Appendicitis Symptoms and Treatment
The appendix is a bit of a medical mystery. The small tube is attached to your large intestine, but there’s not much information about the organ’s function or purpose. While some members of the medical community believe that it likely stores good bacteria to help you recover from gastrointestinal illnesses, this is just a theory. However, doctors agree that acute appendicitis is a medical emergency that can be fatal if left untreated.
If you have any signs of appendicitis, visit Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care immediately.
Signs of Appendicitis
In most cases, appendicitis symptoms materialize slowly and come and go at first. In the beginning, you might notice discomfort in the middle of your stomach. After a few hours, the pain normally moves to the lower right abdomen. At this point, the pain increases and remains constant.
If you don’t get immediate treatment, the organ could rupture, leading to serious complications. Call 911 or go to Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Sudden abdominal pain that gets worse when walking or coughing
- Abdominal swelling
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Inability to pass gas
- Fever
Diagnosing Appendicitis
First, the ER physician must make sure that you have appendicitis instead of another abdominal problem. Your doctor will likely order a CT scan of your stomach or pelvis. However, the process is a bit different for pediatric patients. Typically, doctors use ultrasound to diagnose the illness in young patients.
Appendicitis Treatment
If you have a positive diagnosis, you’ll need to discuss treatment with the ER physician. Surgery is normally the recommended appendicitis treatment, and you might need antibiotics as well. If the organ has ruptured, the surgeon will remove it and thoroughly clean the area. Otherwise, the doctor will just need to remove the appendix. While the idea of losing an organ can be frightening, you can live a long and healthy life without an appendix. However, keeping the organ could lead to serious complications.
Depending on your situation, you might undergo open or laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is often an outpatient procedure. You will recover for a few hours and then be discharged, although some patients need to stay overnight. With open surgery, you will need to stay for at least one night, but it could be longer.
Time is of the essence when dealing with appendicitis. With five locations throughout Hamilton County, you can quickly get to your nearest Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care facility. Then, our team will step in and begin providing the treatment you need to start you down the road to recovery.
