[onion_writer]

You may recall the hernia thread I started in January, when I was worried I had one. Well, I did not! That's the good news.

The bad news is that I had an inflamed appendix, which burst Saturday. I had laproscopy the next day and was discharged the day after that.

It's a LOT better, but still pretty painful. I'd enjoy hearing from others who also have undergone apdendectomies, to learn how their own recoveries went.

Thanks!

[bignatslover]

Whoah!  I am glad to hear you survived it man.  My biology prof once mentioned how people often die from a burst appendix.

I remember when I had my appendectomy.  I was 19 and kept thinking I had a stomach ache.  Except the ache got stronger with each passing hour.  Eventually I could NOT stand up.  Lying sideways in the fetal position was about the only thing that was tolerable.  The E.R. docs said mine had NOT ruptured but that it would have within the next 8 hours or so if they hadn't caught it in time.

[G_I_John]

I was told mine exploded as they were cutting me open, so very good timing on their part

I was 10 at the time, I missed a fancy dress day at school, was rather annoyed, I was gonna be Asterix XD

Scar's just as noticable, mainly due to the increased amount of body hair

[CyberGump2]

I had a burst Appendix in Dec 2003 ..... I hesitated to see the doctor
and I ended up with peritonitis

According to the surgeon my appendix was the size of fist when they opened me up
the surgeon had perform a "right hemi-colectomy" taking out 6 inches of the large intestine
and 4 inches of small intestine.

I did hear there is a 40% mortality rate for this type of Operation , but luckily
I was young and fit enough to recover.

I was hosptalised for a further 3 weeks during recovery, 2 of those weeks I was "nil by mouth"
and could not ingest anything (including water). 

wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy....

[onion_writer]

That sounds horrible!

I've been doing better every day (I was released from the hospital Monday). Yesterday, I was able to tie my shoes for the first time. Last night was rough, though -- lots of pain where the appendix used to be. I just hope I don't run out of pain medication while I still might need it.

They inflate you with gas for laproscopic surgery, and part of getting well is just getting over that. I've been bloated most of the week. But at least I know longer walk like Tim Conway in his "old man" sketches.

[bignatslover]

walk like Tim Conway in his "old man" sketches.

LOL I remember that. 

Be glad yours was laparoscopic.  Most of us remember the giant evil staples we had to keep on for a week.

[onion_writer]

Oh, I'm very thankful for the laparoscopy. I don't even want to think what it must have been like before.

[pedonbio]

Oh, I'm very thankful for the laparoscopy. I don't even want to think what it must have been like before.

Me, too. In 1999 I had mine out laproscopically. It hadn't "burst" so much as "leaked", so it was pretty easy to clean up. I stayed in the hospital four days, though, for i.v. antibiotics. The death thing is no joke--Daniel Patrick Moyniohan died from appendicitis because it didn't hurt much, and nobody expects an 80-year-old to have it.

[onion_writer]

Agreed, PedonBio! I just read that both Valentino and Houdini died of appendicitis!

Well, they're wusses -- I survived! (Ahem.)

On the other hand, now that I've been jacked up with both IV and pill antiobiotics for a week, I can barely digest food, and my personal region has the worst yeast infection of my whole life. I'm bringing yogurt (internally) and  further medications (externally) to bear.

Still short of breath, but pain free for the second day in a row. It really is a miracle, what they can do these days. Now if my stomach bloat would just go away. It itches, too, from where they shaved it. But I'll take that over what I was feeling one week ago today!

The only other pain I expect will be when the bill comes. I'm uninsured!

[pedonbio]

On the other hand, now that I've been jacked up with both IV and pill antiobiotics for a week, I can barely digest food, and my personal region has the worst yeast infection of my whole life. I'm bringing yogurt (internally) and  further medications (externally) to bear.

Yes. There's nothing like a huge dose of antibiotics to kill all the bacteria growing in your gut to give you a direct sense of what "symbiotic" means--Those sweet little fellas help me digest food and prevent permanent diarrhea.

Also, the first time you **107** after the surgery... I don't want to think about. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!

[onion_writer]

Two and a half weeks now. I feel okay most of the time, but it's still hard to bend over or even tie my shoes. I'm used to jogging three or four miles a day, and taking it so easy is a little rough.

About every other day I have shooting pains in my abdomen. Yesterday on the right, today on the left. So it's not chronic. I'm trying not to take my pain meds, as they're narcotics.

Anyone else go through this? How long until I might start working out again? (I'm an uninsured writer and I welcome advice.)

[gonZo]

Phone the surgeon's office and ask how long you should wait before working out. It's a common question, so they should have an answer for you.

[onion_writer]

Phone the surgeon's office and ask how long you should wait before working out. It's a common question, so they should have an answer for you.

Thank you, Gonzo. I'll do that. I also still will value news of any other members experiences.

[onion_writer]

Three weeks as of today, and it still hurts. Is this normal? Two of the laproscopic incisions are fine, but I still feel deep inside where they took the appendix out.

[SamV]

Umm O - you didn't happen to piss off any of the doctors or nurses prior to your surgery did you?
Because there's this nasty way to get back at someone during an appendectomy which involves sterilized glass marbles.

Sam "I heard about it from Ensign Pulver" V