i am 56, with a history of uterine and painful ovarian cysts. Have had IBS since my 20's. Sorry that this is" TMI " but i'd like some feedback. Last week I had some constipation, which was unusual for me. this morning after waking up, around 8 AM, i felt discomfort in my lower right side, in the same spot where I would get pain when a cyst would burst. The discomfort would increase when leaning forward to wash dishes , sit up straight, or pick something up. It also radiated into my lower back and along the outside of my thigh. The back and leg pain kind of "burn", and my right pelvic area would sort of pulsate. Ibuprophen eased it somewhat, and in the 17 hours that i've had this, there has been no nausea, and no fever...so I'm hoping that it's not my appendix. I have terrible anxiety and panic anytime I think about hospitals and surgery. i'd appreciate feedback on this. Thanks
Hello starfishshores,
here's how you can check if it's your appendix that's hurting: place your hand on your abdomen in such way that your index finger is touching the right side of your belly button and the remaining fingers and palm are covering a small area of your lower abdomen - that's where your appendix is located at.
If there is any pain or discomfort when you try pushing down (and make sure to be gentle), you'll need to head straight to the ER so that a medical professional can take a look. It doesn't take a fever, at least not in all cases, for surgery to be performed because then the appendix can be removed with less complications,
Wish you all the best,
Nicole
Hi ! Thank you for your response. I'm still home, no pain when applying pressure, or when bringing my knee to my chest. I stayed up all night and slept about 3 hours today, just because I'm terrified of waking up and finding myself in agony. Don't have much of an appetite, but I do have a problem with anxiety, which kills my appetite on a regular basis anyway, not to mention that I have GERD and IBS, which can kill my appetite as well. I did have a bit of diarrhea this morning ( which I have about 4 times a week anyway, especially if I eat certain foods), what was odd was that there was some mucus in there. However, I've had bronchitis for 6 weeks, and don't always succeed in coughing it out. The discomfort is only nominal at this point, it feels like I have a small ball in the area of the ovary. Most of the time today I didn't even feel it, just an occasional "pulse". Back pain has largely passed and now is the normal pain I have with stenosis and bulging discs ( which right now is mild). I don't feel great, but perhaps my 38 hours of obsessing and worrying has something to do with it. ( I have a knack for making myself sicker because of the worry) I do have a pre existing appointment with my doctor scheduled for the beginning of May. If this problem doesn't get worse, I'll discuss it with her then. Is there a time frame at which I could chalk this up to something other than the appendix?
Hi, sorry for not responding sooner, I somehow skipped the notification. From what you describe, it sounds to me like it's far more likely that it's ovarian cyst again what's causing your pain, and not your appendix. But since it's still bit far away until your doctor's appointment in May, if you notice any major change in the strength of pain, especially if it becomes sharper and stronger, it still would be the safest to get to the ER. From my experience - it's not really a choice at that point because pain gets so strong you cant even talk, let alone do anything else.
Hi, just returned from the ER! Blood work was normal, and quite the adventure! 2 nurses THE doctor , an ultrasound machine and no one could access a vein. The RT came in, and after two tries, on both arms, funally drew blood from an artery. The urine test was normal, abdominal exam was pretty normal too. Could not do CT scan due to allergy to dyes. However they did find on the ultrasound a "mass" on my left ovary, and in the uterus. Right ovary has small cysts. Now I can obscess over this finding too. No change in discomfort, but i get chills although I have no fever. Sorry if my spelling is goofy, I'm trying to type on my phone.
Sat morning, seems that that my feverish feeling has passed, as have the shaking and chills. Both stopped when I got home yesterday. It's possible I suppose that both arose from my intense anxiety, and fear. Still have sometimes a very soft pulsating feeling in lower right pelvic area, with a slight twing in leg. But then it passes and I don't feel anything strange for awhile. Nausea is easing, but had diahrrea. When I woke up. I did finally sleep, and feel more like myself today. Still conserned about it, especially after reading about people who had similar symptoms, and normal blood work who later found out it was the appendix after all. Now of course I have the new issue of the ovary and uterus.