“How do I know if my stomach pain is my appendix?”

Well the only way you can truly know of it's your appendix is if you go to the ER and get examined by a general surgeon specialist. Sometimes they do an ultrasound or CT scan but appendicitis is a clinical diagnosis based on your symptoms and physical findings. Usually its a very severe pain that can start around your belly button and then can move to the lower right side of your abdomen. You can have nausea or vomiting as well. But you need to be examined by a doctor and they can get tests and blood work.

Appendix pain usually starts right around the belly button and slowly over hours moves down to the lower right side of your abdomen. There are almost always other symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, and cessation of bowel movements. Commonly there is low grade fever as well.

Usually pain is mid to right lower abdomen, unbearable at times, which would bring you to the ER. Other times not so severe and is hard to diagnose without CT. You may not have a fever, but almost always nauseous. Women have ovaries that may be the cause of pain. May be a virus. Constipation can also mimic appendicitis. If pain is bearable, try taking clear liquids. Tylenol as needed and rest. If it lasts more than 1-2 days, go to the ER. Blood test and urinalysis and likely a CT scan if labs are normal. Also, in younger women, pregnancy has to be ruled out because ectopic pregnancy is possible.
Hope that helps. If you have a primary physician, always get his advice.

Pain from the appendix is usually in the right lower corner of the belly but can be other places too. For some, it starts around the belly button and then concentrates to the right lower part. The pain is usually acute. Meaning it comes on relatively quickly and steadily gets worse and doesn’t get better unless it bursts. If you're worried about your appendix, then you should be seen by a doctor ASAP so they can examine you and decide if it’s possible/likely they usually will order an imaging study to confirm or just send you to the emergency department. When the appendix is inflamed, causing appendicitis, it will need to be surgically removed. Be careful and please be seen if you're worried.

Kay Kelts, DO

It's not possible for you to know unless a work up is done. Appendicitis usually causes acute, sharp right lower quadrant pain, and it doesn't go away, forcing most people to go to the ER. A CT scan helps to make the diagnosis.