure to mention the shoulder pain too, it could also be a ruptured ovarian cyst - I had that and the shoulder pain was a key symptom when considering the diagnosis.

I’d be worried it was an ovarian cyst or similar - go to hospital