Ruptured Appendix

[ImFeklhr]

About 10 days ago, I came down with what I thought was a stomach flu. I assumed it was one of those normal 2-3 day deals, but it continued to get worse. I went to the doctor after 3 days, got checked me out and was given antibiotics and sent on my way. They completely missed it!

Two days after my initial doctors appointment I became weak to the point where I couldn't walk at all. Dragged myself to the ER and was immediately admitted. Turns out my appendix had ruptured days earlier and the infection had spread. Also, having not kept ANYTHING but minimal water down for 7 days, I was completely dehydrated.

Went from the ER to the ICU for one day, then a regular hospital room for 4 more days. I was finally released today. The kickers is I haven't even had the appendix taken out yet!

Any of you guys have your appendix taken out? Did they catch it in time? :shrug:

 

[smurphy]

Damn! ...Why haven't they removed the appendix?

 

[ImFeklhr]

Damn! ...Why haven't they removed the appendix?

Apparently, surgury was too risky because of the infection. So I've had a tube going into my appendix for 5 days draining out the infection, as well as being on IV fluids and antibiotics that whole time.

The doctors tell me the appendix can now be removed in a month or two when I am stronger.

It seemed ass-backwards to me too at first, but whatever got me out of the hospitol before Christmas was A-OK by me. :00hour

 

[gardenweasel]

you have a drain in your abdomen?....

i`ll bet that`s pretty fricking disconcerting....

didn`t you get the hallmark intense pain in your lower right abdomen?...

 

[Terryray]

A good friend of mine had his appendix taken out when teaching in China several years ago. They used acupuncture for the pain during surgery--no drugs!

He said went fine, but like lotta folks who had appendix removed, he's had some stomach/digestion problems and now avoids some foods.

I thought they always had to remove burst appendix right away. But I was wrong, of course. This from WikiAnswer:

Can a ruptured appendix be treated with antibiotics and not surgery?

No, the rupture will leak fecal matter and bacteria of various kinds into the peritoneal cavity. Antibiotics, because they travel through the bloodstream, won't take care of the whole problem. A surgeon will need to go in and wash out the cavity as well as take out the problematic appendix.

However, in some cases - if the appendix has been ruptured for a while - for days or weeks- it may be too inflamed and there may be a large pus pocket, or abscess. In these cases, the pus can be removed with a tube called a drain and the patient is given a course of antibiotics. Once the inflammation has calmed down, many doctors recommend having the appendix removed 6 to 12 weeks later so that appendicitis will not recur. Other doctors say the chances of a second case of appendicitis is low (<20% chance it could happen again..) and that it does not need to be removed. If a later surgery is recommended, surgeons can remove it using laparoscopic approach with tiny incisions.

 

[gardenweasel]

im...you`re just a pup,aren`t you?

 

[ImFeklhr]

you have a drain in your abdomen?....

i`ll bet that`s pretty fricking disconcerting....

Uhhhh yeah, it sucks. Going to be in another week.

didn`t you get the hallmark intense pain in your lower right abdomen?...

I had pain, but it was not localized and I never developed a fever (two things that usually happen). Apparently some cases just don't present as obvious as others. Plus I was a dumb-moose for a couple days trying to tough it out. I just got unlucky that the first doctor didn't catch it. Very unlucky.

As for being a 'pup' .... I'm 28. Whatever that makes me :142smilie

 

[ImFeklhr]

However, in some cases - if the appendix has been ruptured for a while - for days or weeks- it may be too inflamed and there may be a large pus pocket, or abscess. In these cases, the pus can be removed with a tube called a drain and the patient is given a course of antibiotics. Once the inflammation has calmed down, many doctors recommend having the appendix removed 6 to 12 weeks later so that appendicitis will not recur. Other doctors say the chances of a second case of appendicitis is low (<20% chance it could happen again..) and that it does not need to be removed. If a later surgery is recommended, surgeons can remove it using laparoscopic approach with tiny incisions.

This almost exactly describes my experience. Ruptured for days/large pus pocket/abcesss. kurby kurby kurby

 

[Hooks]

Bro, sorry you're going thru this. Hope it's over soon., Hooks

 

[gardenweasel]

Uhhhh yeah, it sucks. Going to be in another week.



I had pain, but it was not localized and I never developed a fever (two things that usually happen). Apparently some cases just don't present as obvious as others. Plus I was a dumb-moose for a couple days trying to tough it out. I just got unlucky that the first doctor didn't catch it. Very unlucky.

As for being a 'pup' .... I'm 28. Whatever that makes me :142smilie

yeah,that`s pup-city....

do you have to wear sweat pants for a month and a half?...i have to think wearing pants is a serious problem(never had to use a drain...the puss from my brain just drains out of my lower ear).......:grins:

glad you`re doing better...sounds like we could have lost ya`....don`t be such a fricking hard-head...:nono:

 

[The Judge]

the puss from my brain just drains out of my lower ear

Now there is a new line for Kosar's signature if I have ever seen one.

 

[dunclock]

Sorry to hear bud and good luck on speedy recovery!

My brother had his rupture in his late 30's and spent over a week in ICU :scared

 

[SixFive]

glad you're back!! Now, maybe smurphy won't be dogging you for missing your picks in the hippo/kramer contest. I see a future rule change!


Terry Ray, the Chinese anesthesia (or lack of) if very interesting to me. Any more details?

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Fek You be careful--could develop into paritinitis and other nasty things.

Clint Saw on exployer episode where they removed brain tumor in China with just a accunpunture and no drugs--patient was alert whole time--kinda freaky.

 

[Morris]

Glad you're feeling better. Friend of mine ruptured his and they took it out right away. Guess they caught it early. Gl with the operation.

 

[Old School]

glad you are ok..

hang tuff...

 

[Esco!]

About 10 days ago, I came down with what I thought was a stomach flu. I assumed it was one of those normal 2-3 day deals, but it continued to get worse. I went to the doctor after 3 days, got checked me out and was given antibiotics and sent on my way. They completely missed it!

Two days after my initial doctors appointment I became weak to the point where I couldn't walk at all. Dragged myself to the ER and was immediately admitted. Turns out my appendix had ruptured days earlier and the infection had spread. Also, having not kept ANYTHING but minimal water down for 7 days, I was completely dehydrated.

Went from the ER to the ICU for one day, then a regular hospital room for 4 more days. I was finally released today. The kickers is I haven't even had the appendix taken out yet!

Any of you guys have your appendix taken out? Did they catch it in time? :shrug:

You're lucky, it couldve killed you

I had the same except mine didnt break.
Hurt like helll, could barely walk to the ER, called an ambulance and I was on mprphine an hour later.

Most painful thing ever happened to me, and they say kidney stones are even worse cause lying down doesnt alleviate the pain

 

[shamrock]

esco Is right, you could be much worse right now. Gross negligence on the part of your doctor. its idiots like you're Dr. that complain about law suits, but can't diagnose classic appendix symptoms. You should mail him your bills.

 

[Wilson]

About 10 days ago, I came down with what I thought was a stomach flu. I assumed it was one of those normal 2-3 day deals, but it continued to get worse. I went to the doctor after 3 days, got checked me out and was given antibiotics and sent on my way. They completely missed it!

Two days after my initial doctors appointment I became weak to the point where I couldn't walk at all. Dragged myself to the ER and was immediately admitted. Turns out my appendix had ruptured days earlier and the infection had spread. Also, having not kept ANYTHING but minimal water down for 7 days, I was completely dehydrated.

Went from the ER to the ICU for one day, then a regular hospital room for 4 more days. I was finally released today. The kickers is I haven't even had the appendix taken out yet!

Any of you guys have your appendix taken out? Did they catch it in time? :shrug:

You need to call a lawyer.

That is bullshit.

 

[Esco!]

You need to call a lawyer.

That is bullshit.

Actually its very rare for someone to walk around with a ruptured appendix for even one day, let alone 3. Not that I'm excusing the doctor's misdiagnosis, but I can understand it a little