Is it Appendicitis?

A sharp, piercing side pain is obviously appendicitis—or inflammation of the appendix—but what if your pain is more of a general throbbing, vague abdominal pain, or upset stomach? One of the greatest emergency room challenges is figuring out what is causing your abdominal pain. At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, we are experienced in pinpointing the source of your abdominal pain and finding the treatment that’s right for you.

“Appendicitis doesn’t always manifest in a simple way,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “But our board-certified emergency medicine physicians are able to use our in-house diagnostic tools to find the root of the pain.”

Causes of Appendicitis

While the cause of appendicitis may not always be clear, here are some common reasons:¹

• Blockage of the opening of the appendix
• Enlarged wall tissue in the appendix caused by an infection in gastrointestinal system
• Disease such as inflammatory bowel disease
• Parasites
• Growths in the appendix
• Matter that clogs the appendix
• Abdominal trauma

Symptoms of Appendicitis

• Pain or discomfort in abdomen, often near the belly button
• Pain localized on lower right side
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal tenderness
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise
• Stiff abdomen

Diagnosis of Appendicitis

To diagnose your abdominal pain to determine if it is appendicitis, your physician will do a physical exam including checking for abdominal stiffness and the tendency to guard or react when pressed. A rectal or pelvic exam may be performed to locate the source of the pain. A blood test may show an elevated white blood cell count which may mean you have an infection. A urine test will eliminate a urinary tract infection or kidney stone that would be causing pain. Finally, an imaging exam, such as a CT scan, X-ray or ultrasound may be used in diagnosis.²

Treatment for Appendicitis

“There is really only one treatment for appendicitis – an appendectomy,” said Dr. Khan. “If the appendix hasn’t ruptured, it is a straightforward procedure that can be done as a minimally invasive surgery to remove the appendix. Recovery should be rapid and antibiotics may be prescribed to ward off infection. However, if the appendix ruptured, the surgery and recovery will be more extensive.”

Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

Appendicitis is a serious medical condition. If left untreated, sepsis may occur, which is life-threatening. If you are experiencing pain or have any of these symptoms, come to Medco ER & Urgent Care right away:

• Abdominal pain or back pain
• Intense pain on your right side
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills

Get help fast at Medco ER & Urgent Care

With little-to-no wait time, you can get right into an exam room and be seen by a board-certified physician within minutes. At Medco ER & Urgent Care, we offer you top-quality care from physicians rather than PAs, CNPs or assistants. Our ER is equipped with the imaging and lab equipment needed to quickly diagnose and to treat your abdominal pain. Open 24/7 every day of the year, we’re here when you need us.

• Plano location:

3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)

            Call us @ 469-392-4000

¹ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/appendicitis/symptoms-causes

² https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/appendicitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369549