“Appendicitis treated with antibiotics; haven't had a normal bowel movement since”
June 11th I went to the VA ER for lower right quadrant pain. They verified by CT that my appendix was inflamed as well as the entire right colon (my liver and spleen were also slightly enlarged and my lymph nodes were also swollen). They started me on IV antibiotics (cefoxitin) immediately. My fever went down immediately (it was at 102 and dropped down to 99) I was then transferred to the main hospital while waiting for a surgeon to be available. The surgeon told me he wouldn't operate because of the inflammation around my appendix (and since my appendix was still in tact, emergency surgery wasn't necessary). He also said that if he did operate then, he would have to remove my entire right colon. Anyways, after 3 more days of IV cefoxitin every 6-8 he's I am discharged. My diagnosis was acute appendicitis with illietis and collitis? I took flagyl, and levofloxacin for a little over 2 weeks. Had a follow up appt a month later.
Today is July 25th and I haven't had a normal bowel movement since before the hospital stay. I also have minor pain in my right side that gets worse when I need to poop. The pain would be a 1-2 scale. And the poops have never been solid. I have a colonoscopy in August but I'm really curious if I should be worried or not. I have no fever or any other symptoms of appendicitis, so I'm thinking I have a bowel disease of some sort. What could this be?
Today is July 25th and I haven't had a normal bowel movement since before the hospital stay. I also have minor pain in my right side that gets worse when I need to poop. The pain would be a 1-2 scale. And the poops have never been solid. I have a colonoscopy in August but I'm really curious if I should be worried or not. I have no fever or any other symptoms of appendicitis, so I'm thinking I have a bowel disease of some sort. What could this be?
Female | 26 years old
Complaint duration: 2months
Medications: None
Conditions: Appendicitis
2 Answers
Difficult to say what happened in June since I cannot see the Xrays and I was not able to examine you at the time. It may not have been simple appendicitis, so go ahead with the colonoscopy to make sure there is nothing inflammatory going on in the right colon.
Hope you’re better now....and that you’ve had the opportunity to see a Gastroenterologist because appendicitis and inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn’s disease, can present acutely and similarly. Acute appendicitis is treated with surgery, so if your surgeon had doubts about the diagnosis then he would not perform an appendectomy. A Gastroenterologist’s advice is necessary.
