Appendicitis & Endometriosis

When I had my first experience of an excruciatingly painful endo flare up it was assumed that I may have appendicitis. This was because of the severity of the pain and location. My husband, at the time, was a paramedic so he knew what symptoms to look out for. I was missing a few common appendicitis symptoms and after a visit to the doctors' rooms there were a few other theories. Nonetheless, it was not appendicitis at all.

So, as you may know, appendicitis is when the appendix becomes inflamed and fills with pus. It can be treated with surgery and antibiotics, but if it ruptures it becomes more dangerous because it can lead to sepsis.

To avoid confusion and give you somewhat of a better idea on what symptoms to look out for I recommend you visit this link: Appendicitis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

What symptoms are similar to endo flare ups?

Appendicitis and endometriosis have the following symptoms in common:

• abdominal pain in the mid abdomen or right lower side

• bloating

• nausea and diarrhea (not always present in endo flare ups, but can accompany your periods)
  

There are many more symptoms that can be caused by appendicitis or endometriosis which may require further examination and diagnostic procedures to avoid any uncertainties.

The body is a mystery, and everyone is different so the symptoms you present may be different combinations of the above or none of the above depending on the medical issue. Please consult a doctor and avoid self-diagnosing.

When I experience a bad endo flare-up it sometimes feels different from the last or previous flare-ups. Sometimes it is just the intensity of pain that is different, but to be safe I always go the emergency center if I am concerned. It can feel like you are dying a slow and painful death. Often, I feel guilty for wasting the doctors and nurse's time. Medical staff there have more life-threatening cases to see to and I hate to impose. However, these facilities are for people in dire need. In my book severe endo flare-up counts as DIRE!

What that desperation looks like is me missing a workday lying in bed. When the time comes to visit the lady's room, I am barely able to walk. Hunched over and hold on to anything in my path to keep me from falling over. Endo warriors sometimes need that assistance from time to time. Battles are not fought alone. We need our weapons in the form of our strong minds and fleeting ruminations. Our shield in the form of painkillers and so-called prophylactic supplements. We need our fellow soldiers, our doctors, nurses, families, friends and even work buddies all on that battlefield with us.

So, into battle we will run!

Wishing you a flare-free day!