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Appendicitis - Home Treatment
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
If you think you may have appendicitis, do not try to treat it at home. If you have moderate belly pain that does not go away after 4 hours, call your doctor. If you have severe belly pain, call your doctor right away. It may be more likely that you have appendicitis if you have:
- Pain that does not go away. The pain from
appendicitis often starts in the center of the abdomen and moves to the
lower right quadrant
. For more information on different kinds of abdominal
pain, see the topics
Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older and
Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger. - A feeling that you are going to throw up. You may throw up a few times, and you may not feel like eating.
If you think appendicitis may be causing your belly pain:
- Seek medical treatment immediately. If you have appendicitis, it is very important to be treated right away.
- Do not eat or drink, unless your doctor says it is okay. If you need surgery for appendicitis, it is best if you have not had anything to eat or drink. You can rinse your mouth with water or suck on hard candy if you are thirsty.
After surgery
Most people leave the hospital 1
to 3 days after having surgery to remove the
appendix . But if the appendix has ruptured and there
is infection in the abdomen or other problems, it takes longer to get better.
People who have
laparoscopic surgery usually return to normal
activities in 1 to 3 weeks. Those who have a traditional appendectomy generally
return to normal activities in 3 to 4 weeks.
While you are at home recovering from an appendectomy, check your incision(s) for infection. Call your doctor if you have a fever or notice other signs of infection such as redness, swelling, pus, or pain in your lower abdomen. You should also call your doctor if you are not able to eat normal foods after 5 days.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 5, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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