right lower abdominal pain, wait it out or check into it

[DeborahLee1120]

The last three days I have been experiencing lower right side abdominal pain. Occurs more so when laying down. Hurts less if laying on that side. Feels like a stabbing feeling along with bloating , cramping, feel nausea,  diarrhea 1st day then constipated then back to diarrhea as well as very gassy. Lost health insurance due to an incompetent individual at the insurance office, awaiting the mistake to be fixed. Don't know what I should do. Does this warrant an er visit? I do not want to waste precious time that could be used on may be someone else that so desperately needs the emergency room.  A little information about my health history, I have a shunt that begins in my brain and ends in my abdominal cavity do not know if that could be causing this pain. I have a lot of health problems other than this new pain some of which include Hydrocephalus, Arachnoid cyst, pseudo tumor, spinal stenosis, arthritis, degenerative discs, knee torn ligaments (had a steroid shot 2 months ago but, the swelling and pain has returned & this too has to be addressed again), asthma, anxiety and the list unfortunately does goes on. I've already lived with the pain for 3 days will it subside or does this warrant an e.r. visit? Pain level from 1-10 is a seven when stabbing feeling occurs usually at night. Has interrupted sleep.

[PMM830]

If you still have your appendix and it truly is RLQ abdominal pain w/ nausea, I wouldn't wait another day!   Go if you haven't.  It sounds like you may have appendicitis, which is always an emergency.

[Distressedinpain]

I would get this checked out. Earlier this year I had these very symptoms and I also have an extensive health history. Mine turned out to be lesions on my gall bladder and I had to have my gall bladder removed. At first they thought that it was appendicitis and they almost took out my appendix. After further review from a CT scan and a colonoscopy because my cecum (part of my colon) was inflamed they treated me with IV antibiotics to get rid of the inflammed colon but the pain still remained they then tested my gall bladder by doing a HIDA scan and found that my gall bladder was not  was not secreting bile right. I know how hard it is not to have insurance but  hospitals are willing to work with you and have even paid for an entire week hospital stay for me when I tore an artery in my neck. I feel so much better now. Dont wait it out because it might not go away. My pain was stabbing and got worse every time I took a breath in. I would hold my right side and guard it with a pillow which was only a temporary fix.

[DeborahLee1120]

Thank you for your comment. I have been thinking it could very well be something like you have described above. I will get it looked at. Pain isn't getting any better, waiting it out.

[philnoir]

If you were a "normal" patient, I might suggest that you wait it out, or try an anti-gas remedy.

However, with that shunt, I'd suggest that you seek mediccal attention.

Perhaps an ER visit is not appropriate -- call your pain doctor's or neurologist's office and ask his/her advice.