Lower Right Abdominal Pain. Is it constipation or something else?
For the last day and a half I have been taking stool softeners which is pretty much one of the ideas you suggested. Took two more pills tonight also. The last bowel movement was not long after one of those quick pains, followed my a slight gassy feeling, so I am really thinking the pain is due to some type of intestine, constipation issue. I would think that if it was appendicitis the pain would be more frequent and much more painful right? Not sure but that's what I would guess anyways. Also fwiw when push on my stomach, abdomen, etc I don't have any type of pain. Obviously if I do this when I get one of those sharp pain it would make it hurt worse, but as far as just any other time pressing on my mid section doesn't hurt. Thanks again for all your help you both have been very helpful. With all this latest info are you still leaning towards it possibly being appendicitis or some type of intestinal thing?
When someone is stabbed in the side/lower abdomen, do they die instantly like on TV/in movies? Even if the stab wound was directly in the heart, would it kill a person in a matter of seconds?
Most stab wounds to the abdomen would not, usually, result in instant death.The cause of death in cases of stabbing is most often due to exsanguination - the loss of the majority of circulating volume.Some injuries eg an injury to the femoral artery, result in rapid and catastrophic loss of circulating volume in a very short period of time. Unless action is taken to stem the flow, this kind of injury will result in rapid collapse of the individual.A well-known case in the UK was that of Damilola Taylor - he was a 10 year old who received a stab wound to his leg. The wound damaged his femoral artery. He was able to drag himself approximately 100 m, he died in an ambulance some 30 minutes later. Cause of death - catastrophic haemorrhage.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/...There are many documented cases of patients who have sustained stab wounds to the liver or spleen. Whilst they have become extremely unwell after massive blood loss, they have not, generally, collapsed and died instantly.Stab wounds to the heart can result in an almost immediate collapse - often due to an instantaneous interruption to the ability of the heart to beat in a co-ordinated fashion.Again, I have seen a great number of patients who have survived cardiac injuries.A good number of years ago, a male patient arrived in our department with a small stab wound to left chest. He had arrived by taxi and looked, fairly, well.Nevertheless, the decision was made to take him to the operating theatre (surgery) for a thoracotomy. The complicating factor was that, at that time, our hospital did not have the equipment to put the patient on bypass to allow the heart to be stopped whilst surgical repair was attempted.The equipment was 'on its way' from the nearby hospital.As the patient arrived in theatre, we were stopped by the orthopaedic team who had just completed an operation.'What's going on?''He has been stabbed and the cardiothoracic team are on the way, but he's getting worse!'(I was young and panicked, this man was dying now and nothing could happen)The orthopaedic register looked at the patient. 'It's ok' he said, 'I'll do it'He was South African and well used to dealing with stab wounds. By the time the cardio-thoracic team arrived with their equipment, the orthopaedic registrar had opened the chest, sutured the hole in the left ventricle (whilst the heart continued to beat) and was closing the chest.
Could you survive being stabbed in the abdomen?
A gut shot or stabbing is A painful way to go. There are many. The issue is wether or not A major vessel or the Liver is hit. A hit to the liver will kill very quickly while a near miss will often end in peritonitis which is just about as bad as it gets for A death in terms of duration in the field. As you will be immobile as soon as you stop moving for more than a few minutes unless you are very tough and if you do not stop you will bleed unless you have the right help. A bad gut wound will easily kill. I have had some field exp with such wounds, having been stabbed in the chest deeply enough to cough up blood a nicked Femoral artery from A specW and I caught one in the shoulder. It's not all that painful but you ain't moving after you finish the battle, you lock up for a couple of days on a deep tissue cut. If you take A hit, relax, your either gonna die or your not. My advice is to Finish the fight like it didn't happen. I own two knives that I didn't have handed to me or purchase myself. They both once belonged to people that shouldn't have played with knives.
Is there a preferred order to palpate the abdomen? Should you start in one quatdrant first and end in another?
I've never been told that there was a specific sequence to doing an abdominal exam. It's always a good idea to start at the upper quadrants and then palpate the lower quadrants. Save the abdominal palpation for last (do inspection, ascultation, and percussion first) because palpation is the more painful exam. If you always perform your exam in the same order, it reduces the chances that you will miss something. I just finished rereading my textbook on abdominal exam and it does not mention anything about it being "safer" to do the exam in a counterclockwise fashion. Of course in a conscious patient, it's a good idea to ask the patient what part of the abdomen is painful and then palpate that quadrant last.
Does finger up the anal check for appendicitis?
Michael, the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis is not always easy and does not always clearly result from the usual clinical findings such as pain around the umbilicus (belly button) which later moves to the right lower quadrant and is worst on quick rebound palpation of the belly, as well as elevated white blood cell counts with high neutrophils. Sometimes the appendix is turned back in position and the inflamed area deep in the belly may be better felt by a rectal exam. This is something young physicians and medical students may not know. If your "dad" was doing anything wrong, he certainly would not invite another physician to view the wrong doing, and the second physician would not have repeated the rectal exam. Rectal exams are an important part of many physical exams. They are not done for any illegal sexual wrong-doing. In fact, physicians often fail to do this sometimes "messy" procedure.
How can I treat a severe pain in my lower right abdomen and back?
Severe pain, regardless of the location is an immediate red flag. However, right lower quadrant abdominal pain is particularly concerning because that is frequently a hallmark of appendicitis, which if left untreated, can rupture and lead to septicemia and possibly death.However, appendicitis is obviously not the only possibility. It could be a number of pathologies ranging from benign to life threatening. Other possible sources of the pain include a descending aortic aneurysm, gallbladder problems, intestinal blockage, and other gastrointestinal problems. If you are female, it could be an ovarian cyst (less serious) or ectopic pregnancy (more serious). There is no way anyone can diagnose the problem or offer correct treatment over the internet.Here is the important part: You need to see a doctor immediately. In my professional opinion, you should not delay getting to definitive care and absolutely should not consider attempting any self-treatment as an alternative. Go to an urgent care or emergency room ASAP. If you can’t get there on your own because of the pain, or you don’t have transportation, CALL 911.