question: I have several symptoms associated with appendicitis, e.g., pain in lower right abdomen which feels worse if I stand or cough, general lower abdominal discomfort, pain when I press on lower right abdomen etc. However, I had these same symptoms back in January, for 3-4 days; then again in April for 3-4 days (both times slowly getting better after about 2.5 days); and now the symptoms have returned again. Every time it starts I initially associate it with something I ate because of the general stomach discomfort and gas. The symptoms come on gradually and take about 18 hours to peak. Is this likely appendicitis or some other gastrointestinal problem or perhaps a muscle tear or hernia?