WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for October, 1998: Re: Appendicitis, PID, pelvic pain???

Re: Appendicitis, PID, pelvic pain???

From: Christy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 29 Oct 1998 08:42:12 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: ann: "Appendicitis, PID, pelvic pain???"

At Wed, 28 Oct 1998, ann wrote: >
>Hi
>
>I really hope that someone will be able to help, as it's too late to
>call my doc. About 4 days ago, I started having severe pelvic pain,
>fever (low-grade....101 the highest), nausea, vomiting, as well as a
>slight vaginal discharge prior to my period starting (which happened
>around the time of the severe pain starting). I have had chronic pelvic
>pain and possible endometriosis for a few years now....but this pain is
>the worst it's ever been, as well as the vomiting and fever being new. I
>saw my gyn on Monday and the discharge was simply bacterial vaginosis
>and he felt sure that the pain, nausea, fever, vomiting were from
>endometriosis and that it would get better with the end of my period
>(didn't do a full exam since I was in so much pain already). Well, my
>question/concern is that my period has ended and the pain, nausea,
>vomiting, and fever all are not getting any better...in fact, the fever
>has gotten slightly worse (still not high though...just 101.4). My one
>concern is my appendix since the pain is pretty localized to the right
>side this time.....and docs in the past have mentioned chronic
>appendicitis as a possible explanation for part of the chronic pelvic
>pain. My questions:
>Is it possible it is my appendix.....or would that have surely ruptured
>by now if it was? My other possible thought was PID....but my
>understanding is that this is only sexually transmitted, right? Since
>I've never been sexually active, this isn't a concern, correct...or are
>there other possible ways to get it? Or do you think it is more likely
>it is still just the suspected endometriosis causing all these
>symptoms...and if so, when can I expect a little relief from it all?? I
>have a high pain tolerance and have never had to miss work/school in
>these past years or taken a narcotic, but I did this time and that
>worries me. I know that you can't diagnose simply from this note, but I
>could sure use some advice right now, at least until I can call my doc
>again. I didn't want to bother him again so soon after seeing him on
>Monday, but I guess I may have to.

Ann, I had appendicitis when I was 16, and was misdiagnosed with an infection of my stomach lining (?), then strep throat (red throat from so much vomiting), then they looked for PID, STD's, pregnancy and anything else but appendicitis.

After two weeks, they found my appendix-- it was now absessed, and the size of a grapefruit. Following two weeks of triple IV antibiotics, then six weeks to let the size go down, I finally had an appendectomy.

What happened to me (and after it was all over, the surgeon decided that I had probably had previous attacks that were also misdiagnosed) was that the pain began gradually one night, like a hunger pain in the middle of my stomach. The next day, I happened to start my period, so I thought the now increasing pain was cramps. By the evening, I was doubled over, with the pain still in the middle, just below my belly button. That night I threw up for the first time. A few days later, the pain subsided (when it absessed), and settled into my right side. I continued to vomit, become very weak, and had diarreaha. I kept a fever, too.

Note: the one thing I could not do was hop on one foot (try both sides). Try this (don't jump too hard, though). Even though the pain wasn't so bad thatI couldn't walk, I could not do this (our pharmacist told us this was an indicator of appendicitis).

I have read that absesses are common with appendicitis; if you still hurt, demand that your doctor do at least an ultrasound. Even with the sheer size of my absess (& I was a thin, athletic 16 year old), no one suspected it until it kept me from emptying my bladder, then a doctor found it by doing a rectal exam (not fun, but it saved my life).

I also have a high pain tolerance, and this worked to my detriment-- reading my med. records, it is continually noted that I don't LOOK sick, and I don't seem to be in much pain.

If you are vomiting and still have ANY kind of fever, go back. Make them do a white blood cell count, and don't doubt anything if you aren't tender to the touch on your right side. I never was-- never. And the pathology report confirmed acute appendicitis.

Print this if you want, and show to your doctor.

I hope this helps, but I really hope that you're already feeling better. I don't want to scare you, but I don't want you to dismiss a fever and vomiting, either.

Please email me and let me know how you are doing.

Next message: Leigh: "Hemabate postpartum?"
Previous message: Camille: "Re: Cysts on my ovary"
In reply to: ann: "Appendicitis, PID, pelvic pain???"

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