Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a finger-sized pouch that extends from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen. Appendicitis causes pain in your lower right stomach. However, in most people, the pain starts around the belly button and then moves. As the inflammation progresses, appendicitis pain usually increases and eventually becomes severe. Although anyone can get appendicitis, it most often occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30. The standard treatment is to surgically remove the appendix.
Symptoms of appendicitis
Signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include:
- Sudden pain that starts on the right side of the lower abdomen.
- Sudden pain that starts around your navel and often moves to your lower right abdomen.
- The pain worsens if you cough, walk or make other jerky movements.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- A low-grade fever may worsen as the disease progresses.
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Flatulence
The location of your pain may vary depending on your age and the position of the appendix. When you’re pregnant, pain tends to come from your upper abdomen because your appendix is larger during pregnancy.
Diagnosis
To help diagnose appendicitis, your doctor will likely take a history of your signs and symptoms and perform an abdominal exam.
Tests and methods used to diagnose appendicitis include:
- A physical exam to assess your pain. Your doctor may apply light pressure to the painful area. When the pressure is suddenly released, appendicitis pain often feels worse, indicating that the adjacent peritoneum is inflamed.
- Your doctor may also notice abdominal stiffness and a tendency for your abdominal muscles to tighten in response to pressure on the swollen appendix.
- Your doctor may use a smooth, gloved finger to examine your lower rectum (digital rectal exam). Women of childbearing age may have a pelvic exam to check for possible gynecological problems that may be causing the pain.
- Blood tests. This allows your doctor to check for high white blood cell counts, which can indicate an infection.
- Urine test. Your doctor may order a urinalysis to make sure that a urinary tract infection or kidney stone is not the cause of your pain.
- Imaging test. Your doctor may also recommend an abdominal X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm appendicitis or find other causes of your pain.
Treatment
The treatment of appendicitis usually involves surgery to remove the swelling appendix. Before surgery, you may be given antibiotics for the treatment of the infection. Surgery (Apotidectomy) to remove the appendix
2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) can be done as an aphaterar open surgery using a tall stomach (laparotomy). Or the surgery can be done through a few small cheeks (laparoscopic surgery). During laparoscopic laparotomy, the surgeon enters your stomach with special surgical devices and a video camera to remove your appendix.
Generally, laparoscopic surgery allows you to recover faster and recover with low pain and stains. It can be better for older adults and obese people. But laparoscopic surgery is not suitable for everyone. If your appendix has exploded and the infection is spread out of the appendix or you have a break, you may need an open appendectomy, which allows your surgeon to clean the abdominal cavity. Expect to spend one or two days in the hospital after the laparotomy.
Extract the boil before the appendix surgery
If your appendix has burst and has become a boil around it, a tube in your skin can be removed by pouring a tube. Appointments can be carried out several weeks after controlling the infection.
Lifestyle and home remedy
If your supplement explodes, expect a few weeks of recovery from the appendicomy. To help you fix your body:
- Avoid first intense activity. If your appendectomy was done as laparoscopic, limit your activity to three to five days. If you have an open appendix, limit your activity to 10 to 14 days. Always ask your doctor about your activity limits and when you can resume normal activities after surgery.
- Support your stomach when you cough. Before moving the cough, laughter, or pain to reduce pain, rely on your stomach and put pressure on your stomach.
- If your pain medicines are not helping, call your doctor. Staying in pain puts extra pressure on your body and slows down the healing process. If you are having trouble despite the pain medications, call your doctor.
- When you are ready, get up and move. Start slowly and increase your activity when you feel it. Start with a short walk.
- Tired of sleeping. As your body is fine, you may find that you feel more sleep than usual. When you need it, make it easy and relaxed.
- Discuss work with your doctor or return to school. You can come back to work when you feel it. Children can go back to school in less than a week after surgery. They should wait two to four weeks to resume intense activity, such as gym classes or games.
Alternative medicine
Your doctor will suggest medics medicines to help you control your pain after your appendix. Some complementary and alternative treatments, when used with your medicines, can help control the pain. Ask your doctor about the options safe, such as:
Dressing activities, such as listening to music and talking with friends, remove your mind from your pain. Distress can be especially effective with children.
Directed imagery, such as closing your eyes and thinking about a favorite place.