What is wrong with me

Jo and MsMakitas experience with their appendix is flipping me out!  I'm 4 weeks into my pain....its starts at my lower right ab then tends to move up to my right rib and across.  IBS board says it sounds very much like IBS cause its moving along the colon.

Everyone else is telling me appendicitis doesnt last a month, it hits hard and fast, that I wouldn't be alive today if this is what I really have.

Im having my colonoscopy on the 13 and sonogram on the 15.  They say if you think you have appendicitis DONT take laxatives or this may cause your appendix to rupture.......but I have to clean out my colon for the test~~!!!!!

This is scaring me, I don't know who to believe.

Please help
Hope

[Jaybay]

Hi Hope.  I'm sorry so much conflicting advice is adding to your worries.  Unfortunately, conflicting, and flat-out WRONG information is one problem with internet message boards.

First, acute appendicitis will present as fast, hard-hitting pain with nausea and usually vomiting.  There IS such a thing as chronic appendicitis, and some doctors don't even believe it exists.  Either the organ is bad; or it's not.  Sorry, but not true.  My experience was much like yours, and it took nearly a year to convince my surgeon to take a look.  Guess what he found?  A rotten appendix.  That doesn't mean that you have a bad appendix - just that the possibility shouldn't be ruled out.

The reason people tell you to avoid laxatives is because the most over-the-counter stimulant laxatives literally get the colon muscles moving.  The stuff you will take for your colonoscopy works differently by pulling moisture into the colon to soften stool and whoosh it out.  That's why this stuff results in so little cramping with such spectacular results.  It will not hurt you even if you have an infected appendix.

So try to calm down a bit, get the colonoscopy done, and hopefully it will result in some good information.  Really, it'll be OK!  :-)

[Hope38]

Thanks for your input.

Im guessing the colonoscopy won't show if anything is wrong with my appendix, have no idea if the sonogram will show anything either.

I read chronic appendicitis is less likely to rupture, is this true?

With my anxiety problem I always think appendix,even when my kids stomach hurts.  Its always my first thought in my mind.

I tend to go for the most scariest thing it can be instead of the less scarey things.

I think this is the reason for my thinking appendix.

If your appendix was rotten for a year, did you have a hard recovery time?

Im pretty sure if I am still complaining about this in a year, and IF he says IBS, my husband and family will get real tired of me not believing the Dr.  Just because I have an Anxiety Disorder.

[Jaybay]

First, try to calm down.  :-)  There is a reason that docs look for the simplest explanation first: it's usually the correct one!  

Having a chronically infected organ of any kind (I had both gallbladder and appendix in 2 separate episodes) just means the pain and agony is more drawn out.  It has nothing to do with recovery time if surgery is involved.  

People who end up with the acute appendicitis wherein it actually ruptures, have far more problems to consider like peritonitis and abdominal adhesions from the widespread inflammation.  So far, you have no such worries.  Just keep after getting some answers for your symptoms and try not to prejudice yourself on any one answer.  You may even end up having to "take a medical break" for a while and deal with your symptoms the best you can before pursuing things further.  I've had to do that on numerous occasions - it's incredibly wearing on the psyche to be told over and over that you are "fine".  

Until you get a definitive diagnosis, all you can do is treat your symptoms the best you can and take it one day at a time.  I hope and pray you feel better soon.  :-)

[Hope38]

Thanks for all your comforting words, it means alot.

Thankfully mine isn't a bad pain, and its not there all the time.  It really bothers me when I think its finally gone and hello it tells me its there, or when the pain goes across my upper abdomen, then it feels like a knot in my upper belly.

Having Fibro doesn't help since an everyday pain is my right hip.

Im suprised having a rotten appendix didn't make you sick as a dog!!

I was to have a CT scan, but my insurance says I have to have a sonogram first.  I personally think the CTscan would show my appendix better, but maybe if I ask after the sonogram they will proceed with the scan.

Again THANKYOU!!!  My fears have been lessened, knowing I'm NOT have an Acute appendicitis :)

[Ms_Makita]

Hi! I feel for you! I shared my story with you just to be aware,didnt want to alarm or scare you,I was convinced it was ovarian cancer!! I drove myself nuts trying to find the source of my pain/symptoms,and it wasnt the worst as I expected (whew!!)
    Acute Appendicitis is most common,as Jaybay says most dr's dont believe Chronic Appendicitis exist,but in my case it did among other issues.Dont mean it is your case,IBS is possible,and it can be painful!
   Colonscopy prep is nothing to worry about.I had no discomfort,laxative didnt even make me cramp as I expected,and I really felt great for weeks for being so cleaned out!
    I had to take a break on here researching my symptoms/pain because I was convinced I had some horrible dreadful disease.As much discomfort I'am in now I'm so happy it was appendix/ovarian cyst/ now gallstones, maybe endometriosis,than cancer! I'm in pain..but lucky, could be worse!
   On here just gotta be careful what advice you take to heart ,none of us are dr's,trust your dr, and your instincts.Sometimes you are your own best dr! Take care and keep me updated,Prayers,
              Stephanie

[Hope38]

Thanks Stephanie,

Thats the problem, I have an anxiety disorder...so trusting my so called instincts isn't always the best thing to do.  I always jump to the most scariest conclusion.  In my case I FEAR APPENDICITIS, with me and my children.  Every tummy ache I go into the OMG its their appendix.  That is why I'm having a hard time with me.

Well I was offered two types of prep for my colonoscopy....one was drinking a gallon of stuff but could still eat.  The other is taking 4 pills (think laxatives) and then 1/2gallon of the drink, I just cant eat just have liquids...but the nurse said this option causes less cramping.  This is why I was worried, the pills if they are like over the counter laxatives they tell you not to take if you think its your appendix.  

I'm having good days and bad days....bad days being quite nauseated, but pain either goes away or comes back it hasn't gotten any worse.  Yesterday and today no pain and no nausea...so its been an awesome 2 days :)

Hope

[Hope38]

The nurse told me that the 4 pills and half gallon mixture caused less cramping than the other.  

Did you have other stomach pains besides where your appendix is?  Or was it in one spot?

I do know that this pain can be caused by MANY things besides my appendix.  Im beginning to come to terms with that, I also don't know if this part of my fibromyalgia either.

I will have to wait patiently until they do their tests.

I do know with my cbc I have no infection inside of me sooo that is a good sign.

I also wonder if its that diverticula seems to give the same sort of pain.

I cannot predict the future and I will deal with whatever it is :)

Hope

[Ms_Makita]

I understand,I have an anxiety disorder too,it can be really distressing.I was going to the er 2-3 times a week (which I never use to do,you would have to drag me to a dr)now knowing what is going on with me now I'm worried about my gallbladder rupturing!! my poor family and friends..haha!I'm not being a hypochondriac,there is something going on,as there with you..pain in your body is a signal something isnt right,but it isnt always something bad.
    Luckily though I can say it saved my life.I dont know how many times I second guessed appendix pain.I been second guessing this gallstone pain till last week finally went to er when I finally felt this isnt normal.The er knows me by name now...haha,I been up there so many times...
    As for the colonscopy prep I would opt for liquid solution (less cramping) and it isnt stimulate,with mine they gave powder packet to mix it with to make it taste better.
     Think postive,I know it is hard ,but you will be ok.Keep me posted,
            Stephanie

[Ms_Makita]

I did have all over stomach pain but it was worse in appendix area,I think I had all over pain because I also have gallbladder issue going on at same time,and along with ovarian cysts, it was hard to pinpoint the pain I just felt like a semi truck hit me in my gut..lol
From what I read  Fibromylgia (fibromyalgia) is connected to IBS,patients with it have stomach pain as well.Few months ago my old pcp mentioned "possbile" fibromylagia (fibromyalgia) as to why I was in chronic pain (leg pain)which turned out I was low on potassium/vitamins by my lack of diet.My cosmetolgoy intstructer when I was in school few yrs ago really suffered from fibromylagia (fibromyalgia) pain along with stomach pain,when she changed her diet her stomach pain ended.Research it,you will find how common stomach pain is with it.I hope you get an answer soon! keep me posted,
             Stephanie

[Hope38]

Yes Im looking into the fibro connection/also nausea comes with fibro as well.  Im ALWAYS nauseated all the time.  Smells like perfumes if they are strong will make me want to throw up.

My pain isn't like being hit by a truck....just more of a discomfort and once in awhile a slight twing of pain.

Hopefully I will find out soon.

Thankyou for being such a kind soul~!

[Joalbert]

I have gotten a colonscopy. For me because my intestine is so sentitive. I was on the toilet for about 4 hours witht he first treatment of laxative. Then I was toll the day after( the day of the test) to take another treatment, well that wasn't great. But to be honest , there wasn't any cramping, just the feeling of going to the washroom. The worst for me was to introduce food back in my colon, that was painful for about a few days. Lets just says that my bowel movement wasn't great either. And the pain that I was having was on the right side from up to down. So what I'm guessing, is that maybe theres something with your colon, or even your liver, well something in that area. Hopefully it's something that they can detect quickly and fix it. Keep us posted.

[Ms_Makita]

Jo,great news you had your colonscopy! did they give you any results yet or do a biopsy? to me the worst part was the laxative prep.Wasnt painful nor any cramping, but camping out in the bathroom was boring..lol
   Hope your's is coming up soon,hopefully you both will get some answers, and solution fast! I remember being so scared but it really isnt bad.For few days just be careful what you eat (bland diet)and keep up your strength with juice,you will be dehydrated the day of test.Good luck to you both and keep me updated,prayers and hugs!
          Stephanie
    

[Hope38]

On a scale of 1-10 how bad were your stomach pains?  Mine can be from 0 to between 1 & 2.

Trying to see where I fit with both of your stomach pains.  

Hope

[Hope38]

Were you having the stomach pains when you had your colonoscopy?  My prep says if I have nausea/vomitin/stomach pain NOT to take it!!!

I have the mild pain and im nauseated, but the nausea can be from anxiety, Im sure you read in my posts that I'm nauseated most of the time, thru out my entire life.

Hope

[Joalbert]

Makita, i did a colonscopy a couple years ago to find out if I had anything else but IBS, there was a little bit of inflammation but thats all. THe only thing that I can't wait to find out is my results of my ultrasound for my appendix.I still have a few weeks to go before I found out more.  Hope my pain is 7 on 10.m I hate it when I'm at work and I have to move around, and I have to stand up most of the time for 8 hours, and it's hard to keep a straight face with the pain. Not everybody understands whats going on.

[Ms_Makita]

Hope I have to say my pain is 8-10 on daily basis,I also think since I do have ibs I'm having bad flare up because of my nerves/anxiety over gallbladder issues.I hope I never have to another colonscopy for years.My biopsy was ok just had a little inflammation.I'm starting wonder if bowel issues are linked with gallbladder issue since I've had this pain on and off for least 10 yrs.Hoping after it is out it just goes away,maybe it even isnt ibs...I guess I will see after surgery!
   Jo I know what you mean about work.I had to quit working,standing up on my feet for 8-10 hrs,I'm a cosmetolgoist ,and right in middle of haircut Id double over in pain (poor client..lucky I didnt take few more inches off..haha)
    I was told the pain was many things (sept 2006) I was told ulcerative colitis,possible ovarian cancer,endometriosis,I drove myself nuts with worry.New pcp has ruled out all of those but maybe endometriosis.Have you both thought of endometriosis? If you dont mind me asking how  old are you both? (I'm 29) sorry so long...lol
                   Stephanie

[Hope38]

Good I feel awful for you two, im here whining about a pain that at its worst is MAYBE a 2!!!

I read the box for my prep and it says NOT to take if you have nausea/vomitin/stomach pain.....well I have nausea but it could be nerves as im always like that, but a pain of 2 I dont know.

Im not to sure about endometriosis, I do know I have horrific cramps, always have....but its getting worse as I get older, and with my fibro my cycle is awful anymore.
I'm 39!  Wow your only 29 and going thru so much.  

Ok now why wouldn't you want another colonoscopy???  Im stressing this weekend over mine.  Im worried about PAIN.....I gave birth 3 times without any pain meds but this is freaking me out.  I won't get any bundle of joy to take home if there is pain lol

I have different packets of flavor for the prep but I have no idea if one is going to be better than the other.

Hope

[Hope38]

You are young.  I thought it was just my age catching up with me.  I have the fibro and oesteoarthritis.  In my 20's all I ever use to have were urinary tract infections.  Then I popped out 3 babies......I went natural no pain meds....my sons I should have I thought someone was trying to snap my back in half!!!

Luckily March is going by quickly and you will have your Drs appt soon to see what the sonogram says.  I pray I don't have to wait that long....the following Monday I'll be on the phone bugging the girls at the Drs office wanting to know the results.  You have such patience for your age.  Im still like a kid, I want it NOW!!! lol

Hope

[Joalbert]

I feel to young now, I'm only 22yrs old. But I had IBS since I was about 19, well thats when it got worse. Hope I know that your colonscopy will go fine, nobody likes it but we have to do it if we want to find out whats wrong. Hopefully I won't need one in a while. For work, I had to choose a overnight job just to be able to control it better and not to have to deal with customer. I've been a cashier before and that was horrible, being on the cash then pain hits then the urge or bowel movements, those weren't good times.

[Joalbert]

Actually I'm really nervous about my results. I'm afraid to find out that I need a surgery. For the future, I'm afraid what would happen to my IBS if I get pregnant. I heard that it can cure IBS or it can make it worse. Well i guess I'm going to have to take a risk. I probably won't be able to get pregnant anyhow because my pelvic muscles are screwed up, it's tilted. If I put a tampon in , I have to go downward then side ways. Oh well, not much I can do.

[Ms_Makita]

Hello! hope , colonscopy dont really bother me I just hate the prep...lol,it isnt bad ,you will do ok! my pain level today is 6,I can tolerate it.Everyone's pain tolerance is different, so I must have low tolerance level..I'm a baby! I never had children yet..Id be begging for pain shots! 39 is really young too,my mom has osteoarthitis (she is 59)both my mom and grandma had arthitis starting in their late 20's.I'm starting to feel the achey (achy) swollen joints now.I'm not sure if you can totally prevent it,I tried by keeping up calcium intake, vitamin D and being active.I lost 100lbs in less than a year (220lbs-120lbs,5ft1)which I'm sure is alot of help on bones.I couldnt eat cuz of pain/nausea..thought I would never say in my life I dont need to lose anymore weight..lol
   Jo you need surgery if your having appendicitis issue,surgery isnt so bad,since your appendix showed it is swollen/inflammed that is a good bet.Some ppl can have mild inflammation, antibotics will treat it,I still dont understand your dr's wait.Is your uterus tipped or all of your pelvic muscles?? (endometriosis?)scar tissue from having endo will cause your muscles/ligaments to be out of place,but not sure what you meant?
      Hugs'n Prayers to you both,
             Stephanie

[Hope38]

Im sure you will be ok.  I just read a woman posting about her child....they told her that her appendix was slighly inflamed and they want to watch her to see if it will go away!!!  The poor mother thinks thats because they have no medical insurance.  I don't know what goes thru these Drs minds.

As for you having a baby Im not sure how that would work, due to the fact I know nothing about your condition.  BUT you may want to try asking questions on a pregnancy board, there maybe many people that were able to have babies and are in your shoes.

As for your results I'm pretty sure if they see anything bad in them they wouldn't have you wait around til the end of March, they would have called YOU!!!  

I don't know of any tests that come back and they don't call you pretty quickly and want to see you.  Im pretty sure they know what your results are, so you hang in there :)

Hope

[Hope38]

Colonoscopy is over ..... YEAH!!!!  Besides the air being blown up into me I felt nothing.

My colon is very healthy and nothing is wrong .... I do have a spastic colon though.  Thats why my stomach is always so noisy.

I let you guys know how Thursday goes after the sonogram.

How are you two holding up?

Hope

[Ms_Makita]

Hi! hope, that is great news..glad to hear everything went ok!! spastic colon pretty much is same thing as IBS.I have tummy noise/rumbling all the time,wonder if it is IBS or gallbladder? never use to do it before,just is really annoying and drives me nuts! Bet your relieved by now! I can tell you now my colonscopy experience I was awake whole time...it was not unbearable pain but uncomfortable,and I dont want to repeat it again..lol!
   I'm debating whether to go to er today pain is really intense but last 2 times I went,waited 6 hours and just to be sent home with pain pills.It hurts really bad around stomach/pancrea's area. I'm just wondering if I have bad infection/inflammation have fever today.Going to see if it will ease up before I head to er,pcp isnt much help.
   Hope your feeling ok Jo,let us know how your doing!
                            Stephanie
  

[Hope38]

If its that bad then Id go to the ER, I don't know if Id want to wait 6hrs though.....when I went to my ER they took me, NO waiting.....slow day in the ER I guess lol

Keep me posted on how your doing.

Hope

[THalsey1]

Hope,
Been reading and totally understand.  I have fibro and IBS.  First just had my appendix out on March 20th.  The pain came on sharply, BUT for about 4 months I had a low grade fever of about 100.5 and some pain in the middle of my stomach.  But once you tell doctors you have IBS then they just think that is all any pain is.  Mon the 19th my pain escalated very rapidly went to the ER then straight to the OR with appendicitis.  Also have had my gallbladder out.  One bit of information I have come across is that people with fibro have an abnormal amount of the substance in our spinal collum that receives and interprets pain.  Therefore we receive it quicker, harder and longer.  Kind of an early radar system.  With my gallbladder, I had problems before the stones formed, it took a surgeon who really believed me that there was pain.  With my appendix, it took having a high white blood cell count and finally enough pain in the right area.  Plus I didn't tell the ER doc's that I had IBS.  About 6 months ago my Gastro doctor gave me an over the counter vitamin that helps IBS and absolutely cured my 10 YEARS of problems with IBS.  Sometimes it rears it head, but I take it and I'm right on track again.  So don't let everyone make you think it's all your anxiety.  I even went to the hospital with such pain on the right side so bad once that they thought it was a kidney stone, found nothing and sent me home like I was crazy.  After an endoscopy, they found 2 large ulcers from all the anti-inflammatories I take for the fibro.  Trust your body.  Our bodies are not all text books, and I really think doctors don't understand fibro or respect it like they should.  Good luck with everything.