Question on sisters visit to ER

pricklypear - I'm glad things worked out well for your hubby - I must say though, I'm glad I didn't go to that ER when I was sure I had appendicitis... I had all the same symptoms he had... the docs were all sure I had appendicitis. They were prepping the OR and working up my admission papers for appendicitis as I went to last minute CT scan. THANK GOD THEY DID THAT LAST MINUTE CT!!!! Turns out my appendix was fine - I had a raging kidney infection that landed me on close observation for 5 days, on IV abx around the clock and neuro workup (from the headaches I got from the backup of toxins in my body that my kidneys couldn't take care of). I'm just glad I didn't have an incision to worry about too! IMO, a doctor should NEVER do surgery without having seen on some radiological study whether CT scan, Ultrasound, etc. that the cause of the pain is surgical. I would have sued - and won - if I had gone to the OR without the CT scan. Other things can cause belly pain - and not all of them need surgery!!

Check this out:

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic41.htm

In my ER, I dont think they would have sent her home without at least a CT scan and/or a pelvic exam, especially since she was febrile. That being said, appendicitis can be a tricky bugger..it can present as so many things, symptoms can be minor or severe, and I have seen patients that have a negative CT scan and no white count just to show up again the next day, get scanned again, and how have enough inflammation that the CT scan shows it. The most important thing is that your sister is OK after all, but I do think that they should have done the CT scan.