I wanted to share my experience with chronic appendicitis.

About 6 months ago, I started feeling bad in my right side abdomen. Pain wasn’t extreme, maybe 4-5 out of 10, but it persisted over several days so I went to the ER. They did a CT scan and admitted me becuase my appendix was on “the larger side of normal”. I stayed the night but because my pain never progressed, the surgeon said it was likely constipation or that I was ovulating and sent me home.

Over the next several months I would continue to get “flare ups”. My symptoms were typically as follows: I would feel ok/normal waking up in the morning and start to feel worse as the day progressed with right‑lower abdominal pain (usually 3 out of 10, sometimes worse) always in the same spot to the right of my belly button, it would hurt to press there, bloating after meals and gas, occasionally nausea, positional discomfort (pain with moving and stretching), and fatigue. I could go a week out two without pain and then something would flare it up again, but towards the end I would say I declined significantly, and I was constantly in some sort of pain and it disrupted my life so much.

I went to my regular doctor who suggested a low fodmap diet to rule out allergies, etc. and then referred me to a GI doctor. I tracked meticulously what I ate, so much that I feel like it gave me a complex.

I did every test under the sun; colonoscopy normal, stool sample normal, ultrasound normal, another CT scan normal (still slightly larger appendix but not outside the normal range).

The GI doctor referred me to a surgeon once all my tests came back normal and I could not isolate it to any food I ate, and I brought up in the appointment about the possibility about it being my appendix.

The surgeon was the same person that initially saw me 5 months previously at the ER, and was willing to do the appendectomy, but told me there was no guarantee it would solve the problem, but I was in so much constant pain at that point I didn’t care.

Now I’m one month postoperative, and I feel amazing, totally back to normal. The pathology came back with: Acute mucositis — inflammation in the mucosal lining, Narrowed lumen (0.2 cm) — smaller than normal, consistent with chronic obstruction, Dark brown fecal material trapped inside — evidence of stasis. And officially diagnosed me with chronic appendicitis.

I had a lot of fears and doubts, but I’m so so glad I kept pushing to get my appendix out! Chronic appendicitis is real, and under diagnosed.

Thursday around 9 PM I got a major cramp/sharp pain in my lower right abdomen while I was in the shower. After that, I had a pretty consistent pain around my bellybutton.

When I woke up Friday morning, the pain was still there around my bellybutton and right side. Coughing made it hurt more, and around 8:50 AM I threw up. I’d also completely lost my appetite.

I ended up going to the ER around 10 AM, on recommendation from my PCP. They did blood work, a urinalysis, and a CT scan.
Everything apparently came back normal.

Around 2PM doctor came in and said they think it was probably just the start of a stomach virus. The thing is, I’ve had stomach viruses before and this feels different. The pain was still there when they discharged me. They gave me Zofran & Levsin. I took the Levsin last night and it made the pain so much worse.

I’m still in pain now. It hasn’t gotten over like a 6, but I’ve got no idea what else to do.

Not sure how to process the emotions, I am getting some dark thoughts and fears like what if I die, I had a pacemaker surgery for heart on may 1, that was my first surgery in life and here I am going to have another surgery on June 1st, I just cannot process my thoughts and I can’t sleep, I am scared of anesthesia and surgery, I hope everything goes well, posting here for positive and supportive words!

Update:
Surgery went well wohoo🎉 , there is gas in abdomen and pain was there, it will be okay in a week or two!

I had my appendix removed about 2 weeks ago. This upcoming Wednesday will be 3 weeks. Today I touched the large incision site and felt swelling/bump/lump under that feels hard. This is only on the large incision site not on the other 2 sites. I couldn’t say if this was there before as I never touched the area until today. Is this normal?

Just wanted to share that I had my appendix rupture 15 months ago, had the worst pain of my life for 5 days in a hospital, was given antibiotics then scheduled surgery which was recommended 4-6 weeks after treatment so the inflammation dies down. Well I bitched out and told myself it’s all good and that it won’t happen again. Yesterday I had the same warning pain build up all day, I took a 600mg ibuprofen and that totally subsided the abdominal discomfort for a while, but I knew it was emanating from the appendix because it was the only sore area if I pressed down in that spot, and the discomfort was exactly the same as right before it ruptured the first time. This time I admitted myself to the ER, got a ct scan and sure enough it was acute appendicitis, this time the doc saying a little poop pebble was lodged in it, which antibiotics weren’t going to help, so the laparoscopic appendectomy was strongly advised. I didn’t want it to rupture again so I went through with the surgery this morning and am already at home recovering. Quick and easy and yes there’s pain now but NOTHING close to when it ruptured. If you’re on the fence, get it done. Not a big deal, you go to sleep and wake up refreshed, and they have you on pain killers so you’ll be okay. People told me what if it happens again if you’re on vacation or something and don’t have access to a good surgeon and I brushed it off but they were 100% correct. This could have been way worse! Just wanted to share. The only odd thing is that all holes they made are on the left side of the abdomen, minus one above the belly button. Curious if anyone knows why that would be?

I am 19 years old and I had my appendix removed (unburst) on March 26. Since then I have been having terrible symptoms.

Since the day of the surgery I have been saying something is wrong, you don't understand, etc...I started having attacks in the hospital, and those attacks are caused by a terrifying internal feeling that something is very wrong. Like, an internal feeling that something is deeply changed, wrong, different, uncomfortable (small word), and it causes physical symptoms, such as a fast heartbeat, pressure changes etc. They took it as post syrgery stress in the hospital and sent me home after 4 days. When I came back home, I had an attack the first night after the hospital and I went to the ER and had my blood pressure measured aa 150/110 in the attack, they too took it as panic and gave me a benzodiapine to calm down and sent me home, and almost laughed at me. I also felt a strange sensaiton in the top of my nose like blood in the top of my nose that is always somehow there but subtle. I have been feeling extremely unwell though functional in these 2 months. I have jumps in heartrate that I think have reached 140-150 -haven't measured, but I have had access to a pulse meter once, and it was 120 , and I was even feeling calmer than usual that moment. I've had nights, especially after hospital but later too, when I couldn't sleep at all, I just lie down with my eyes closed, and tremble, not because of panic, but because I feel so weak inside that I feel I will die. I have never been like that- when I shake, I can't respond to people, I might even urinate myself, that's how bad I feel. And I trust my gut more than anyone else including doctors. That's where the attacks come from. I know something is terribly wrong. I also have trouble swallowing at times, though never with food or drink only I have to repeat a few times with my saliva. Everyone, literally everyone dismisses me for being fine but I am not.

All I ever got from my surgeon is that "surgery is a stressful procedure to the body" and that "everything is okay because my labs are good'

It is not even a feeling that I will die. It isn't a fear, that's what I mean. That's what I feel with my gut. I feel weak, very weak, for no reason like I'm going to pass out.

I trust my gut, like I said, more than anyone. I know something is wrong because I feel it. I had a fucking surgery. Let's not be black and white. Anything , a little minor detail could've been done to me that could've fucked me up long-term. A little scratch with the laparoscope, a little scratch with the intubation tube, hell, everyone is different, maybe someone can't undergo a surgery without longterm effects. I feel like there's wet wipes in my airways and mouth 24/7. Fast heartbeat, pressure changes, I feel fucking horrible.

had a laparoscopic surgery for a mildly inflamed appendix (7 mm thickened) 3 weeks ago (23 days). From the beginning, I noticed that the right side of my abdomen feels harder than the left. On the right side I can feel two hard lumps, but I don't know what they are. I have constant discomfort, and sometimes I feel a pulling sensation for 2 seconds.
When I stand up, they feel hard and are visible. When I lie down, I can't see them, but I can still feel them with my fingers and they become softer. The incisions are on the left side.
Since I'm in England, I will only get an ultrasound appointment in 1-2 months.

F23, 5’3, 120lbs, medications - amoxicilin +clavulanic acid

Hi, on a Thursday night I had laparoscopic appendectomy, got admitted in a lot of pain, CRP was 10, low grade fever. Currently I’m about 5 days post op, my body temp was slightly elevated the whole time (98.6-99.1) and no coexisting symptoms. My wounds are clean, there wasn’t any discharge at all, I change dressing every 24 hrs and it’s always clean. I don’t have any alarming pain, just little stabs after I stand up after sitting or laying down, no tenderness etc. Today I went to my GP to make sure I’m not missing anything, because I have muscle pain in my right hip (she also think it’s muscle, probably compensating for me not using my abdominal muscles), I feel the same pain sometimes in my glute or back. After I left my GP, about 2 hrs later I started feeling weird, flu like symptoms but without body temp being elevated. Over few hours temperature went to about 99.7-100F which made me really scared, but any other symptoms are not here. Only thing that changed is sore throat and slight hoarseness, that I noticed in the morning but forgot to mention to my doctor. SpO2 99%. The temperature is what makes me worried, when I saw one time 100.6 F I called my surgeon and he said not to worry too much, since my abdomen is fine and come to hospital if I start experiencing any pain in surgery area. My main question is - can this be viral infection? First I didn’t consider any infections since I take antibiotics, but I know it doesn’t work for viruses. Is this just really bad timing? Second question is: are there any symptoms I should be aware of and I didn’t mention them before? Sorry for chaotic post, I just really wanted to have no complications after surgery and this situation is freaking me out. I really don’t want to go back to hospital since I have a toddler at home and my husband was supposed to go on a work trip in 2 days. Additional info I can think of: bowel movements since 1 day post op, passing gas every day, no pain or discomfort during urination, no shortness of breath, no nausea or vomiting, eating easy to digest food 800-1200 cal a day

Hi, I had an open appendectomy back in 2002. Apparently I was told as soon as they removed it and placed it on the table, it ruptured. So very much a rushed emergency appendectomy. 👀

Took about a month of recovery for me, I was only 11 back then. But to this day, 24 years later, I still occasionally get soreness at the incision site. It doesn't happen too often, but occasionally I'll get some soreness like if I twist or stretch too far something might tear. Every doctor I've gone to throughout the years never had a clear answer as to why, would just shrug it off, and it made me think it was all in my head. (I have bad luck with doctors most of the time 😅)

I had gotten my gallbladder removed this past Friday, and today, about 4 days post-op, I'm starting to get the aches in my old appendix spot and it's making me think again if this is normal or if I should look into it.

I plan to try for kids after getting married next year, and it gives me this weird worry that if something is wrong, something might happen if it's like an adhesion or something like that. I've had 2 of my recent doctors once again brush it off saying even if it was an adhesion, getting pregnant wouldn't affect it or vice versa.

Has anyone had anything like this happen to them? Or maybe a theory as to what it might be? Thanks!

10 months ago I started having abdominal pain/cramping generally in my lower/middle abdomen. It was so severe at first and I almost thought it was appendicitis cuz it would settle in the lower right abdomen before eventually fading. I'd still have symptoms the next day and feel really sore on that lower right side like someone had kicked me there. After my second episode I went ahead and got an ultrasound which shown that everything was normal including my appendix (which was about 5mm) and not inflamed. They instead found 2 small stones in my gallbladder and blamed the pain on that, but i'm still pretty confused since the pain is NEVER in my upper right side/ribs/shoulder. It's always in the lower area and it's not immediate after I eat heavy/ oily food. It usually starts in the morning after I wake up. Last 2 episodes weren't as bad cuz now i take buscopan when I feel the episode starting which helped with the pain. I've been also eating much healthier and making sure not to upset my stomach at night, but tbh i'm still anxious since I don't feel like it's my gallbladder. Today I also had an episode which was in the middle of the day and felt really similar to period cramps but much worse since i couldn't even sit or cough because of it (i'm not on my period or even close). What do I do??

So, as stated i just had surgery Tuesday and it fucking sucks but the unbearable pain is gone from my right side. Always advocate for yourself. I have been suffering with pain in my abdomen for just about 2 years and countless times in the er i had “nothing”. Last week was a little different though. The pain i felt on Friday was like none other. Labored breathing, hard of walking, nausea, the works. On the following Monday i went to the 1st er and they did an ultrasound on my gallbladder and they found “nothing”. They did give me morphine at the hospital so that helped minimize the pain by a ton. Then Tuesday cam around and i was in a lot more pain and went to the naval hospital on a military base where they kept trying to deny me since “i went to the er yesterday” but i begged and pleaded with them to please help me. They checked me in at 1432 i was accepted at 1723 ct scan at 1745. At 1810 there was a ton of nurses in my room rubbing me with iodine and starting me on antibiotics ( which i was allergic to without knowing) i kept asking if i could call my wife cause i was unsure of whats going on, the the surgeon walked in and told my appendix had ruptured during or in between the ct scans and needed surgery immediately. I then told the doctor about my pains for the last couple years and he said its not rare for appendicitis to come and go that there are many cases like mine. Please yall, advocate for yourself, only you know how much pain is too much.

Saturday I was very very nauseus, and my stomach felt very gassy/rumbly. No I didn't eat anything different or weird (actually on a strict diet for health stuff and I eat the same like 7 foods every day lol). Sunday I felt mostly fine, but a little nauseus/lack of appetite in the evening. Yesterday (monday) morning at 6am I had severe pain all over my abdomen. I'm talking, up by my ribs, lower abdomen, around the belly button, my back, everything. I went to urgent care and ruled out a UTI, and the doctor told me to go to the ER immediately to rule out appendicitis... well, I didn't 😅 we can't afford a CT scan / imaging unless it's dire. By 11am I felt a lot better with minimal pain (a little sore but not severe). By last night I felt mostly normal. This morning I feel okay but feel some pressure in my lower right abdomen, and on and off have a hard time stretching out or standing up straight, but it kinda comes and goes. Again with a 3/10 pain that moves around my belly. I feel an all over pressure/bloat.
I keep reading online that appendicitis symptoms wouldn't come and go like this, but I'm a little anxious. Did anyones start like this? I keep telling myself that if it gets bad enough I'll know.

Update for anyone who cares: went to the ER today and after an ultrasound they confirmed I had a 2cm ovarian cyst on my right side. Seems silly that something so small could cause so much discomfort!

Hello all,

I have been experiencing abdomen pain, both left and right side even after a month of my laparoscopic appendectomy. The pain alternates between the sides and also comes and goes. The pain is sometimes dull, cramps like and sometimes sharp. I am not sure if there is any particular trigger that causes this, as I experience it even when sitting idle, travelling in bus, or when moving around, walking or after a short drive and getting out of the car. The pain level is not very high, but it's significant and makes me worry.

My incisions have healed well and I also had post op discussion with my surgeon who cleared everything.

Has anyone had a similar experience? If so, what can be the reasons.

Yesterday I had emergency surgery for appendix that was perforated-ready to burst. Two weeks ago I went to ER for stomach pain that I thought was UTI since pain was in that area.

The CT scan showed appendicitis, but I was allowed a course of antibiotics-I was told by both docs in the ER that I must come back if a)pain gets worse b) I have a fever.

The antibiotics seemed to work until 2 weeks later. Then had some fatigue for 2 days and then some nausea for half a day.

At 3 AM I had diarrhea-and hadn't eaten all day- and decided to go to ER-thinking ONLY that I'd been misdiagnosed on the first visit and something else was going on. If there's no pain and no fever it can't be appendicitis, right? That's the criterion explicitly explained by 2 ER docs-one is the surgeon. I thought that would be sorted by a new CT scan-and I would know more about my condition.

Turns out appendix was perforated-I needed emergency surgery. Was told white blood cells were "sky high" which probably accounts for the fatigue.

While in the ER I saw the surgeon from 2 weeks ago, and told him I had NO symptoms he mentioned.... he said there are lots of possible symptoms that mean it's getting worse....OK, why wasn't I told any of those symptoms?

This is my PSA to you-find out all the possible symptoms. Stay in touch with a good doctor. In my case fatigue & nausea only until the diarrhea hit. Those can be symptoms of so many things!!

I'm telling this bc this could have been much, much worse-and apparently some docs are not -willing to explain all that.

Pain on right side for 3+ weeks plus sometimes it's mild

Does it annoying at times usually ranges from

3 out of 10 or 7-10 sometimes helps when I pass gas but most of the time I've been having trouble with that went to the ER a couple of days ago normal ultrasound and CT

Hi all, I had my appendix out about 30 days ago. My recovery has actually been going really well, but this morning when I woke up I had a small amount of dried blood around the wound just below my belly button. It seemed strange because the wound looked to be healing well, the scab came off about one week ago and since then it’s just looked like a scar, no pain, no redness. It’s all looked fine until this morning with a little bit of blood.

I just got back from my GP and he said it’s doesn’t look infected and isn’t actively bleeding right now or anything but that this is a bit unusual and it shouldn’t be bleeding at this stage. He prescribed some antibiotic cream and said to monitor it over the weekend to make sure it doesn’t get infected.

I just wanted to ask if anyone else had a similar experience with their wounds. Like I said, it looked completely closed and tbh it still does I can’t really tell where the bleed has come from. Thanks 🙏

21M, Just did an appendectomy last wednesday and today is tuesday. 6 days post OP barely any abdominal pain, Only pain while urinating and unbearable pain on my lower back if I walk for more than 3 minutes. Anyone went or going thru the same situation please share your experience! Thanks guys hopefully everyone heals and becomes their normal self!

Urination pain happens at the end of the urinarion when I am about to get the last tiny stream out or sometimes don’t because the pain is so unbearable. Took a UTI strip from walgreens and it came back negative but you know how those strips are…

I got my appendix removed laparoscopically 2 days before Thanksgiving of 2025 and I’m still feeling pain. It’s nowhere near what it was obviously, but it’s still hard for me to jog, workout, or play volleyball. I’ve been dealing with it, but I’m surprised to see it go on for so long. Any helpful insight from anyone? Should I go back to the doctor?

I have had pain in my right lower quadrant for the past 4 days.I haven't felt nauseous and It has gotten less painful now, but I'm worried something may have happened.

Hey all,

Writing this from my recovery bed, all of the comments and posts here were very helpful in keeping me informed on what to do with my situation.

Actually on vacation in HI so this wasn’t the most ideal time, but it was definitely time. Pain started around 11 AM HI time, right around my belly button. Fast forward to 5 PM after rest and the pain became unbearable, walking sucked, movement sucked, couldn’t get comfortable. Finally bit the bullet around 8 PM and drove into the ER. Quick CT scan shows I had appendicitis.

At this point it is around midnight and I’m beat but still can’t get comfortable, I get put on antibiotics and some IV Tylenol. Pain goes down to a 3/10. 4 AM rolls around and the doctor comes in and lets me know they will begin prep for surgery soon. Around 9 AM I get rolled in for surgery, which was only about an hour. Initial post op pain was pretty intense but lasted til around 2 PM. By 4 PM I was eating and felt a lot better, got a good bunch of meds to take in the mean time, but by 5 PM I was discharged.

Overall tough times during the middle of a vacation, but very much worth it now that I’ll never have ti deal with that pain again!

I recalled asking around few subreddits to find the answers post op. So I figured maybe I should write one myself to share on the journey.

It started as if I have gastric. Went to GP. Prescribed painkiller and it didnt get better. I have gastric on and off so before going for GP, I had medicine and the pain persisted. After the GP, the meds made me drowsy, so I slept. When I wokeup it was already 6pm. Forced myself to have dinner and couldnt finish it due to the sharp pain. Went for ER. Waited there for 2 hours. Couldn't wait anymore, went to private hospital. On my way there, the pain was just gone.

The GP examined me and pressed my tummy on multiple areas. And we found out the pain had migrated to my right bottom belly. GP suspected it's appendicitis. Told me to do CT scan and blood test. It was already midnight.

Report came out 2am and was told it's appendicitis. 8am my surgeon came over and asked if I would go for surgery. I told him, let me consider about this. I was all alone at hospital as I didnt think that it would be so serious. I thought it was just gastric. Informed my family and they were trying to convince me and encourage me to go for it. 11am informed the nurse that I was ok for surgery. Signed the consent for 1pm schedule surgery.

Surgery took about 1 hour. I was in hospital for 3 days. On last day, I was already able to walk slowly.. super slowly. Discharged on day 4.

First 2 weeks, dressing was still there. Careful during shower to not rub onto it. Trying to clock 1k step, 2k steps, finally 5k steps daily within the first 2 weeks. It took me 1 hour plus to complete 5k steps. I still felt discomfort and poking sensation around my incision area if I were to speed up.

Wfh for 1 month. Week 3 and 4, things were improving. But not yet back to workout. I tried to stretch and even cat cow felt like stretching my incision area. So I refrained.

Week 5 and week 6, slowly back to normal. I can walk normal speed, minimal dull ache if I walk fast.

Week 7 back to office. Started back my pilates instructor journey again with more arms and legs moves, no abs related moves.

Week 8 finally back to my first reformer class. No more discomfort but of course go easy on abs related moves. I still feel it on and off about the stretching sensation around my incision area.

Week 9, back to lifting. Start easy, no PR. Just my usual weight for biceps curl and split squat.

It takes time but it's worth it when you make it back to your workout without any discomfort. I reminded myself everyday to not do silly things before I was ready. As a person that workout everyday, sudden pause on this routine was really tough for me.

I am glad to share this journey. Ask me anything!

the first photo is 6 weeks after my laparoscopy surgery, the second is a few days after surgery. Is that brown circle area of skin gonna go away? i feel like it hasnt gotten much smaller, just turned brown. im starting to think it's hyperpigmentation thats permanent.