How to Know if I Have Appendicitis

How to Know if I Have Appendicitis

The exact function of the appendix is still unknown, as are the reasons for it becoming infected. However, we know for sure that we must diagnose an appendicitis quickly to prevent a serious infection in our intestine. In general, the inflammation of the appendix is easy to detect. Find out how to know if you have appendicitis step by step!

Steps to follow:
1

One of the first symptoms of appendicitis is a mild pain that appears in the abdomen around the level of the belly button or in the stomach. However, during the day, this pain will become continuous and progressive, turning into a pain that warns you it's severe; you will be able to actually think "this pain is not normal".

It's possible for the pain to become intense with movement or with daily actions such as coughing; this fact can help you distinguish from simple abdomen pain or any other lesion. You can try pressing hard on the painful area with your index and middle finger and remove them two seconds later. If you have appendicitis you will probably cough, scream or make a small sound of pain.

2

Try to walk or stand up straight; another characteristic symptom of acute appendicitis is walking shrunken and almost motionless as the pain may decrease or increase depending on the inclination of the belly. If this pain is really appendicitis, you many not want to get up from your bed and/or won't have the strength to do so, as lying down will relieve the pain slightly.

Another way to know if you have appendicitis is to try to jump, this will be a test that the specialist at the health center will carry out, as well as coughing. If you can not perform any of the two options because of increases in pain this is a bad sign.

3

To know if you have appendicitis, watch your temperature, as a fever can be one of the symptoms of appendicitis. Remember that normal temperature should be between 35ºC (95ºF) and 37ºC (98ºF), so if you notice it has risen, you can start to suspect that you're dealing with an inflamed appendix.

4

Try to remember if in the last 24 hours you have had nausea and/or vomiting, as this can be evidence of appendicitis. However, there are other gastrointestinal lesions that could present this symptom, which is why these symptoms are not differential.

Have you had difficulty defecating since the pain started? Later symptoms include both constipation and diarrhea, this could be justified by pain that causes by the infection, as well as the making of sudden movements.

5

If you feel most or all of the symptoms mentioned, you should quickly go to the emergency services so that a specialist can examine you, take a look at the appendix area and determine if you have appendicitis through routine tests. It's important to go to a specialist as soon as possible or you could get peritonitis which could complicate things even more.

If this is the case, you will probably need to have it removed with a simple operation, but that will require correct recovery. We recommend you take a look at the following articles to know a bit more about appendicitis:

  • How to treat appendicitis
  • How to eat after having appendicitis
  • How to heal an appendicitis wound
  • How to recover from an appendectomy
6

To prevent appendicitis, it is important that you keep a healthy diet that is rich in fibers. As appendicitis is thought to be the result of an accumulation of fecal matter, fiberous foods will ensure that your food passes through your digestive tract without getting stuck and causing an infection.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Know if I Have Appendicitis, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.

Tips
  • If in doubt, urgently go to a hospital.
  • Do not take analgesics, this could make a clear diagnosis difficult.
  • Avoid heavy meals.
  • Remember, if the appendix ruptures, the pain may spread throughout the abdomen creating a serious infection called peritonitis.
  • Peritonitis can be fatal if not treated promptly.