I’m living proof of what happens if you DON’T get it checked out…appendicitis (i.e. swollen appendix) can turn into peritonitis (ruptured appendix), a far more unpleasant, painful, and potentially lethal condition. Lucky it happened when I was too young to remember how much it hurt …
So - if in doubt, check it out !!!
Koalas are most definitely known also known as koala bears here in Australia.
Koalas are most definitely known also known as koala bears here in Australia.
To the OP: Get yourself to a doctor.
FWIW my appendix made itself known (for the first and last time in my life) via screaming agony that caused me to pass out. I awoke 12 hours later with a new 6inch scar on my side.
Sorry about the double post. I thought I had hit the stop button in time.
Dr_Paprika,
95% accuracy is too high. We were always taught that if you were right more than 75% of the time you were missing some of the positive cases.
My 50-year-old cousin had her appendix out about a year ago. She was doubled over in pain and had a fever. From what I hear, it’s pretty excruciating. If you’re worried, you should see a doctor.
Another peritonitis survivor checking in…
Have it checked. My parents got bum advice from well meaning neighbors and it nearly cost them “me”.
The doctors were pretty sure I was a goner as the peritonitis had gotten so bad that my blood was poisoned too ( I think they call it septicemia, but I’m not sure).
I was in the hospital for three weeks. I was only 7 at the time and I’m sure this bout of illness cost me a growth spurt. 
The accuracy of the diagnosis, though, depends on the time frame in which the diagnosis is made. If someone comes in, and it looks like they might have appendicitis but only have a few of the symptoms, I would likely admit them to hospital (in which case the diagnosis usually becomes more obvious with time), get a surgical consult, organize an ultrasound (which is pretty good at making the diagnosis) and follow the white blood cell count (I find changes in this count useful, but not an elevated value in itself).
The textbooks also say that 30% of the time, the surgeons operate but the appendix is not inflamed. From my experience, this number seems quite high. And as an emergency doctor in a small town, I’d see most of the missed cases too if they come in with peritoneal signs. And I’m not seeing them. I don’t think 95% is too high providing you suspect it in any person who comes in with any abdominal pain, which was our training. I also think Tintinalli’s method of “odds ratios” is far more useful than some of the older tests to make the diagnosis.
Phlosphr hasn’t been back to this thread since 6/25/03…anyone know if he actually had appendicitis?