A barium enema may be used. It is an x-ray test where liquid contrast is used from anus to fill colon. Sometimes it show an impression on colon in area of inflamed appendix. Barium enema also can exclude other intestinal problems that mimic appendicitis.

Ultrasound shows an enlarged appendix or an abscess. Ultrasound is painless, but appendix can be seen in only half of patients. Ultrasound also is helpful in excluding problems with ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. Ultrasound machine usually looks like a small thumb on wheels that they bring into your room. Technician puts gelly on and drives probe over you belly.

Often they go straight to CT Scan (computer tomography). Especially if patient is not pregnant. CT scan gives relatively high irradiation of your body by x-rays. However benefits of prompt diagnose of appendicitis outweigh risk of radiation. CT scan gives slicing images of your body.

What do they look for? As any inflamation causes edema, wall of appendix will be thickened. This is actually a defensive mechanism - by edema organism try to wall of, to seal off area of infection and inflamation.

But it is useful for us because we can surely say there is an inflammation. The same goes for ultrasound.

CT scan is expensive - around 1000 dollars in an American hospital, though 40 dollars in Russia.

If CT scan is taken during night, CT image may be send to Australia Russia or India.

An American radiologist is paid around 40 dollars to read just an X-ray film. I guess he gets more for reading CT scan. It is only 5 dollars in India. This is why even such clinics as Harvard and Yale adopt this model of work - they send CT scans to cheap labor abroad. Especially during night. Half an hour later fax from Australia arrives. "Inflammatory pericecal mass in right iliac fossa consistent with diagnosis of severe acute appendicitis." Any doctor can read an x-ray film or CT scan. Radiologists are doctors who specialize in reading of films. They may find what was missed by others.

At this point diagnosis is usually clear. In cases if it is not, there is Laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure. Small fiberoptic tube with a camera is inserted into abdomen through a small puncture in abdominal wall.

Yet there is no test that will diagnose appendicitis with 100% certainty.

Following is diet suggested for patients suffering form Fibromyalgia and CFS Vegetable juices and soups Coconut water and Coconut milk Juice of carrot, Cucumber, Beetroot Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin Spices like cumin, coriander, ginger asafetida, garlic, fennel and turmeric. Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt Khichadi (recipe made by cooking rice and mung dal, 1:1 or 1:2 proportion)