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Understanding Appendicitis Symptoms

A problem with the appendix is often life-threatening and it is important that you understand the symptoms so that you are able to determine when you should head to the emergency room to be checked.

What Does the Appendix Do?

The appendix is located, typically, in the lower right quadrant of the abdominal cavity. The purpose of the appendix is still unknown. Some scientists believe that it is a place where good bacteria are stored, helping the digestive system get back on track quickly after an illness. Other scientists prefer the theory that it is just a useless organ from our past, no longer necessary, thanks to evolution.

Since there is no known usefulness for the appendix, doctors do not hesitate to remove it at the first sign of trouble. People go on to live normally after the removal of the appendix but if an attack is ever experienced, known as appendicitis, you’ll wish that yours had been removed already.

Appendicitis Symptoms

●     Pain in the area of the belly button that radiates downward and to the right, in the location of the appendix.

●     Vomiting accompanied with stomach pain.

●     Temperature of 100-101 degree Fahrenheit

●     Swelling in the abdomen, pain touching the area of the appendix

●     Constipation or diarrhea

●     Inability to pass gas

●     Pain in the rectum or lower back is possible but not typical

●     Painful urination is possible but not typical

●     Vomiting before any other pain or symptoms is also possible but not typical

If you have any of the above symptoms, it is crucial that you get yourself to an emergency clinic or call an ambulance to get you there as soon as possible. Surgery is imperative and will save your life. Removal of the appendix is vital to life-saving.

Do not risk drinking, eating, or taking ANY over-the -counter medications, even ibuprofen or anything for gas or the upset stomach. If you do, you risk rupturing the appendix which can be the way you die.

A ruptured appendix can leak into the abdominal cavity, allowing toxic bile and bacteria into the gut. This can cause a very serious condition of sepsis, meaning an infection that is in the body and spreading to other vital organs. When this happens, you will need IV antibiotics in heavy doses to help your internal organs fight the infection that can overwhelm your entire body and affect your heart and your brain as well.

Extreme cases lead surgeons to physically open your body cavity and leave you open on a table during recovery while you are washed internally by nursing staff. The infections are manually flushed out with sterile fluids while your body is given massive doses of antibiotics at the same time. You’ll have a nerve block so that feel nothing and you’ll not be able to see as staff will place a tent around the open area. You will be in a controlled environment where germs are not allowed to enter, especially designed for patients just like yourself.

What Causes a Ruptured Appendix?

The lumen of the appendix can become blocked. The lumen is the interior of the appendix, where mucous typically passes through on its way into the large intestine. A seed can block this area and cause issues that lead to inflammation. Cancer is sometimes the cause, whereas a tumor has blocked the entry into the large intestine. Blockages of fecal matter, seeds, fruit pits and any other matter eaten and not digested appropriately can block the interior of the appendix.

Many times, the signs and symptoms of the impending failure of the appendix are ignored until a full-blown attack of appendicitis happens. You may experience feelings of severe bloat, stomach upset and digestive issues that you simply consider to be something that you ate which is not agreeing with you. Most people completely ignore the signs because they can be very subtle and we are used to foods sometimes not interacting well with other foods. We may assume we’ve gotten a bit of a bug, stomach flu or something of that sort.

In fact, the symptoms of appendix failure might carry on for a few weeks to a few years. There is no way of knowing exactly how long you’ve had and ignored the symptoms. It is impossible to determine ahead of time if an appendix will get blocked, but once it is blocked the symptoms are relatively clear. The pain can be excruciating and the appendix is more often than not simply removed.

The surgery to remove the appendix is called an appendectomy and it is a laparoscopic surgery which is minimally invasive. Under a generally anesthesia, a surgeon will typically go into your body through the belly button and surgically remove the appendix. You’ll go back to a normal life after this happens and won’t even miss having your appendix.

You will need anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks to recover from appendectomy. If laparoscopic surgery is performed, you will likely be able to return to work after 3 weeks. If a more invasive surgery is indicated, it could take as long as 4 weeks for full recovery. Complications could include abscess present at time of surgery which will require you to wear a drain tube in your incision and take a bit longer to heal. Your surgeon is likely to have you on a course of antibiotics as well. It would be somewhat normal to pass a little blood in your stool directly following surgery as well. 

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