Can on-again, off-again severe pain in your stomach be appendicitis?
“There is controversy about this even in the medical community,” says Kathryn Boling, MD, a board certified family medicine practitioner with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD.
“Several studies have documented both recurrent acute appendicitis as well as chronic appendicitis,” continues Dr. Boling.
“One of these studies quoted the following: The perception that acute appendicitis might subside spontaneously and re-emerge with bouts of right lower quadrant pain (so-called recurrent appendicitis) has met debate and disbelief.
“Nonetheless, 10% of patients presenting with acute appendicitis report previous similar physical findings that settled without surgery.”
Causes
Dr. Boling explains, “Acute appendicitis is caused by an infection that may be preceded by the appendix becoming obstructed by a lump of feces, calcium salts or fecal debris (called fecaliths).
“There are theories as to how this could happen. Some hypothesize that the appendix might be only partially obstructed and this obstruction clears on its own or is so mild that a chronic condition ensues.
“However, the lion’s share of appendicitis is acute and requires life-saving surgery.”
So if you’ve been having abdominal or stomach pain that comes and goes, the coming and going nature does not eliminate the possibility that it’s appendicitis.
Dr. Boling diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions from acute illnesses to chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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