Anybody ever have appendicitis?

[DrWeird]

On thursday I had to miss work cause I felt really bad. Went into the doctor, and had a 102 degree fever, body aches, hot and cold flashes, that's it. Doc thought it was a virus, so treat symptomatically.

Well, the fever's gone but since yesterday afternoon I've had a dull ache and stiffness in my lower belly and loss of appetite. It just occured to me it might be appendicitis, since these are all the symptoms. The weird part is you're supposed to get the dull ache first and then the fever.

[punpirate]

1. Could be you have a virus...

... and something else. If you haven't had a bowel movement lately, the rigidity could be constipation.

If you have an inflamed appendix, there's one test that pretty much makes the diagnosis--rebound tenderness.

While prone, if someone pushes down on the area above your appendix, then releases the pressure suddenly, that should be enough to just about jerk you upright from the pain, if your appendix is inflamed. It's not a sure-fire diagnosis, but often accompanies appendicitis.

Might be worth another visit to the doctor if the rigidity doesn't go away soon.

[Richard D]

7. Small correction

Rebound tenderness is tested by pushing down rather deeply on the left lower quadrant and then releasing suddenly. If there is a sharp pain in the lower right quadrant on release, get thee to a doctor fast.

Pain will also tend to be localized at McBurney's point, which is halfway between the belly button and the Anterior Illiac Spine.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. I had it when I was young

I had no fever, body aches, or hot and cold flushes. Instead, I had a dull ache just below the waist for a couple of days (it felt like my trousers were too tight), but nothing to skip school over, and then woke up in the middle of the night with an incredibly sharp pain lower down. Every time I moved, the pain came back. Possibly I did get a fever after that, but I wouldn't have cared. Imagine constant cramp in a pelvic muscle.

[LiberalVoice]

3. My brother had it...

As the doctor was cutting it out it burst in his hands.

Does it hurt if you laugh? I remember him hurting everytime he laughed. Did your doc check your white cell count? lol...probably not, but I'm stoned so it seems totally normal.

[22181]

4. Had it about 3 years ago...

No fever that I noticed, or body aches, or hot/cold flashes. I just felt like I had cramps and it wasn't that time of month, and they were all on one side. It actually didn't hurt that bad. I refused to believe the doctor when he insisted I had it and told me they were going to cut.

What side is the stiffness on? Should only be on one side.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Vladimir]

5. The symptoms can come in pretty much any order

I got the pains with no fever or any other symptom - just a sharp continuous pain that got worse. They only found out what it was when they did some blood tests...

PS a classic symptom is pains in the hip area, or the thighs. I would get a blood test if I was you, because if it bursts you could well be fucked.

[REP]

6. Symptoms Are:

Nausea
Vomiting
No appetite
Right lower quadrant pain
Constipation (almost always; diarrhea is rare but can happen)
Low-grade fever

Pain usually starts around the navel then moves to the lower right quadrant and stays there. Pain is usually described as "the worst bellyache ever" though can range from moderate to so severe patient cannot walk or stand. It's not really a dull ache.

If it has gone one for more than 36 hours without any worsening in pain, it's probably not appendicitis.

[Deja Q]

8. I had it twice.

Don't ask how. :D

[onebigbadwulf]

9. If it gets sharp and migrates to the lower right region you GOT IT!

good luck.

[marigold20]

10. My son started limping, favoring his right side.

He had a fever, stomach ache, but when I saw him limping as he walked to the bathroom, I called the doctor. He tried to put me off but I insisted he see him (son was eleven at the time). The rebaound test confirmed it and he had surgery that night.