Urgent! Possible Appendicitis!

[confuzzled]

I have been having terrible abdominal pain in the lower right quadrant for about 5 days now. I have a fiever between 99 and 101. I have also had trouble keeping most food down. The pain is very severe. The night after it started, I went to the hospital. They did all the tests for appendicitis and didn't get anything. They gave me a shot of morphine and sent me home. A couple of days later, my family doctor did some more blood work and a CT with oral and IV contrast. Still, nothing. I still think it's appendicitis. Both my uncle and great uncle had perforated appendixes. All of their tests came back the same as mine. Should I demand further testing or ask for an exploratory laparotomy? I'll go to any lengths to stop the pain. I can't sleep, eat, or go to classes. What should I do? I really need help! :crying:

[BrookieCookie777]

If you are running a fever and having extreme pain, I would push for more tests. You could even possibly have a kidney infection or bladder infection - which also causes pain in the lower abdomen. If so, you would need antibiotics. The best thing to do is stay calm and go with your instinct. If you are in that much pain and it is accompanied by fever, you should see your GP next day or go back to the ER.

[BrookieCookie777]

Did they check your urine by any chance?

[confuzzled]

They did a urinalysis but didn't find anything. I felt better for a while, but now I'm starting to feel sick again. I'm in the middle of helping my parents move along with moving myself. I don't really have time or money to go back to my family doctor. I don't know what to do. :cursing: :crying:

[BrookieCookie777]

You should call your local hospital. They know of places who offer services based on your income. The doctor I see has a program called a sliding scale fee. Some people pay only ten dollars. They also know of places who set up appointments or tests with specialists. These doctors volunteer their services and they work you in for an appointment at no charge for anything.

If you can't afford to pay up front. Go to the ER again. Explain your situation and they will give you a list of resources. They can not make you pay if you can not afford to pay. You can even set up payments. As long as you are trying to pay - even five dollars a month - nothing is done about it. Many people are in the same situation and every one gets sick.

I'm certain everything will work out. Just head back to the ER - get one more opinion. Tell them about your situation and they will help you find someone to help you out. Follow their directions for the services and care instructions. Hope you feel better really soon! God bless you!

[BrookieCookie777]

If you've been doing any heavy lifting - you could have also developed a hernia. Did they do a catscan? Fever could be just from a virus.

[confuzzled]

They did two catscans. Anyways, it's not a problem with insurance. I have that. They just don't pay for a visit to doctor's office. The ER, surgeries, and tests are covered 100%.

[BrookieCookie777]

I think they would have caught appendicitis then. Web MD says those same symptoms can be caused by the stomach bug and diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is a little pouch in your intestine. Sometimes they get infected. It can be caused by, among other things, constipation or not going when you need to go to the bathroom.

If the pain stays they same - you might possibly give it a day and see if it improves. If not I would go back to the ER and ask for more tests.

The good thing about the ER is because they see much serious type things - they search for those first - so if they did blood work, you can be pretty sure they ran tests for each organ in that area. Along with a catscan - most likely, it is not anything emergent. If it persists, you may have to break down and go to the doc and get some tests ordered. Tests - you can usually make payments on those and aren't expected to pay up front. If it does persist - your doc might recommend a colonoscopy. I may be wrong, but I've also heard that male problems can cause pain in lower abdomen too.


God bless!

[confuzzled]

Like I've said, I have insurance, they just don't cover office visits. I'm just getting really tired of taking pain pills. And also, my uncle and great uncle had ruptured appendixes, and they didn't show up on a CAT scan. I hate this.