Appendicitis

Symptoms

• Migrating Right Lower Abdominal Pain: Pain that often begins near the navel and then moves to the lower right side of the abdomen, becoming sharper and steadily worse over hours.
• Pain Worsened by Movement: Discomfort that intensifies with coughing, walking, or any jarring movement of the abdomen.
• Loss of Appetite: A sudden and noticeable drop in appetite that commonly appears alongside the pain.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Feeling sick or vomiting, which usually starts after the abdominal pain rather than before it.
• Low-Grade Fever: A mild fever that may rise as the inflammation progresses.
• Abdominal Tenderness or Bloating: A tender, guarded belly, sometimes with swelling or a change in bowel habits such as constipation or diarrhea.

When It's an Emergency

Come straight to Bellaire ER — open 24/7 — if you have pain in the lower right abdomen that is worsening, especially if it started near your navel and moved, or if it comes with fever, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. Appendicitis is a surgical emergency, and the appendix can rupture within about 48 to 72 hours of symptoms starting, so waiting is risky.

Call 911 or seek emergency care immediately if you develop sudden, severe, widespread belly pain, a high fever with chills, a rigid or very tender abdomen, or you feel faint. These can signal a ruptured appendix and peritonitis, a serious infection of the abdominal lining.

Children, pregnant patients, and older adults can have less typical symptoms, so any persistent or worsening abdominal pain in these groups warrants prompt in-person evaluation. When in doubt, it is safer to be seen than to wait at home. Bellaire ER confirms or rules out appendicitis with on-site CT and ultrasound, starts treatment immediately, and arranges prompt transfer for surgery when it is needed.

When It's Not an Emergency

Not every stomachache is appendicitis. Brief, mild abdominal discomfort that comes and goes, improves after a bowel movement or passing gas, or clearly follows a stomach bug or a known trigger is often not an emergency and can reasonably be managed with your primary care doctor or a telemedicine visit.

Telemedicine or urgent care is a reasonable first step when your pain is mild, stable, and not localizing to the lower right abdomen, and you have no fever, repeated vomiting, or worsening symptoms. A clinician can help sort out common causes like gas, indigestion, or a viral illness.

That said, appendicitis pain classically gets worse, not better. If mild pain shifts to the lower right side, intensifies, or is joined by fever, nausea, or vomiting, stop waiting and come to the ER for imaging.

What Happens at Bellaire ER

At Bellaire ER, a board-certified emergency physician examines your abdomen and checks for the classic signs of appendicitis, such as tenderness and pain over the lower right side. Because timing matters, you are seen quickly rather than waiting hours for a workup.

We confirm the diagnosis using on-site testing in a single visit. That typically includes blood work to look for signs of infection and imaging with our on-site CT scanner or ultrasound to look directly at the appendix, so we are not guessing.

Appendicitis is treated with surgery (an appendectomy) or, in select cases, antibiotics, and surgery is not performed at a freestanding ER. If your imaging confirms appendicitis, we start treatment such as IV fluids, pain control, and antibiotics, and coordinate a prompt transfer to a hospital with surgical services. If we rule appendicitis out, we identify the real cause of your pain and give you a clear follow-up plan before you leave.

Prevention

There is no proven way to prevent appendicitis, and it can happen to otherwise healthy people of any age. A diet rich in fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains supports overall digestive health, but no diet or supplement reliably prevents the condition. The most important protection is recognizing the symptoms early and seeking care promptly, which greatly lowers the chance of a rupture and its complications.