Abdominal pain.. kidney or appendix?

[tedoll78]

I need to vent. It's been a rough week.

For the past week (since about Monday), I've been experiencing pain in the lower right quadrant of my abdomen. Just below the crests of the hip bone. The pain is mostly dull - around a 2 out of 10 - but sometimes it spikes up to an 8 and hurts like all hell.

Today, I went to the doc with my complaint. She tells me that it could be a kidney stone or appendicitis. I've had a small stone before; this doesn't feel like one. As for the appendix.. I don't know. I'm just glad it's probably not a tumor. I'd had testicular cancer four summers ago, and all of my abdominal lymph nodes were removed to prevent future spread.

Blood and urine samples were collected. I should know more in about 24 hours. A CT scan has been scheduled for next week. I'm in radiography (medical imaging) school right now, and I really don't want such a disruption in my studies. Anyone know much about appendectomies? How long would I be in the hospital for a simple case, and how long is the recovery period? That's what my money's on.. I really really don't want to have to drop-out of school for a year just because of this. :-(

I'm only 25. I take good care of myself. Still, this kind of B.S. pops-up every few years. I'm so pissed right now. I needed to vent to someone.. thanks..

Edit: Forgot to include that I am also having lower back and flank pain. Ouch.

[mr_hat]

1. That's appendix, if anything. Kidney pain is in the back, >

almost under the rib cage.

[tedoll78]

4. Forgot to include..

I have also been having flank and lower back pain.

[camero]

2. appendix maybe

lower back would be kidney.

[madrchsod]

3. appendectomies

are now done without cutting. shouldn`t be much trouble recovering-good luck, hope nothing to major.

[flamingyouth]

5. I wonder if you have a kidney infection

If the appendix is ruled out. I feel SOOOO sorry for you. I hope you're on some kind of major pain killers right now.

Four years ago I had a kidney stone - the pain is so intense I actually couldn't even give the intake person my information at the hospital, my husband had to do it. When they asked to rank my pain on a scale of one to ten, I was like, "But this pain goes to eleven." I had to have a procedure to break up & remove the stone. Lately I had been having weird pains like you are having, so I ended up at the doctor, reluctantly. Apparently I had an infection in the same kidney and there was a lot of scar tissue in there. The weird thing was, I had had back pain, but it didn't feel like "kidney" pain, plus I had pain in the stomach, like you're having.

Try to take it easy, although that's easy for me to say. Good luck, and keep us posted! :hug:

[tedoll78]

7. They gave me Vicodin..

I asked the doc today about a kidney infection, but she told me that they were rare in males. Too bad.. I'd much prefer a problem that can likely be solved by simply popping pills daily.

When I had my kidney stone, I was completely blindsided by it. One second I was sleeping peacefully, and then the next second I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs. My partner drove me to the hospital; I was doing some sort of Lamaze breathing technique on the way there. They put me on an IV for an hour and then sent me away with - you guessed it - a bottle of Vicodin.

Too bad I hate Vikes. They make me groggy and grumpy. But at least I'm not feeling anything right now.

[flamingyouth]

10. Yep - that pain description sounds about right

Well, I hope they find out what it is very soon and that you can be back to normal. I hate Vicodin too - but, like you said, at least you're not feeling anything! :hi:

[Career Prole]

6. Appendectomy shouldn't sideline you long.

I've not had one but three guys at work here had 'em done within a couple of months time. Looked like an epidemic. They were all back to work after two days off. I believe it's done laparoscopically (spelling?). Aw hell...through a couple of little incisions now rather than one big one. If they wait until it bursts the infection issue could complicate matters. As for the stones, I always preferred the Beatles.
Good luck! I hope you get well soon!:)

[kalian]

8. I've had two kidney stones in the past ten years....

the first one I weathered it.
The second one woke me in the middle of the night and by 0400 I was
in the ER barely able to walk because I was folded with pain.

The first kidney stone was on my right side and thus I had thought
that it was the appendix. But, since I didn't puke my guys out
(very common with appendicitis) I didn't make the trip to the ER.
The second kidney stone came down the left side and it baffled me.
There's nothing (organ-wise) on the left side except the
stomach and then intestines. The other strange thing was that the
pain started in the back and then "projected" to the front. VERY
painful...and I don't wish it upon anybody...well...maybe some
folks. :evilgrin:

Dull throbbing pain...most likely the appendix. I have something
similar every once in a while but it usually goes away. Oh well...

[tedoll78]

9. I'm waiting for the nausea..

the doc told me to expect it soon, but nothing so far. Maybe I shouldn't jinx myself.. :P

[cosmicaug]

11. Wanna see one?

tedoll78 wrote:

Anyone know much about appendectomies?

Other than having had one of those ~10.5 years ago, not really.

tedoll78 wrote:

How long would I be in the hospital for a simple case,

A day.

tedoll78 wrote:

and how long is the recovery period?

I don't remember. I don't remember it as being bad at all (though sneezing was not a good thing). Then again, I tend toward absent-mindedness.

tedoll78 wrote:

That's what my money's on.. I really really don't want to have to drop-out of school for a year just because of this. :-(

I don't see why you should need to drop out for a year. Is it a monetary issue? Are you doing badly in your coursework?

Anyways, if you want to know what a laparoscopic appendectomy looks like, I just posted one on the web at the beginning of the month on my ISP's web space (to be removed as soon as I feel like having something else). It is available at http://webspace4me.net/~cosmicaug/vid/Lap_Appy.avi (note that the DivX codec pack --probably a very recent version-- is required). It begins at a point were the blood supply to the appendix is being snipped off.
The clip is a little over 9 megabytes and lasts around 10 minutes.

[tedoll78]

13. re: school

Nah, I'm rockin' in school. They're just touchy about too much absence. If it's no more than a week, I think I'll be in good shape.

[cosmicaug]

14. I'd assume you'll be in good shape then.

tedoll78

Nah, I'm rockin' in school. They're just touchy about too much absence. If it's no more than a week, I think I'll be in good shape.

I'd assume you'll be in good shape then (if you even need this done --without a proper diagnosis as of yet, you don't even know that).

It really should be no biggie.

[hobbes159]

12. Just had my appendix out last summer...

In most people they can remove it laproscopically, so it's a real quick recovery.

In my case, I had an abnormal presentation, with a retrocecal appendix -- they couldn't use laproscopy, had to do a more traditional surgery. I went back to work after a week, although I was still pretty sore.

[proud patriot]

15. Are you male or female

if you are female it could be an ovarian cyst (pretty common)
sometimes they rupture (happened to me) Very painful .

Insist upon a sonogram . STAT

[tedoll78]

16. Male.

[proud patriot]

17. Okay .. disregard my post about ovarian cysts then ...LOL

However a sonogram still may be a good idea
if they are still confounded .

I wish you the best , and hope you heal soon .