Is it a Stomachache or Appendicitis?

Appendicitis often starts with pain in the belly button area. At first, it might seem like just a stomachache. But if the pain gets worse or is accompanied by a fever, it might be a sign of appendicitis.

The appendix is a small, pouch-shaped organ attached to the large intestine. When something like a hard stool or a foreign object blocks the appendix, it can become swollen or infected, a condition called appendicitis. This is a medical emergency. Learning the signs of appendicitis helps you know when it’s time to seek medical attention.

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Signs of Appendicitis

“It can be difficult at first for people to tell if they have appendicitis versus something less serious,” says Dr. Deanna Mansker, a board-certified general surgeon at Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists.

“Often, people ignore abdominal pain and avoid going to the hospital. But the longer you wait, the more likely the appendix will rupture, which can cause serious complications. If the pain persists for more than a few hours or moves toward your right hip, you should seek immediate medical attention.”

If you experience the following symptoms, see your health care provider right away or go to the emergency room:

• Pain in the mid to upper abdomen, often starting around the belly button, or pain that begins in or moves into the lower right area of the abdomen. Pain can start mild but become steadier and more severe.
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mild fever
• Diarrhea or hard stools
• Swollen abdomen
• Feeling like you need to pass gas but can’t

Because some of the symptoms mimic those of gastrointestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, people sometimes don’t attribute symptoms to appendicitis, even when they get worse.

To check if you might have appendicitis, determine whether the pain gets worse if you cough, sneeze, take deep breaths or make other sudden movements. Appendicitis pain also often comes on quite suddenly and can be intense.

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Diagnosis and Treatment

To diagnose appendicitis, your health care provider will do a physical exam, checking for tenderness and pain in your abdomen. The doctor may also do a blood test to check your white blood cell count, which goes up when there is an infection in your body. If necessary, you will also have a CT scan or ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.

In most cases, the treatment for appendicitis is an appendectomy, the surgical removal of the appendix, which is considered emergency surgery. Most people are able to return to their normal activities within two to four weeks or sooner if the surgery is laparoscopic. However, if you had a ruptured appendix, recovery can take a bit longer.

Have symptoms that are concerning? Discuss them with your primary care provider. Find a Beaufort Memorial provider accepting new patients.