K.N.O.W. Home Health - APPENDICITIS

APPENDICITIS

What Is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is when your appendix becomes swollen, infected, or painful. The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch on the right side of your belly. No one is sure exactly what it does, but you can live without it. When it gets infected, it must be treated quickly. If not, it can burst and cause serious problems.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

The most common signs of appendicitis include:

Pain in the lower right side of your belly
Pain that gets worse over time
Nausea or vomiting (feeling like you will throw up)
Loss of appetite (not feeling hungry)
Fever or chills
Belly feels hard or swollen
Pain that gets worse when you move, cough, or press on the area
Trouble passing gas or having a bowel movement

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE APPENDICITIS

Do NOT try to treat appendicitis at home. If you think you may have appendicitis, you need to get medical help right away.
Do NOT:

Take pain medicine unless a doctor says it’s okay
Use heat packs on your belly
Eat or drink before talking to a doctor

The only way to fix appendicitis is often surgery to remove the appendix. This is called an appendectomy.

When to Call Home Health Care or Your Doctor

Call your home health nurse or doctor if you:

Have mild belly pain and aren’t sure what is causing it
Feel a little sick but have no fever or vomiting
Need help understanding your symptoms
Want to know if you should go to the emergency room

When to Go to the Emergency Room (ER)

Go to the ER or call 911 if you:

Have sharp or growing pain in the lower right side of your belly
Have a fever along with stomach pain
Feel like throwing up or have already vomited
Cannot pass gas or use the bathroom
Feel very sick, weak, or dizzy
Have belly pain that gets worse when you move or cough

PATIENT HOMEWORK/ASSESSMENT

Choose True or False for each one:

True or False: The appendix is a small part of the body that you can live without.
True or False: Appendicitis is when the appendix becomes swollen and infected.
True or False: Pain from appendicitis usually starts on the left side of the belly.
True or False: Vomiting and fever can be symptoms of appendicitis.
True or False: Appendicitis often goes away on its own without treatment.
True or False: A burst appendix can cause serious health problems.
True or False: The pain from appendicitis may get worse if you cough or move.
True or False: You should always eat a big meal to feel better if you have belly pain.
True or False: A doctor may need to remove your appendix with surgery.
True or False: A heat pack is a good way to treat belly pain from appendicitis.
True or False: It is okay to take pain medicine for appendicitis before calling a doctor.
True or False: If your stomach is hard and swollen, you should go to the ER.
True or False: A loss of appetite can be a sign of appendicitis.
True or False: You should always call your home health nurse if you're unsure about your belly pain.
True or False: If you can’t pass gas or have a bowel movement, it could be appendicitis.
True or False: You should never ignore sharp belly pain that gets worse.
True or False: Feeling very tired, weak, or dizzy could be a warning sign.
True or False: It’s okay to wait a few days before seeing a doctor about appendix pain.
True or False: The only way to treat appendicitis is with surgery.
True or False: Going to the ER quickly can help prevent serious problems from appendicitis.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Can you describe the location and severity of your abdominal pain—does it start near your belly button and move toward the lower right side?

Have you experienced nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite since the pain began?

Have you noticed any changes in your bowel movements, such as diarrhea or constipation, since the pain started?

When did your symptoms first begin, and have they been getting steadily worse or coming and going?