Preparing for an appointment

Make an appointment with your family doctor if you have abdominal pain. If you have appendicitis, you'll likely be hospitalized and referred to a surgeon to remove your appendix.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as fasting before having a specific test. Make a list of:

• Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment
• Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history
• All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including the doses
• Questions to ask your doctor

Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you're given.

For appendicitis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Do I have appendicitis?
• Will I need more tests?
• What else could I have besides appendicitis?
• Do I need surgery and, if so, how soon?
• What are the risks of appendix removal?
• How long will I need to stay in the hospital after surgery?
• How long will recovery take?
• How soon after surgery can I go back to work?
• Can you tell whether my appendix has burst?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you several questions, such as:

• When did your abdominal pain begin?
• Where does it hurt?
• Has the pain moved?
• How severe is your pain?
• What makes your pain more severe?
• What helps relieve your pain?
• Do you have a fever?
• Do you feel nauseated?
• What other signs and symptoms do you have?