The Student Room Group

Appendicitis?

Last night I had this stinging pain in the area where my appendix is supposed to be. It's completely fine now, but when it happened I thought my appendix had inflamed or something. I just wikipedia-ed it and all the "symptoms" seem to match what happened (pain when pressure is released etc).. and then I read that it can become much worse if it's left. But the thing is I'm completely fine now and I don't know if it's something else or if it's actually my appendix. But it's a bit weird just randomly getting a stinging pain in that area.. I just want to know if I should just leave it or see the doctor or something? Or if this kind of thing normally happens with appendicitis or something similar? Will the pain come back?? :s-smilie:
Reply 1
I would just go and ask the doctor!!!
Reply 2
If you had appendicitis you'd be in a lot of pain, probably to the point where you'd find it hard to walk. You could always get it checked out just in case though, as it could be something else.
Reply 3
You're probably fine. Don't ever look mysterious pains etc up on wikipedia and self-diagnose, it's not a good idea!

If it happens again then perhaps you should speak to someone if it would make you feel better, but I woldn't bother right now.
Reply 4
It was a pretty bad pain. I was in bed at the time and it was really painful unless I pressed hard against it. Then I just fell asleep and it was fine in the morning.. if it happens again I'll probably see the doctor or something 'cause I was really worried! Thanks for the advice.
It might have been an appendix grumble - those can happen a whole heap apparently. My friend used to get them and the doctors recommended she got her appendix out when they kept happening frequently.

Definitely wasn't appendicitis as people pointed out already - did wikipedia not mention a high fever, intense, agonising pain and throwing up everywhere as well as a stinging in the appendix region? I had all of those symptoms once and ended up in hospital at 3 in the morning. Luckily it wasn't appendicitis - the doctors decided it wasn't about 30 mins before they were due to chop me open so a lucky escape there...
Ermm.. i think if u had one you would know, i could walk when i had mine! was in bed for 4 days while the doctors decided if it was a appendicitus or not! ended up bursting, that showed them haha!

polly just a "gumbling" appendix nothin to worry about.. however i did have that alot up to the actual apendicitus.

if its rele worring you i would see a doctor, if it dosent come back i wouldnt worry about it!
It doesn't sound like an appendix problem. The thing about having pain when pressure is released doesn't mean that when you press on the sore area the pain goes away, but that if you press down hard it doesn't hurt too much, but if you release that pressure the patient will jump because there's a sudden burst of pain.

A grumbling appendix doesn't just go away in a few hours, either - I was hospitalised for a few days when I had mine first, and on subsequent occasions it's lasted for up to two days.

There are lots of things around that area that can cause you pain if they go wrong - your appendix is very close to your ovaries, for example. It might be worth going to your doctor and explaining what happened, for reassurance and to make sure that there isn't some problem, though I doubt that problem would be appendix-related.
Feefifofum


There are lots of things around that area that can cause you pain if they go wrong - your appendix is very close to your ovaries, for example. It might be worth going to your doctor and explaining what happened, for reassurance and to make sure that there isn't some problem, though I doubt that problem would be appendix-related.


Yeah that's a really good point actually. When I had natural periods (and not the ones you get on the pill), I used to have horrendous ovulation pains right there every month. They were worse than period pains.

OP do you know if you were ovulating?
Reply 9
My period finished just a few days ago, this really didn't feel like the sort of period pain. It felt like it was just that small area of my body that was stinging with pain and everything else was completely fine. With period pains it feels like the pain is everywhere.. I dunno if that makes sense? I don't usually get pain in that area.. I suppose it could have been anything but my first thought was the appendix.
trust me YOU WOULD KNOW

I when i had it i couldnt walk i was in so much pain...had an emergency operation spent a week in hospital and 4 weeks off school


:smile: i love my scar
didi997
My period finished just a few days ago, this really didn't feel like the sort of period pain. It felt like it was just that small area of my body that was stinging with pain and everything else was completely fine. With period pains it feels like the pain is everywhere.. I dunno if that makes sense? I don't usually get pain in that area.. I suppose it could have been anything but my first thought was the appendix.

I didn't mean usual period pain - if something's going wrong in that area then it wouldn't be the same as your usual period pains anyway. It's probably worth going to your doctor to ask, to be on the safe side.
i think when you have apendicitis doesnt the pain shift slowly between the sides of your belly?
Reply 13
Callipygian
i think when you have apendicitis doesnt the pain shift slowly between the sides of your belly?

Classically, it starts around your umbilicus and moves towards your right hip, eventually stopping around the area of the inflamed appendix. It doesn't wander all over. It's also important to remember that a large number of people don't have the "classical" presentation.

I don't think it's something you should worry about at the moment, primarily because you're not unwell (no fever/vomitting/loss of appetite etc) and the pain has gone away. If it comes back or you start to feel ill, then think about seeking medical attention.
Helenia
Classically, it starts around your umbilicus and moves towards your right hip, eventually stopping around the area of the inflamed appendix. It doesn't wander all over. It's also important to remember that a large number of people don't have the "classical" presentation.

Ah okay :smile:
Reply 15
A water infection exhibits similar symptoms to appendicitis, but it could also be period pains (obviously I wouldnt know).

We have to cover appendicitis for BFA, and basically as people say you'd know about it, it's a disabling pain, so you wouldnt be able to move or even laugh/cough without excrutiating pain, you'd just want to lie very still.

Also, I wouldnt do the rebound tenderness, as if you dont do it right it can cause internal bleeding or if it was appendicitis, it can lead to a ruptured appendix
I get pains there quite often, and i've mentioned it to a doctor who said it's probably just to do with my stomach (i have mild ibs), and told me to come back if it gets any worse.

So, by all means see a doctor if you're worried about it, but don't think they'll actually do anything about it unless you're writhing in agony.


I actually often get a pretty bad pain there when i'm on my period (and sometimes during the month), so maybe it is an ovary thing. It's possible.

Go to the doctor and ask questions. 'Could it be something to do with my ovaries' etc. Push them to help you and do tests. Because otherwise they'll just shrug it off.
DMed

Also, I wouldnt do the rebound tenderness, as if you dont do it right it can cause internal bleeding or if it was appendicitis, it can lead to a ruptured appendix

Ummmmm, no....