Appendix

Dear Ask The Doctor: I have been having problems with my IBS, so they send me for a cat scan, on the scan they found one stone in my appendix, and I do have some tenderness (ache) on my right side, and sometimes it goes around my belly button. So I was send to a surgery for this, the surgery told me that I did not need to have it removed. So I was good with that, cause it was not inflamed. But listening to family and friends, they are driven me crazy, Should I get a second opinion?

Dear Ginny: There are only a few indications for surgical removal of the appendix; if the appendix is inflammed or if there is a tumro within the appendix. You seem to have neither of the two indications and therefore need not have your appendix removed. However, should you develop right lower abdominal pain accompanied by vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite and a fever then these are signs of appendicitis and require immediate medical attention.