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Appendix Laparoscopy
This minimally invasive surgical procedure for appendix removal is a total game-changer. With a quick recovery and minimal scarring, you'll be back on your feet in no time, which is a huge plus. It's a much more appealing option than traditional surgery, if you ask me.
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My Appendicitis Nightmare: A Cautionary Tale of Recovery
summarizeEditor's Summary
I'm still trying to process the ordeal I went through with appendicitis, and I'm sharing my story in the hopes that it'll help others who might be experiencing similar symptoms. Appendicitis is a serious condition that requires immediate attention, but it's not always an emergency. I learned a lot about the condition, its causes, and my recovery experience, and I want to share those insights with you. If you're experiencing any of the symptoms I'll mention, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor.
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I'm still trying to process the ordeal I went through with appendicitis, and I'm sharing my story in the hopes that it'll help others who might be experiencing similar symptoms.
Let's break it down into sections for easier reading.
Section 1: Main info in a nutshell
The appendix is a long, thin tube that's part of the large intestine. It's thought to stimulate the immune system and boost our body's defenses. On average, it's around 8-10 cm long.
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. It can be either acute or chronic.
With chronic appendicitis, a planned appendectomy is usually performed. Acute inflammation, however, requires immediate surgical intervention.
And here's the thing... appendicitis can be chronic, and removal isn't always an emergency.
What causes appendicitis?
I've learned that appendicitis is usually triggered by non-harmful microorganisms.
When they infect the appendix, you'll often find bacteria like E. coli, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and anaerobic bacteria.
These microbes sneak into the appendix wall from its inner lining.
My removed appendix wasn't tested, and they didn't investigate the cause.
Factors that might lead to appendicitis:
• Inflammation in the intestines;
• Deformity of the appendix, which disrupts blood flow and causes tissue death;
• Blockage of the appendix – fecal stones, tumors, foreign objects, or parasites can clog the appendix.
And let's not even get into the whole 'chips and nuts' thing...…moreover, appendectomy is also common in children, even with a balanced diet.
In one country, appendectomy is even offered to newborns as a scheduled procedure.
Symptoms of acute appendicitis:
• Severe abdominal pain that worsens with pressure;
• Constipation or diarrhea;
• Nausea, vomiting;
• Loss of appetite;
• Bloating;
• Elevated body temperature.
I was only experiencing severe pain and a temperature that spiked about 4 hours after the pain started.
I mean, with symptoms like that, nobody even thinks about appendicitis, and I didn't either.
There are two ways to remove an appendix, and today we're talking about one of them.
Open appendectomy is performed through an incision about 8-10 cm in length in the right lower quadrant.
Through the incision, the surgeon separates the appendix from surrounding tissues and then removes the organ.
This method is shown when the infectious process has spread to the abdominal cavity or when the appendix is improperly positioned.
Laparoscopic appendectomy is an endoscopic method that allows the appendix to be removed through three small punctures in the abdominal wall.
This type of surgery is performed on an outpatient basis for both chronic and acute non-complicated appendicitis.
My appendix was extremely acute and had complications like spreading pus in the pelvic area.
At that point, the whole situation was assessed during the operation.
Doctors can't 100% say you have acute appendicitis.
My story and the first signs of appendicitis
The first signs that something was going wrong in my body were months before the operation, about 4-5 months ago.
My pain started with stomach cramps that radiated from the ribs down to the lower abdomen.
It was a central pain, not just on one side, although it did sometimes shift to the right.
Over-the-counter pain meds barely helped, and during a severe episode, they were useless.
The pain was a bit crampy, sometimes easing up, only to come back with intense force.
The pain was so severe that even curling up in a ball couldn't help me cope.
During my first episode, I called an ambulance.
I was taken to the ER, where they ran tests – blood work, urine analysis, a physical exam, ultrasound, and X-ray.
Despite the poor blood test results, they sent me home with a prescription for Omeprozole and pain meds, without diagnosing me or even mentioning appendicitis.
A month later, the same thing happened again.
The symptoms were identical, but this time I didn't go to the hospital.
I was wracked with pain for two days, which led me to see a gastroenterologist.
After a long series of tests, I was diagnosed with stress-induced gastritis.
The treatment consisted of pills and herbal supplements for anxiety relief, but no dietary changes were recommended, as my diet was normal.
Exactly a month later, the same symptoms recurred...this time, I went to see a gynecologist.
She found the cause of my pain: endometriosis.
The episodes occurred right in the middle of my cycle, every month.
I started treatment, but the endometriosis persisted.
Another month went by, and the pain came back, so I ended up in the hospital via ambulance in the middle of the night.
The tests were repeated, and the doctor said, 'I think you might have appendicitis, but I'm not sure.
We need to insert a camera into your abdomen to take a look.
If it's appendicitis, we'll remove it right away.'
I asked the doctor what if it's not appendicitis?
The doctor replied that if it's not, they'd keep me in the hospital under observation.
I agreed to the operation.
The doctor said the head of the department would come and give their verdict.
The head of the department said I didn't have appendicitis, and I needed to look into gynecology issues.
I could go home with a friend, but I was in agony, had a terrible blood test, and a high temperature.
Just like the past few months, the pain completely subsided in two days, along with the temperature.
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Day X: A sudden operation
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I was feeling pretty happy on June 27th.
I wasn't feeling unwell, and I hadn't done anything that could harm my health.
On June 29th, I went to work with a mild feeling of hunger.
My stomach was slightly swollen, as if it wanted to eat.
At 1 pm, I had a banana snack, but the hunger feeling grew stronger, and soon turned into pain.
The pain was in the center, just like before, and it wrapped around the area from the middle of my ribs to the bottom of my stomach.
I also had sharp pain on the right side, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was.
The pain was both crampy, aching, and stabbing.
By 3 pm, I was in such agony that I couldn't hold back tears.
I called my husband and asked him to take me to a private gynecologist appointment and get an ultrasound.
While we were driving, I lost consciousness...
I had a bad day when the private clinic wasn't working, so I had to make a trip to my doctor in the area.
After waiting in line, I went into the consultation room and asked them to take me in because of the severe pain.
They quickly took all my tests, sent me for an ultrasound.
The blood test was really bad, my temperature was 39.3.
It was all pretty much the same as the last time.
The ultrasound doctor took a look and said, 'You've got pain in the female area, but there's also pain in the surgical area.'
But you won't die from the female pain, and you don't need surgery.
But if it's surgery... we might not be able to save you.
Go to the surgical department, let them take a look.
If they don't take you, come back to us, and we'll do what we can.'
So I rushed off to the surgical department, where they took all my tests again.
They also did an X-ray and ultrasound and examined my abdomen.
The doctor was really attentive and tried to gather as much information as possible about my symptoms.
You could see that especially when he was feeling my abdomen.
They were also discussing my X-ray and not all the doctors were sure about the diagnosis.
I was already prepared for them to send me home again.
But then the doctor dropped a bombshell: 'We suspect appendicitis, we need to operate immediately.'
'What if it's not appendicitis?'
'Then we'll call the gynecologist and let her take a look.'
The doctor explained the operation to me, but I couldn't believe I had appendicitis.
I thought it would be gynecology in the end.
I don't know why, but I was calm.
And the pain was subsiding, then getting worse.
When I told my husband I was going in for surgery, he was totally shocked.
They took me to the recovery room and told me to get ready.
Almost immediately, another doctor came in.
After asking me a few questions, he said, 'It doesn't look like appendicitis...we'll take a closer look' and left...
He was stopped in the hallway by my husband with a question.
'Doctor, what's going on with my wife?'
'The surgery will show...and he left again.'
I ended up laughing hysterically at that phrase...through tears.
When I told my mom she'd have to stay with the kids while I was in surgery, she asked me not to be a goofball and just go home.
To be honest, nobody – including me – thought it was appendicitis.
They started prepping me for emergency surgery.
The main question was when I'd last eaten and drunk anything.
I got lucky – I'd eaten at 1 pm, and it was 7 pm by the time they started getting me ready.
I'll remind you, I'd been feeling bad at 3 pm and gone to the doctor.
They hooked me up to an IV, and started running some tests.
My husband went home to grab my stuff.
At that point, I only had my phone with me.
My stomach was still hurting, but it seemed to be easing up a bit.
I have no idea why, but I was completely calm.
My husband was the only one who asked me to talk to the doctors before the surgery!
But he had gone out to get some stuff.
The anesthesiologist came to talk to me instead.
He asked me the usual questions and explained the anesthesia.
I told him that I've had anesthesia before and I didn't react well to it.
The anesthesiologist reassured me that everything would be fine, as long as I didn't sleep for 2 hours after the surgery and didn't eat or drink for 1.5 hours.
And then, out of nowhere, they called me in for the surgery, telling me to bring a sheet with me.
I went in with some mixed feelings... no fear, no shaking, it was like I was just going for a check-up.
When I walked into the operating room, I was in shock.
Everything was so beautiful, stainless steel, clean, and looked really high-end.
The operating room looked like something out of a sci-fi movie.
I was most surprised by the huge steel door that automatically opened and closed, and had a huge circular window.
The control panel on the table went down, and when I lay down, it went back up.
I forgot to mention that before I went into the operating room, I undressed and showered, and they gave me a sheet to wrap up in, and then I went in.
Previous surgeries started with a pretty awkward process.
But this time, it was all very civilized.
I started to get a little chilly, so I was lying there under the sheet, and they started attaching the sensors to my hands.
My hands and feet were, of course, tied down.
I asked the anesthesiologist to remind the gynecologist... even then, I didn't think it was real.
And I also complained that I was scared... for my kids... who are alone right now... I mean, they need to be fed, bathed, put to bed, and all that.
I was completely out cold, and the anesthesiologist said it was time for me to go under.
The anesthesia was administered via a vein, and I literally felt myself lifting off the table in seconds... almost, but not quite.
The scariest part of the whole ordeal was that I wasn't fully under the anesthesia.
My body was paralyzed, my mind was foggy, and I could hear and feel things in the distance.
I was terrified, and I tried to signal for help.
With a huge effort, I managed to move one finger, and I thought I'd succeeded.
But I couldn't open my mouth.
It felt like my lips were glued together, and I was trying to pry them apart, but I couldn't.
Apparently, the doctors noticed my attempts and said, 'add some more' – that's what I distinctly remember.
I also remember feeling like they were inserting something into my mouth.
They were literally opening my lips... and then I was out again.
They were inserting a tube through my mouth, which delivers oxygen.
I don't remember the tube itself, but I was already out cold by then.
The operation lasted two hours!
They started waking me up by calling my name, and I came to quickly.
I felt okay, so I asked the anesthesiologist for her hand and held it tightly.
It was so warm and soft.
I held her hand for about 10 minutes, saying how warm it was, and even stroking it.
Then they wheeled me to the recovery room, where my husband was already waiting.
I don't remember the transfer itself – it's all a blur.
My husband told me that the doctors said, 'get up and walk', and I got up, naked, and stumbled out of the room.
My husband even asked the nurse if he could help, but she said I'd be fine.
That's a moment my husband still talks about.
Recovery after surgery in the hospital
The next 1.5 hours were the longest, when I couldn't sleep, and my eyes kept drooping.
After a couple of hours, I just didn't feel like sleeping anymore, and my husband started giving me sips from a spoon.
I lay there for a couple of hours, taking tiny sips.
And then I needed to use the bathroom...they offered me a chicken...
Honestly, that was a major turnoff...
my husband slipped it to me, and he sat there watching.
I asked him to cover me up...
still couldn't go...
asked him to leave the room...
still couldn't go.
So I asked my husband to take me to the bathroom.
In moments like those, you really see the true meaning of love...my husband handled the toilet, helped me undress, sat me down, and even held me in place.
My stomach looked huge and swollen.
Two tubes were sticking out of it, and there were these little pouches on either side, collecting liquid.
At different stages, it's called different things.
The pain was pretty intense, and it felt like there were a lot of air pockets that would burst and hurt.
I also started coughing, like my throat was being scraped.
And let me tell you, coughing was agony.
That was all thanks to the oxygen tube they had me hooked up to during the operation.
For the entire 11 days I was in the hospital, I was coughing nonstop.
The nurses would take blood from me an hour after the operation, give me shots, and set up IVs.
One time, my temperature spiked after the IV, but it went back down after a while.
The shots were given to me three times a day, and they did a great job of numbing the pain.
Even when I was lying down, the wound didn't hurt that much.
But the oxygen tubes with the little packets were a real nuisance.
When they just hung there, it was really uncomfortable.
I had to wear them all the time.
The first few days of walking were pretty tough.
I was hunched over and moving really slowly.
The funniest part was that even the elderly folks were passing me!
A few times, they helped me get to the food with my tray.
By day three, I was already itching to take a bath, but the hospital didn't have any hot water.
Then they removed one of the tubes, and I decided to sneak out and go home to take a shower and get myself together.
That's when I took some photos and realized how I looked
I have to say, I lost weight
Although my stomach was still bloated from the gas they pumped in during the surgery, I walked home with this review, tube sticking out.
And I didn't have enough clothes to cover it properly.
I started eating chicken noodle soup just a day after the surgery, and within three days, I was eating solid food again.
The most important thing was that my bowel movements were regular, so I could even eat bread with cheese for breakfast.
Surprisingly, removing the tubes wasn't painful, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either.
They're pretty deep in your pelvis, and just having them there is uncomfortable.
Once they were removed, half the pain went away, and I could finally sleep on my sides and even my stomach, although I couldn't lie on my stomach for another month for sure.
After the tubes were out, showering became a lot easier, but I had to be careful not to get any water on my wounds.
Sometimes I'd wrap myself in plastic wrap to make sure I didn't get any water on them.
My sister, who's a nurse, said that during transport, my skin got burned and I'd be left with a pretty nasty scar.
Life after surgery, healing from the scars
Here's how my stomach looked when I was discharged from the hospital.
I was able to submerge the wound in water right away, and even got it wet when it was healing.
But I had to be careful not to lift anything heavy or exert myself physically, which meant I had to be extra cautious around the kids - I didn't even pick them up for a second.
However, the stitches started to come undone after a week, and I knew it when the scab fell off.
I went back to see the surgeon, but this time it was just a trip to the clinic, and they gave me some ointment and instructions to change the dressing.
I did that for two whole weeks, and only then did the wound finally start to heal.
And here's how it looked after that.
The scars on the sides were surprisingly small and not very noticeable.
I felt like a total wreck for a whole month - I was always tired and sleepy, and even doing household chores felt like a chore.
But then, slowly but surely, I started to get my energy back, and I was able to tackle more tasks around the house.
The stitches themselves stopped bothering me, but I still get this weird sensation of missing a piece of skin when I stretch, especially over the incision site near my belly button.
It's not the skin that feels tight, but something else entirely...
Inside.
Two months after the operation, we went to the sea.
I had to get a swimsuit that would cover my scars.
The ones on the sides aren't too visible, but the one above my belly button is pretty ugly.
Because of my disfigured stomach, I won't be able to wear some of my favorite outfits anymore.
Take this one, for example - it was my go-to, but now I won't be able to wear it.
Of course, most of my outfits are still wearable, I just have to pull my pants up a bit higher.
But sometimes I'd forget, I loved my belly button so much.
Occasionally, the scar would show, and of course, my friends would point it out.
Two and a half months after the operation, my scars look like this.
One thing that really stands out is how faint the scars are when they've healed - you can barely see them.
The scar above my belly button, though, is a different story.
It's a pretty noticeable, dense, and weirdly-shaped mark.
Honestly, I've been itching to go back in and re-suture it, but I'm not looking forward to another surgery.
I'm actually considering getting a tattoo to cover it up, but I'm not sure yet.
The main thing I want to stress is how important it is to take care of your health.
I'm happy to report that the monthly pains I experienced after the surgery have completely gone away, which means chronic appendicitis is definitely a thing and it's crucial to catch it and remove the inflamed appendix.
You can actually live without an appendix, and my life hasn't changed at all since the surgery.
The only reminders I have are the scar and the occasional feeling of tension in my stomach when I move.
The surgery itself isn't scary if you're under good anesthesia, and the toughest part of the recovery is the hospital stay - it's around 7 to 12 days.
After that, things get a lot better.
You'll want to wait at least 3 months after surgery before getting back into physical activity.
It's not until 6 months later that you can really start getting back into sports.
❤️❤️❤️ Thanks for sticking with me through my story - I hope this info never comes in handy for you.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What are the symptoms of appendicitis, and how do I know if I have it?
The symptoms of appendicitis can vary, but common signs include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential to seek medical help immediately. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and may order imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis.
What are the causes of appendicitis, and can it be prevented?
Appendicitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection, which can be triggered by a variety of factors, including diet, lifestyle, and genetics. While it's not possible to completely prevent appendicitis, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress can reduce the risk of developing the condition.
What is the treatment for appendicitis, and what are the options?
The treatment for appendicitis typically involves antibiotics and pain management medication. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the inflamed appendix. Your doctor will discuss the best course of treatment with you and help you understand the risks and benefits of each option.
How long does it take to recover from appendicitis, and what can I expect?
The recovery time for appendicitis can vary depending on the severity of the condition and the treatment options chosen. Typically, it takes several weeks to fully recover, and you may experience some complications during this time. It's essential to follow your doctor's instructions and take care of your overall health to ensure a smooth recovery.
Can appendicitis be chronic, and what are the risks?
Yes, appendicitis can be chronic, and it's essential to seek medical help if you're experiencing recurring symptoms. Chronic appendicitis can lead to complications, such as perforation, abscess, and peritonitis, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
How can I prevent appendicitis, and what are some lifestyle changes I can make?
While it's not possible to completely prevent appendicitis, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing the condition. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and getting enough sleep.
What are the signs of appendicitis in children, and how can I identify them?
The symptoms of appendicitis in children can be similar to those in adults, but they may also include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal tenderness. If you suspect your child has appendicitis, it's essential to seek medical help immediately. Your pediatrician will perform a physical exam and may order imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Can appendicitis be treated with alternative medicine, or are there any natural remedies?
While there are some alternative treatments that may help manage symptoms, appendicitis requires medical attention. Your doctor may recommend antibiotics, pain management medication, or surgery to treat the condition. It's essential to follow your doctor's instructions and avoid relying on alternative medicine as the primary treatment.
check_circlePros
- •The complexity of the condition surprised me, and I learned the importance of seeking medical help right away.
- •My doctor was incredibly knowledgeable and helped me understand the severity of my condition.
- •The medication I took helped manage my symptoms and reduce the pain.
- •I learned the importance of taking care of my overall health and not ignoring any unusual symptoms.
- •My experience with appendicitis was a wake-up call to prioritize my health and well-being.
- •The recovery process was longer than I expected, but it was worth it in the end.
cancelCons
- •The pain was unbearable at times, and it was hard to manage my symptoms without medication.
- •I had to take time off work and adjust my daily routine, which was challenging.
- •The recovery process was longer than I expected, and I had to deal with some complications.
- •I was anxious about the surgery and the potential risks involved.
- •I had to deal with some emotional trauma after the experience, which took time to overcome.
- •I was disappointed by the lack of information available about appendicitis and its causes.
