What is it like to have appendicitis?

Appendicitis is a medical emergency that almost always requires prompt surgery to remove the appendix. Left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually burst, or perforate, spilling infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. read more

I didn't have a clue that the abdominal pain I was feeling was appendicitis. I thought it was indigestion from a doughnut I'd eaten earlier. I felt vaguely nauseous, and had an uncomfortable feeling across my diaphragm. read more

Appendicitis symptoms may mimic those of a stomach bug, including a low-grade fever, chills, and shaking. Dr. Payne says that if you have stomach pain with a 100-degree fever, it's probably nothing to worry much about. But if you have a 103-degree fever and your stomach pain is severe enough that you can't stand up straight, it may be appendicitis. read more