Appendicitis? Can the pain come and go?

[JudoMom]

My ds7 woke up this morning with stomach pain. He says it's in the middle of his stomach (around his belly button), and he's been running a low grade temp (around 100). The pain has varied throughout the day--from almost no pain to being so severe it's made him cry. He's got a very high pain threshold, and when I asked him to rate his pain on a 1-10 scale, he said at it's worst it's a 9 (he rated his migraines a 10), and at it's best it's a 4.

 

Can pain from appendicitis vary like this?

[EmmaNZ]

Yes it can. Pain from appendicitis typically starts of centrally and 'comes and goes'. It's like a cramping pain. After a while the pain is supposed to move down and to the right (over the area where the appendix is), becoming more severe and more constant.

 

Lots of things can look like appendicitis though, and appendicitis often doesn't follow its own rules IYKWIM. If you're worried, and it sounds like he's in quite a lot of pain at times, it might be worth getting him checked out by a doctor. At least that would set your mind at rest, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

Hope he feels better soon.

[Alison in KY]

A friend of mine just went through this. Her daughter had an upset stomach for days. They had their concerns and by the time she was feeling better they had decided to already get her checked out. Apparently after the appendix ruptures you can feel alot better...then it get's worse again. I would take him in to make sure.

 

Oh, and she had ruptured it, it could have been fatal, but all worked out well.

[DianeW88]

Yes, as a former nurse in a peds office, we saw appendicitis fairly frequently. The pain often comes and goes. In young children, it doesn't always present in the lower right quadrant either. You can have a fever....or not. Your child can vomit...or not.

 

One of the biggest signs the doctor used was if the child wants to eat or not. Kids with appendicitis DON'T want to eat (as a general rule). Kids with the stomach flu often say they're hungry, but won't eat because they're afraid they'll throw up.

 

Another sign to look for is rebound pain. If you press gently on the sore area, does it hurt MORE when you release the pressure? That happens with appendicitis.

 

If your child has abdominal pain for more than six hours with NO other symptoms and it is severe (crying, doubling over in pain is VERY common with appendicitis...your child won't stand up straight and has trouble walking), then go to your doctor and have him check. Don't be surprised if he's not certain either. It can be tricky to diagnose....even with diagnostic tests. Often surgery is performed and the docs find a perfectly normal appendix (which they usually go ahead and remove). But, when in doubt...call the doc.

 

Hope your little one is feeling better very soon!!

 

Diane

 

Married for 22 years

Homeschooling 3 kiddos for 16 years.