Anxiety, appendicitis, ovaries or what?

Mental health
1

So I was sick for 2 months, I found out 2 weeks ago I had a parasite infection and so I took flagyl for a week to treat it. I finished the treatment on Wednesday last week, I did get vague stomach pain during the course, but on the last couple of days of treatment I woke up with stomach cramps that came on suddenly and was mainly around my belly, but the pain subsided once I went to the toilet.

 

On Friday I had no stomach cramps but by the afternoon/evening I had a pain in my lower right side, it felt like ovulation pain but because it’s the right side I panicked thinking appendicitis. Yesterday the pain was still there, it seemed to hurt mostly when I moved and walked, it was a sharp pain but nothing severe. Today I think its gotten better, it hurts with some movements occasionally, including when I use the pelvic muscles to pee. But it mostly hurts when I push down on the spot. Its more of a dull pain now. Ive also got lots of abdominal noises and I feel a tad sick but then again I have been eating mostly chips and chocolate the past day or so.

 

It just concerns me. Could it be appendicitis or an ovary thing? I am a 15 year old girl, I have spent most of the past 2 and a half months in bed, the past few days I haven’t eaten very healthy, I recently gained back my appetite, and the pain is in the pubic area slightly above where the pubic hair begins, maybe even on that line and probably about an inch away from the right hip bone. No rebound effect from pressing and releasing, pain only comes when pressing down. I also have lots of uncomfortable/nauseating burps but that’s not new for me. My stools are mushy and soft and fairly smelly but not watery. Today I did strain a little to pass even thought it was soft. Also pretty gassy.

I did experience some chest pain today, alternated between left and right side of chest but I feel like that would be due to anxiety, I did have a small panic attack whilst at the shopping centre because I thought I must have appendicitis and I was very restless whist at the cinemas and couldn’t wait until the movie ended so I could get home and do research on my symptoms haha. My dad ignored my suggestion of appendicitis, he is ready to take away my electronics. I also had a couple times where a slight sharp pain thing occured on my right side like on the flank or whatever its called, the part in between the abdomen and the back. I also have had times where i feel like i need to pee even after peeing but on thursday the doctor said that can be due to dehydration (I was severely dehydrated that day) I just dont know what to do

2

Have you been diagnosed with anxiety?

3

Yes I have, it's the main reason I don't want to see a doctor because I will most likely end up seeing one who won't give a physical exam and simply send me home.

4

Are you on medication

5

I finished flagyl treatment 5 days or so ago, but have been taking a little bit of ranitidine due to possible gastritis

6

No medication for depression/anxiety

7

Ah, I have some anxiety meds like just over the counter stuff but I haven't used them.

8

If you are suffering you have to go to the doctor get diagnosed then either take prescibed meds or get therapy

Good Luck

9

Hi sunset.tahlia

I have difficulty with my stomach at times. I get diarrhea, nauseated, sometimes my left side hurts and sometimes my right side hurts. Then i get all gassy in my stomach and a lot of acid reflux and indigestion. There are times i am wondering if its my appendix or my gall bladder because there are times i do not want to eat accept for crackers and ginger ale. 

You should have it checked out to ease your mind that what i would do if i were you 

Hope you feel better 

Elizabeth 

 

10

We have very similar symptoms, in addition to that.. I am diagnosed with depression.. Have you lost any weight? Or get any night sweats whilst you sleep ?

11

I to have been dianoised with depression and anxieties. Since i went into menopause i have lost weight. At night i do sweat when i am sleeping at times. 

Right now my right side is hurting a lot and i feel real nauseated before i took my bath i had a lot of diarrhea and that left my right side hurting a lot and feeling nauseated i told my boyfriend but one thing is if we got to the E.R. they will just do a cat scan and that makes me go and it aggrevates my hemrrhoids. Why can they just do an ultra sound to see if it is the gall bladder or the appendix making me sick 

This sucks right now just going to eat crakers and drink ginger ale tonight for snack 

Elizabeth

12

I think I have been gaining some weight that I did lose from my parasite infection, especially from the Easter chocolates I've been eating haha. But I seem to sleep completely fine. But last night I had like stomach ache but it almost felt like there wasn't an ache? It was odd and the ache was also in my left arm and chest, this morning I woke up with the same uncomfortable stomach ache thing and the chest ache too, I asked my mother to take me to the ER to get checked and be on the safe side but she asked my dad and he yelled at me and said if I had something wrong I would be in severe agony. So basically if I do have something such as appendicitis I'm not going to get checked out until I'm feeling like I'm going to die and suffering badly. What great parents.

13

I think you should get it checked out what is wrong with your dad if you are in pain you should get it checked out like i should get mine checked out too.

Elizabeth

14

Hi, in order to get an ultra sound you have to go your GP/ doctors and tell them the symptoms and you would like a referral for an United sound. Say it just like that and you will receive an appointment.. I will have my ultra sound 9th April X ..

15

You can also get one in the E.R too not just your doctor let us know how your ultra sound goes 

Elizabeth

16

Yes after a crucial 7hrs plus wait ! Lol

17

Well I saw the doctor and he asked if the pain has gotten worse which is where I got stuck because I really don't know, because the pain generally can't be felt unless I press the area or sometimes when I move it will hurt a bit or if I hit hard enough somewhere else I will feel the pain in the original spot, but occasionally out of no where I will get an aching/throbbing pain in that tender spot, or I get a sudden sharp pain but then it dies down back to a dull pain when pressed. So I really don't know if it's gotten worse.

But I didn't tell the doctor about the sudden sharp pain that goes away because I forgot, but he said just watch it and if it's appendicitis it will probably worsen every 4 hours and if it worsens then I go to ER. So no tests are being done. That kinda scares me. He did also mention how the pain could also be something to do with like ovaries or something which I know it could. On the way home my father told me how rare appendicitis is and stuff.

I mean it would be odd for me to suddenly have appendicitis considering I've been sick for almost 3 months with that parasite infection and so I had high anxiety and depression levels during that time, being sick for so long really messed me up and I was always concerned about every sensation in my body. So to suddenly get appendicitis after everything seems odd. Besides I've read that some people with appendicitis and stuff (especially in ruptured appendix) it is treated with antibiotics to stop infection spreading and treat infection before surgery, and a lot of the time they seem to use flagyl for it, and I had been recently taking flagyl for my parasite infection so maybe if there was a possibility for appendix infection maybe the flagyl would have killed anything that may cause appendicitis so then maybe I really don't have appendicitis?

Just in case you don't know ever since I finished my antibiotic course last Wednesday I've been eating chips and chocolate every day and the last couple days I haven't eat much healthy food at all so that's something also I guess. I have had some stomach aches too haha

18

I have been down this EXACT same road before...several times over. Have also been hospitalised for suspected appendicitis (private practice - they like taking our money In the end my appendix was removed...unnecessarily. It was the healthiest looking little appendix in the whole clinic (they kept it in a jar!!)  They removed it because once the incision was made they couldn't just sew me back up as the scar will indicate, in case of emergency, that i have no appendix and it would be dangerous in case it did get sick and rupture one day....

Just so you know...no tests are done for appendicitis until one is having clear symptoms! Even then...there is no test needed LOL...Your dad is right on this one. As much as you will hate hearing

Out of curiosity, could you tell me if you have taken a 7 day course of flagyl or more? And whether your ranitidine was prescribed by a doctor and if so how much and how long?

Now...your (pain in lower right abdomen) symptoms are consistent with a mild ovarian flare-up. And or trapped gas or some mild inflammation which will subside once your body detoxes from recent onslaught. You have no clear symptoms of apendicitis. If it were ruptured you would likely be dead by now. If it was close to rupturing you would be doubled-over in pain and worsening. You may have a tiny cyst on your ovary or mild inflammation (before you start googling and stuff: the little cysts can come and go and often rupture causing NO issues at all - i had roughly 20 since puberty and I am now 37...).

First of all and to be clear, ALL your other symptoms are book-case anxiety. You are in puberty at 15 and your hormones are all over the place. You mention a parasite infection for 3 months? If this helps you at all, the infection AND a course of Flagyl which wipes out a good portion of bacteria you need along with the ones you want to get rid of, may have contributed to worsening of your anxiety. I have taken Flagyl once - have NO issues taking antibiotics normally, but this one aggravated my anxiety rather notably. Symptoms also flare-up alongside illness because bodily sensations are brought into focus. Plus your immune system is at battle - those of us who are prone to anxiety suffer the effects more...because we pay attention

Then you are ALSO taking ranitidine for possible gastritis? Fantastic. Once gastritis is no longer suspected...and you are off ranitidine (which reduces your ability to digest food, absorb nutrition from that food and also affects your hormones, making you even more sluggish and tense and prone to infections...) you can start regaining balance. On the subject of : "I also have lots of uncomfortable/nauseating burps but that’s not new for me. My stools are mushy and soft and fairly smelly but not watery. Today I did strain a little to pass even thought it was soft. Also pretty gassy." that is the flagyl-ranitidine effect. Your right side pain (assuming the ovary is a little agitated is aggravated by trapped gas also by the way.

All the other aches and pains are from lying about too much, tension and part of recovery.

SO: You need to find a way to decompress, rationalize your sensations and try keep your mind off them while you nurture your system back to health. After antibiotics (and ranitidine) this will require fair amounts of water, repopulating your gut bacteria colonies by first-grade probiotics, fermented foods and as much fresh and healthy produce you can. Think soothing rich foods, healthy fats and protein blah blah. Start weaning yourself off chips and just reduce chocolate to normal amounts until you recover at least - you are not helping your body. And get the heck out of bed. You are not dying

Your anxiety does not sound TOO severe right now and is consistent with your age and current health and  hormone imbalance at puberty. However if it starts to escalate and you can't keep a grip on it you may need some assistance. I hope you are as you sound: smart, sassy and intelligent and will get informed and mature fast enough to take charge of your anxiety pretty quickly. All the best!

19

By the way your dad sounds pretty smart and informed. You are lucky - most are quite clueless. Forgive him for sometimes losing his patience...it is not easy for him to keep up with a teenage girl: he never was one!  Treat him to a green tea or something when you start detoxing

20

Had the same issues awhile ago. Try looking up IBS which can be caused by anxiety and vice versa. I to struggle with anxiety and hypochondria so when i felt the same feelings off to the ER i went and nothing was wrong other than IBS which can suck.