I am wondering if I might have appendicitis. There is sharp pain in my lower right side. It's not sharp to the touch, but if I press on one particular area it hurts BAD. This is below my navel on the right side above the inside of my hip (hope that's descriptive enough). The pain can be severe when I walk, but it doesn't hurt all the time. My right side just doesn't feel "normal". It feels bloated and swollen, although it looks fine. I have been unusually constipated, mildly nauseated (especially after meals), and I have had a LOT of gas, especially the other night. I ate some high-fiber muffins that day, but I doubt that's the cause of that much gas. I am a vegetarian and I eat a high fiber diet anyway.

I have also been running a low grade fever off and on over the last couple of weeks or so, and I have been unusually tired.

Does this sound anything like appendicitis? Is appendicitis something that develops slowly or can last this long without becoming acute or not? The reason I ask is that I have had pain (but not the other symptoms) in this area before, but it's been a while.

Thanks,
Jeff

Location of your pain is perfectly right for appendicitis. Temperature and nausea go with it too. The disease with bad pains and vomiting usually develops fast but overall course from the beggining can take weeks or months. Pain becomes more localised when abdominal membrane lying above appendix becomes inflammed and this is referred as acute appendicitis.

But it can be anything. I think it can only be said that probably there is an infection in the bowel. (Crohn, UC, diverticulitis are all possible and are more chronic...).

Appendicitis can flare up from time to time in some people and the symptoms go way on their own. This is a serious sign that the appendix need to come out because, sooner or later, the result will be a serious attack of the more common acute appendicitis. I learned this the hard way and finally had mine taken out after going to the ER.

One of the hallmark signs that will tell you if this is appendicitis is rebound tenderness.If you push down on that area and let go,if the pain is worse when you let go than it is when you push down,it is more than likey the appendix that is the problem.But either way, it sounds like you need to be checked out by a doc as soon as possible as what you are describing is far from normal.it could be many different things.Hope this helps.Marcia

There are other possibilities . . . I had diverticulitis pains on the right side. In any event, with the low grade fever on top of the pains, I would be heading for to the doctor's office about now. Good luck!

Hi, I thought I would share my story and get opinions. I do have a history of diverticulitis to begin with. Any way two days ago I started have cramping pain, at first it felt like I could be trying to pass a blood clot but I never did and the pain started intensifying. It also localized to the lower right quadrant. I have run a temp with it, vomiting at the height of the pain and many other symptoms associated with the bowel. I did go to my family Doctor and beings I had lower right pain he right away thought appendix, so he sent me on for a cat scan. I have and elevated white blood count and run a low grade fever also signs of diverticultis. The cat scan tech after my cat scan was unsure if the doctor could read the scan completely but later Iwas told they probably have enough to dx it. This is what they said That I have diverticulitis on the left side where I have little or no pain, and I said well I have more pain on the lower right side and they said well the scan showed some inflammation there as well, but more inflammation on the left side , my left side is some what tender but man my right side is aweful. In the office the doc did the rebound test on my lower right pain and it hurt worse after wards. I asked about could it be appendix and the assist to the doctor said I dont think so doent think so . I said well did it show up on the cat scan and no one had even looked at them, and so they didnt know if there was any swelling and it wasnt noticed onthe findings that it was either swollen or not. I still feel like it could be appendix, I have never had diverticulitis on the right lower side or had this much pain that lasted this long. Any ideas , do I continue to pursue this or not?

Wubby,

Sorry for the pun, but "go with your gut instinct"! A second opinion can't hurt! Listen to your body...you know it better than anyone else.

Good luck,
Cathy

I had right sided diverticulitis too. I once read that pain from inflammation hurts with movement. By the way, the appendix can be described as a large diverticula extending from the cecum. No wonder appendicitis and diverticulitis present with similar sympoms. A CT scan is what you need to check it out.