RUPTURED APPENDIX August 14, 2007
Posted by wmmbb in Life Experience.trackback
Although I thought it was food poisoning, my illness turned out to be a ruptured appendix. If you are interested you can read the medical details at Wikipedia. Luckily I have a low tolerance for pain and discomfit.
On Friday, I started to experience the symptoms. Then things appeared to get better, as is a characteristic of this illness, so Susan went into Sydney as she had planned to see an opera on the following day. That night I found I could not sleep, and began my mantra, not for first time: “Oh, oh, oh”. By 4 o’clock the next morning, having realized I had something I could not deal with, I organized a cab to take down to the local hospital emergency section. After their initial diagnosis, I was dispatched to Wollongong Emergency ward for a CT scan among other tests.
Hospitals have their procedures, and while they are slow they move inexorably. I was caught up in this slow march, and I even had a bed, which are more rare than usual due to an influenza outbreak. At midday, although I did not know the time, I started worrying about the dogs being left on their own, and the havoc that might have resulted, so I discharged myself from hospital and came home.
Surprisingly there was no havoc, and I went immediately to bed and slept for about four hours. The ringing phone woke me. The doctor on the voice recording said I had to come back immediately to Wollongong, and to emphasis the point she said that a ruptured appendix could kill you. Still I had time to put a call through to Sydney explain the situation and make the necessary arrangements.
The Emergency Department did not take the same view. Nevertheless after waiting around for some time, I was operated on at 11 0′clock that night. (to be continued)
UPDATE: 30 May 2008
I was speaking to my hematologist (blood specialist) on Wednesday, and he has been particularly interested in finding out what additional tests were done when I had the appendectomy. It turns out his mother had died from an undiagnosed cancer that accompanied a ruptured appendix. So it turns out that a ruptured appendix can be associated with a diagnosis of cancer, particularly in older people. If you are middle-aged and have an ruptured or perforated appendix, this possibility is something that you may wish to discuss with your medical adviser or surgeon.
The philosophy of my specialist doctors, in particular my kidney specialist, is that patients should have a general knowledge about their condition, and that seems to me to be sensible. Still, I also appreciate that if the conditions in our hospitals are typical elsewhere, there is pressure particularly on surgeons that can make the practice of medicine difficult, but hopefully not impossible. I pass on these tidbits in the hope that they might be useful.
Some people do not trust doctors at all. I am not one for going to doctors either if I can avoid it. My experience is that though that when faced with what turns out to be an enlarged spleen or ruptured appendix, the problem is beyond me and I have to turn to people get the diagnostics right and do the necessary surgery.
My ruptured appendix horror story
I was seeing an acupuncturist for about four weeks to treat a supposed small intestine / ileocecal valve issue (he established that). The ileocecal valve is located right next to the appendix. Tuesday before Thanksgiving 07 I saw him for a treatment and the very next day I suffered from a fever and pain in my abdomen. I initially thought it was a bad case of IBS and called his office to inquire. He suggested to take acidophilus and Vitamin C.
The pain never went away and I called his office again on Monday after Thanksgiving. He suggested I come in. I was in no shape to do this, but drove the 40 miles to his office anyway. He insisted it was a missing enzyme, tested me with biofeedback to establish which enzyme would be best for me and sent me on my way with the remedy. I had explained the location and severity of my pain. He simply shrugged it off. This is a man who has 35 years experience and claims to be the guru of acupuncture – Dr. Sunderlage of Elgin, IL. Yet, he was unable to pick up the usual symptoms of appendicitis. Where does that leave biofeedback and acupuncture? Sometimes we simply need a Doctor!
The pain got more and more excruciating. The next morning, I finally could not take it anymore. Early in the am, my boyfriend took me to the ER at Chicago’s St. Joseph Hospital. I cried and moaned in agony, I needed assistance walking. I would have done anything for the pain to go away. The Doctor suspected an appendix problem right away. I was given some pain killers and prepped for a CT Scan. In my agony, I had to drink a big bottle of white liquid for them to see my abdomen on the scan. I hurried up drinking the liquid. I wanted to move on and get rid of whatever was bothering me. The pain grew more and more intense.
The CT scan confirmed a ruptured appendix. I was getting nervous but felt relieved we knew what the issue was. Within an hour I was in surgery. The anesthesist confirmed the surgeon had 25 years of experience and knew what he was doing. I begged the Doctor to put me out right away. I could not lie there much longer. Never in my life had I experienced pain like this.
A couple hours later I woke up in the recovery room. I was freezing and felt weird. After about an hour they put me in my room. Shortly thereafter, the surgeon paid me a visit and told me my appendix case was the worst in ten years. The appendix must have burst a couple days back and it was free-floating in my abdomen. It had also blown a hole into my colon which make stool leak all over my abdomen. A couple hours later and I would have been in ‘septic shock’ and all help would have been too late.
The surgeon just shock his head, wondering why I had waited for so long to come in. I explained the situation to him, mentioned the fact that I thought it was IBS and the acupuncturist story. He could not understand how I could bear the pain.
I expected to be out of the hospital within a few days, but the surgeon warned me I’d be there at least four or five days. I ended up staying for five days. Five days with lots of pain and discomfort. For three days I was given morphine for the pain. I suffered from fevers for two days. Fever as high as 103.5. Anti-nausea medicine, Morphine, Anti-biotic were given intravenously and Tylenol by mouth to lower the fever. The Morphine gave me psychedelic dreams and visions. I could not sleep, every time I closed my eyes, I was in another world. It got kind of annoying after a while, but it surely helped the pain. A drain was also attached to my abdomen, puss drained out for seven days.
The second day in the hospital, I called the acupuncturist (on Morphine) and informed him about what happened. He acted dumb, but admitted he should have picked up the typical symptamology for appendicitis. In the meantime I have written a letter to him, asking for a refund for his near-deadly treatment.
Only days after the surgery I realized how close I was to death. I am grateful and lucky to be alive. I ended up in a great hospital with wonderful care – thanks to my boyfriend who reacted quickly.
Now, two weeks after the surgery, I am still hobbling around, but getting stronger. Total recovery is six weeks. I can’t lift anything over 10 lbs, can’t work out. I am trying to gain the weight back that I lost in the days after surgery. My appetite is only slowly coming back. It is amazing what kind of grief a little appendix, a remnant from the past, can cause. Remember, sometimes a real Dr. is the only one who can help. Natural medicine is great, but it nearly killed me. If surgery is needed, only Western medicine can help.
If you ever suffer from a pain in the lower, right corner of your abdomen – go to the ER right away!
What a story Susanne. If my experience is anything to go by, and it was nothing like yours in terms of pain and “collateral damage”, getting better will take some time.
I am in Australia, so just to make it clear Thanksgiving is the on the fourth Thursday in November. I am also wondering what the treatment has cost you, and whether you now saddled with considerable bills. As I mentioned I went into the public ward, and had a bed and then came back home to see how the dogs were going, and then had to wait around in the corridors before my operation. Further to that I only stayed in hospital three nights and then came home, which was a struggle, but I managed.
I agree entirely about your comments in relation to natural medicine. Acupuncture may be worth a try in relation to say chronic pain when the only medical alternative are pain killers that do not work and have side effects.
Unlike you Susanne I suffered discomfit more than pain, and that was too much for me. The discomfit extended to the hospital beds and the noise that people choose to live with, seemingly 24/7.
One other difference of our cases, I was not required to drink any fluid prior to my CT scan.
I must admit that I had forgotten about my perforated/ruptured appendix, since I had to have a bone marrow biopsy a week or so ago, which is normally for me a traumatic event.
Thank you very much Susanne for sharing your story, I wish the very best for your recovery.
Hi there,
Venting does help. Who expects an appendix to burst? I simply never thought of this to happen.
I just receive the bill from the hospital yesterday – 30,000USD. My insurance is supposed to pick up the tab.
I am still lacking energy big time.
Hope to recover soon.
Good luck with the biopsy. Hope the results are benign.
I am all for venting Susanne.
Rest assured you were not venting in a vacuum. I was very interested, as I believe others will be when they see your bill. It seems to me that both blogging and democracy are forms of venting.
You had a far more serious operation than me, although I could not eat fully for days. I kept on having false dawns in terms of recovery, when I thought I was getting better it did not happen, or rather it was a longer and more drawn out process than I had bargained for.
I see my specialist next Wednesday, so I will be told then the results of the biopsy.
Hopefully, your medical insurance will cover your costs. I notice that millions of Americans do not have health insurance, and as we know without the operation we would both now be dead.
Best wishes Susanne for your recovery.
Yep. Loads of Americanos are w/o health insurance. turns out cubans are better off than us. serious dilemma in this country. just watch ‘Sicko’. In any case, I am experiencing the same setbacks.. think am almost back to normal and then I go for a walk and am totally exhausted. they told me 6 weeks til full recovery. think they were not joking
.
have a merry one
Thanks for all of that Susanne.
I notice that things may be happening in California with respect to widening health insurance coverage. The question is not of socialized medicine but rather civilized medicine.
oops. Merry Christmas.
Hi there Susanne, I was just wondering if you ever came back to your same old self after the whole ordeal. Have you completly gained back your health, and are able to do your usual, daily “doings?” Did you ever feel depressed for a period of time? I would just like to know because my mother just went through the whole nine yards you explained you went through and shes still on her antibiotics and low residue diet. So im just curious. Thank You.
I hope that Susanne will come back to answer your question Bill, but keep in mind she (hopefully) has now recovered and its the holiday season.
Mine is very similar to Susanne’s.. I started getting episodes of extreme pain and sickness that would last for a few days when I was 16 yrs. old. Every 4 – 6 months, the same thing would happen, diahrreah, nausea, intense abdomen pain, fever, etc. The 3rd episode I went to the doctor, and they had found nothing, and it passed. The 4th episode, I was not going to go to the E.R. until I all of the sudden (during the sickness and pain) got extremely cold. It was Christmas eve, and there was a small family party at my house. People freaked out, throwing blankets on me, but I could not stop shivering, I could barely speak I was so cold. Eventually someone grabbed a thermometer to take my temperate expecting an extremely low temperature, and the opposite was found– 104.9F. 2 of my cousins picked me up and put me in a vehicle and rushed me to the E.R. After 4 hours Christmas eve night (Now christmas morning), the Arab doctor who I could barely understand said I had a stomache virus, and sent me home. The pain and sickness stayed for 3 days, and on the morning of the 3rd day, I was hallucinating. My skin was pale and I looked like I was dying very soon. Again, concerned family members took me back to the E.R., where a doctor asked a couple questions, and did a couple tests on spot and figured I had appendicitis. After the test where I had to drink nasty liquid, and put me in the CT scan, they found I had a ruptured appendix. The abscess was the size of a small volleyball, and I was hours away from my intenstines dying from infection. They rushed me into surgery and had to remove my ascending colon and last 10% of my small intestines due to gangrene.
I went to sue the doctor who misdiagnosed me christmas morning, but it seems like some of the records were changed and/or missing. I have had loose bowels ever since (5+ years later), and had to go through another surgery due to scar tissue building up and blocking my intestines. The 2nd surgery was done 2 years after the first, and I have been perfect ever since. The recovery time in the U.S. was about 6 weeks, compared to the recovery time in Brazil which was about 2 weeks. Same surgery basically, same incension, same hospital stay, etc. U.S. Hospital bill — $48,000. Brazil Hospital bill — $5,200. Everything in Brazil was better, the doctor’s, nurses, except perhaps the cleanliness. But it was very clean there, and I had no complications.
Our medicine practices here are overpriced, and horrible… Susanne, did you have any colon/small intestines removed??
I sent Susanne an email, so I hope she will be back to answer your questions.
Hopefully, health will continue to be at the forefront of the US election campaign. The common themes here, it seems to me, are the critical nature of early diagnosis and cost, given as I understand the surgical removal of the appendix is a relatively straightforward procedure.
Adam, the difference in costs, between the US and Brazil, are startling, but my memory is the mortality from the condition is as bad or worse in Brazil. ( I might search around for that data, and post it above).
Wow what a story, Susanne. I am 3 weeks post op from a 48 hour ruptured appendix. I was in California hospital 3 days( $35,000 US) on IV antibiotics and realease with oral treatment. I am still very sore and have pain with deep breathing even spasms in my diaphram. The docs say this will go away with time…how long???? Has anyone had similar problems with recovery.
Bee
Hi Bee
Apologies for slowness of my response.
I will try and rouse Susanne again. Nevertheless, keep the the experiences of perforated/ruptured appendices coming.
I am in no position to comment about the complications that people have experienced, but I was told two significant things: it is a potentially life threatening condition and it is, subject to whatever the qualifications might be, a relatively simple surgical procedure.
Therefore, it represents an important test of our health systems. Clearly to deny, to impede access to medical services when life is as issue is a grave matter.
Thank you to everybody that has commented and shared their experiences. My hope is that it may be helpful to others.
Hi guys
I am recovering from a ruptured appendix as well. Friday 22nd Feb this year I woke up with uncomfortable tummy pain, then proceeded to vomiting & a bit of diarrhea. Got really bad and so got an ambulance to hospital (live in Toowoomba in Australia). They said I had a “tummy bug” and kept me in accident & emergency all day, then let me go home Friday night, because I felt better. Of course, come Saturday, I was back to vomiting and the pain was excruciating. I rolled around all over my bed and on the floor and couldn’t work out what was happening. I said to my husband “Something isn’t right here” so another ambulance trip to the hospital. They gave me something for the nausea and to help with the pain. Did an Ultrasound – which hurt like hell -though they found nothing. Then decided to admit me to the ward, and another Doctor took over. He felt I had appendicitis and they got me ready for theatre. Then decided to do a CT scan, so I had to drink a litre of this really nice liquid, then off for the scan. About 1/2 hr after they came and told me my appendix had ruptured and I went to theatre about 2 hrs later! (didn’t seem to be in any hurry). The surgeon came to see me next day and said it was quite a mess inside, but they cleaned it all up, removed the offending piece,and then started putting heaps of antibiotics through me intraveneously. I had hallucinations a few nights later, and they worked out it was”Flagil” and antibiotic, so changed that to a new wonder antibiotic. Couldn’t sleep in the hospital for more than 2 hrs at a time. Developed fluid in my lungs, so had to be put on a nebuliser 4 times a day to help get rid of that too. Anyway was discharged a week after the op, and now at home recovering, albeit very slowly. Went to my GP on Tuesday and had my stitches removed, and then back again today as I feel really lethargic, and just want to sleep all the time. Go from one extreme to the other. Had some blood tests done, and will see what the result is on Monday. Feeling better tonight. Think I just thought I would recover quicker. Had a hysterectomy last year and recovered a lot quicker from that. Most of the pain area now is where the drain was, even though it was only there for 24hrs. Hate being sick. I get very impatient. I was supposed to start a new job this week, so that won’t be happening for a couple more weeks. Fortunately, my new employer is okay with that.
Thanks for adding your story Margy.
I think it is something of a concern that the problem was not identified immediately. In my case I went straight into a CT scan – and then went home to come back to hospital immediately when advised to do so. Travelling by ambulance is the expensive alternative.
Still it sounds like you are in the recovery phase now, with your stitches removed. Then again you had complications that I did not experience. I found recovery was delayed with false dawns. You are fortunate in having an employer who is not overly demanding.
Let us know how long it takes you to be up and about.
Hi folks,
I have a story, but it ends with a question. I finally decided to go to the hospital after four days of the most unbearable stomach ache. My family thought it was food poisoning, and it would just take time to recover. The second day in I started to feel considerably better, and decided to just wait it out. two days later I was hot/cold, could barely lift myself out of bed. The pain was unbelievable. I managed to drive myself to the hospital about an hour away, and stumble into the emergency room. I told the nurse at the desk my symptoms, and she had me sit in the waiting room. While I waited I called my girlfriend, and my dad. Both had time to drive to the hospital while I sat in that room sweating, and freezing, and trying not to cause a scene.
Finally I was taken back to a doctor after close to two hours. I had a couple x-rays taken roughly a half hour later. Shortly after that he came in and told me I had a acute appendicitis. He explained that my appendix had probably ruptured about three days ago, and I was lucky I’d decided to come in when I did. I was in the hospital for six days. During that time I was fed antibiotics through an IV. No actual food or drink until the last day which was possibly the worst part of the whole ordeal.
When I finally left the hospital I was scheduled to meet with my doctor the next week to set up a time for my surgery. That appointment I kept. he decided I should get a laproscopic appendectomy. The appointment for my surgery was roughly two weeks later. That appointment I never made. For fear of having no way to cover my medical bills, (I was uninsured at the time) I’ve avoided the hospital, and doctors in general since then. My six day stint landed me nearly forty thousand dollars in bills that I have no way to pay. When I tried to get government assistance I had to fill out a dozen pages of paperwork, and they asked me to provide things I couldn’t at the time. (last three pay stubs, social security card, license, and a few other things) My wallet had been stolen about two weeks before all this happened, but that’s another story I suppose.
Anyhow, it’s been about two years now, and I’ve never had surgery. I have an exploded organ inside me, and every time I get a stomach ache I’m terrified. I work hard, but I can’t even begin to pay the bills I’ve already accrued, much less the ones I’d get if I went back in. I have a pretty bad stomach ache today, which is why I’m here writing this. Can this thing still kill me? What do I do?
John:
I am not sure what you can do. I will contact the Americans by email who have commented here and ask their advice. Is it OK if I give them your email address?
In my case, I came home from hospital. but then got a call from a hospital doctor to say I must come back immediately, which I did.
John:
It ruptured and you have not had a surgery, for 2 years?
I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty well informed about appendicitis. The antibiotics must have killed the infection completely, so I’m not sure how dangerous that bursted/dead appendix is.
First I would talk to the Doctor since it has been 2 years since the rupture. Is surgery NEEDED? If the doctor says it’s dangerous and there’s a possibility of death (yes death) I would say do it. I came hours away from dying with my bursted appendix, and I only went to the hospital because I was almost forced (nagged to death)… if not for the nagging, I’d be rotting in a coffin right now.
As for payment, most hospitals would do the surgery, and let you make payments, even if it’s $50/month. They cannot turn it down. I would say make the appointment, explain your financial circumstances, and try to figure out a payment plan.
Hope this helps. My e-mail is sharpshooter090@gmail.com if you have any more questions.
Thanks for replying Adam.
And I hope that helps John. I just hope you can get the appropriate medical diagnosis and advice.
Hi again everyone.
I really appreciate the replies. I’m feeling fine today. I guess it really was just a stomachache, but it made me consider my options a bit. I have to go in this week to pick up a prescription. While I’m there I’m going to tell my doctor what happened, and see what advice he has for me. It’s really just not worth being afraid all the time I suppose. I hope their’s a simple solution.
Now that I’m in a better situation than I was back then I can find a way to handle the bills. It would certainly be worth having a little less money every month to have a little more peace of mind.
Thanks for the update John.
I hope everything goes well for you. Perhaps like you, I am not inclined to see a doctor, especially if the symptoms disappear, but I am always told that I should.
Hey all. Wow reading your stories reminded me of what just happened to me! I am a 24 year old woman and lets see, two fridays ago, I started vomiting. So much that there was nothing to vomit, just dry heave. That lasted all day! seriously from like 5am till nightime. Over and over, chills then hot and sweaty, fever spiked to 102 then went back down, over and over again. I prayed a lot that day for it to just be over. I really though I had food poisioning. I swore not to eat that long grain rice ever again! which had nothing to do with me being sick come to find out. So Saturday I couldn’t move, I just layed there pretty much all day. I was worn out from the viracious episodes the day before. So Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, all went by with me feeling like shit. I felt a little better one of those days but still didn’t have much of an appetite. I had a horrible headache that didn’t go away. I was afraid to take Ibuprofen or tylenol because everytime I did my fever would spike again for some reason and I would get sooo hot and dizzy and had to just lay down and take it until it went away. Finnally on Saturday, I couldn’t take it anymore, I could barely stand, I still had that headache, I wasn’t sleeping well and I just asked a neighbor to take me to the ER, thinking I was just dehydrated. So lucky for me I went to a good hospital (Queens Medical in Honolulu, Hawaii) I went from waiting only a few minutes, to a ER bed almost immediaetly. The docotor cocluded it was obvious pain from my lower pelvic area and conducted the normal tests, a urine sample, blood tests, pelvic exam and later a CT Scan. Then he came in and told me my appendix had ruptured and they were going to have to drain the softball sized infection out by a cathater in my side. I got the pain meds but not before that second ct scan where they stuck huge needles in me to supposably numb the pain of where the cathater woould be forced through a small opening in my side. Didn’t help, I screamed a little like a baby and squeezed someones hand. However, I have come to learn a medical term… you will feel a little “pressure”… really means this is going to freakin hurt. Despite all that I was hooked up to IV’s for antibiotics, and had blood drawn every day, since I was there for 5 days and nurses missing my veins almost every shot, I had black and blue bruises all on my arms. There was only one nurse/phelbotomist who could take my blood in a second and never miss a vein, she was my angel! I think her name was MJ. Anyway, recover was annoying by the 5th day. I just wanted to leave and get this bag out of my side (it smelled horrible!) and these IV’s out of my hand. Well, to make this story short I left the hospital on a Wedneday after yet another CT Scan which confirmed that the infection had been drained. I was suprised I didn’t need an operation. I left with a 20 day supply of 3x day antibiotics and a recheck for this Wednesday. So this happened fairly recently and is fresh in my mind. For recovery, I would say it took me those 5 days in the hospital and maybe a couple more once I got released, but being cooped up so long makes you want to recover sooner and do normal things and eat normal food… the only thing that takes awhile is the soreness to the spot of the cathater… and I didn’t have an operation so I can’t account for the recover time for that. Ok so there is my story! ps. A good sign of possible appendicitis is thinking you had food poisioning.
~Ashleigh
That is some story Ashleigh.
I do not understand why you were operated on in the normal way – put under anesthetic and so forth.
I hope you are better now, or at least getting back to normal.
I’m waiting it out right now after being diagnosed with a ruptured appendix after 4 days of thinking I had some kind of stomach virus. From Sunday night to Friday morning I was hooked up with antibiotics and morphine. Thursday lunch I was allowed to eat something. Wed. and Thurs. the blood tests showed normal white blood cell count, and Friday I came home with antibiotic prescriptions. I’m supposed to see the doctor in 10 days, and he expects to take out the appendix in 6 weeks. I hate walking around with this mess inside me. Never had a drain, thank goodness. I thought this didn’t happen when you’re 70, almost 71! No way I wouldn’t have it out, but as an American I feel ashamed that people don’t get medical care when they need it because they’re afraid they can’t pay for it. Shouldn’t happen.
That seems a long, and to my non-medical understanding dangerously long time to wait.
Whatever the shortcomings of our system here in Australia, you will get do treatment regardless of you are, your socio-economic standing ( I believe) or anything else. To me this is the measure of a civilized society.
The idea, especially in current circumstances, where people can be afraid of the medical costs incurred for absolutely essential health care, is troubling to me as a human being.
Please let us know the outcome for the record rm. I wish you the very best.
My name is Christine. I too waited for medical care. Thinking I had a uti or bladder infection, I went to my primary dr who didn’t palpitate my abdomen or do a urinary dip stick test. All he said is here is a weeks worth of Cipro and if you don’t feel better withing 2 days go to the er. Well, I did end up with the persistence of my daughter going to the er where after hours of testing was told my appendix ruptured, when this actually happend, who knows. They put me on antibiotics for 5 days and was going to send me home, I insisted they do the laproscopy and when they did he said I have been the worse case he’s seen in a long time. I was in the hospital 18 days and I just received my hospital bill only (I am un-insured) for $96,878.00. I have up to this date over $4,000.00 from labs, and other medical people involved in my care. I am feeling much better with a slow recovery, but the bills are making me sick all over again
I would be the last person, I hope, to suggest that our hospital system is without a whole problems related to funding and management, not do I suggest I have the answers, but your case, Christine, it seems to indicate systemic failure.
Of course, we have the primary responsibility for our health, but equally we are not doctors, without expert knowledge. I was told that the removal of the appendix is a comparatively simple operation, but if left complications arise.
Frankly, Christine your medical bills leave me feeling sick as well.
It has now being over a year since I had the operation removing my appendix. I remember somethings. I remember whinging and complaining not being able to sleep comfortably – how my fellow patients put up with me I do not know. Then, I insisted on seeing the “emergency doctor”. He made an impression on me. He said something like, ” I am a doctor, and naturally I care about people’s suffering”. So that being a doctor was about something more than just being a clever person, although you have to be that to be one. It was about compassion.
In the whole medical debate, we often lose sight of the fact that medicine is about problem solving and exact science, or that it is a business involving costs that need to be managed. It should not be an exercise in cruelty to others.
My name is Jan. I too waited three days before I gave in and went to the hospital. I thought it might be a stomach flu or just constipation,but the pain would not subside. It happened on a Thursday,and I went to work as a server on Friday,and even went to a meeting. On Saturday A M I went to the hospital,and had x rays. Then I tried to drink a huge amount of liquid,but couldn’t do so. I went in for an MRI,and all the liquid came up.Apparently the appendix had ruptured on Thursday. I was operated on the following Sunday evening. I consider myself fortunate that I didn’t develop peritonitis. I also didn’t realixe how many people have gone through the same ordeal.
Thanks Jan.
It sounds like you got the treatment you required. As to putting things off, I can only relate to my own case. At the point when I realized that I did not know what was going on, I knew I had to get help, and fortunately for me that was not too difficult. For example, I did not have to weigh the financial consequences, so in that way I was very fortunate.
I had hernia surgery on December 2nd. A couple days later, I had severe abdominal pain and my stomach was swollen big time! I contacted my hernia surgeon’s office – they suggested I had gas or a stomach flu. On the night of December 11th, I headed to the E.R. Turns out my appendix had burst (about one week prior)! I had emergency surgery (10-inch incision) on December 12th. After tons of intravenous antibiotics, two abdominal drainage tubes (Jackson-Pratts), and other treatments, I was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve night. I hope (with God’s help) there will be no residual effects of all the infection that was within me. I’m back at work, but still have a doctor appointment or two left. My surgeon (who did both the hernia and the abdominal) said the timing of my burst appendix (days after the hernia surgery) was just terribly bad luck/timing. Bottom line, the whole experience was excruciating, but I’M THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE!!!
My 13 year old son had surgery for a ruptured appendix on January 11th. He to received IV antibiotics and was released from the hospital 6 days after surgery. His rupture was at least one day old prior to surgery. He waited in the ER for 9 hours to have surgery. After being released, he started spiking fevers. Took him back to the surgeon and after a CT scan he had 3 small accumulations of fluid in his abdomen. Again he was in the hospital and stayed 2 days. He has a picc line and I am administering IV antibiotics around the clock. He seems to be making progress but it is slow. His main complaint is dizziness but his hemoglobin was low 11.8. He is still having some abdominal pain but it is not like the pain he had. I am praying that this round on antibiotics have cured his infection. I cannot see him going back to school with his dizziness and weakness. He is eating very good and has gained 5 lbs of weight.
Thank you very much mikey and Pauline for adding your stories. Of course, I cannot know how excruciating it was, mikey, but I can share your feeling of thankfulness to be alive. Your son is younger than us, Pauline, but as I remember it took me awhile to recover, and hopefully he will now be fine.
My observation is, for what it is worth, that your hospitals and doctors seem pretty good, as perhaps I should expect, provided get through the front door, be seen as quickly as necessary, and in the process are not broken financially.
Tom Peters, business guru, suggests that hospitals might be better if they adopted the quality measures that business has found useful, including IT applications, and based on my experience I tend to agree with him. At the same time, when I had my spleen removed, I spoke to a medical hospital administrator, so I wish to qualify my comment, as if I know anything about the different challenges the different medical systems present.
I am recovering from a ruptured appendix as well. First day had bad cramps and 102.4 Fever. Next morning felt better but by 4PM that Night was cramping bad thought I was constipated. Fever was up to 104.2. Went into the ER. They did a CT scan. A couple hours latter went into Laparoscope’s surgery to have it stapled off. There was bowl all over in there that was cleaned out. I was in the hospital for 4 days. 5 days latter ended up going back into the hospital because of two abscesses. One the size of a grapefruit and the other one about an inch in diameter. They stuck a tube into the large one to have it drained. It was decided that the small one was too close to the sciatic nerve and that the body would most likely absorb it. Was in the hospital for 8 days for the second trip. Just got out of the hospital two days ago and I am not sure what to expect. I have been running a fever of 99.6 – 101.6. Tylenol seams to bring it down but I wonder if there is an abscess problem again or maybe the large abscess is just coming back. I don’t know. I also feel very week and tiered. I hope it all goes away soon!
Best wishes for your full recovery, Terra.
My operation was nothing compared to yours, and it took time for me with a few reverses along the way.
Thanks for relating your experience.
One of my best friends has just had surgery following a ruptured appendix. She is very frightened. May be facing 10 days hospitalization. After your posts I’ll know to inform her that recovery may be slower than she anticipates. Any other info will be greatly appreciated.
I think the good and careful doctors do 10 days. Mine did. He said he wanted that many days for the antibiotics. He said he has seen too many go home, then come back and do the whole thing over again. Hope she’s all better 100% now!
Thanks toni,
Ten days in hospital seems a long time, and so I am not in position to offer any advice, but somebody else may know more than me.
Hospital just drove me crazy. The beds were uncomfortable, and I just wanted to get home. It was tough for a few days, then I got through it. So I suppose that my operation was relatively straightforward, whereas your friend’s seems to suggest complications.
I wish her the best with her recovery.
Hi! i was just released from the hospital yesterday, March 2. my symptoms began a week ago on Sunday night. my husband grilled some steaks and they were thick and juicy. that night i started feeling discomfort and what seemed to be stomach cramps. i had a very uncomfortable night and barely slept. on monday, i went to work and felt very bloated had very little appetite and thought the steaks from the previous night did not agree with me. that evening i felt a bit feverish and had some chills. i then thought it was the flu. i went to work on tuesday cause i had a lot of projects and meetings going on at work. wednesday evening i decided that i would call the doctor on thursday if i did not feel better. thursday morning i went to work not feeling any better, no appetite, bloatedness, and just a lot of discomfort in the abdomen area. i called the doctor’s office and they gave me an appointment for the afternoon. when i explained to her the sequence of events and she felt my stomach and my pain was mainly on the right side, she strongly suggested i go to er. after going to er and waiting a couple of hours, the er doctor thought it may be a cyst or some other type of stomach conditon. nevertheless, a ct scan was done and it was appendicitis. the surgeon came down to speak to me right away and my surgery was performed immediately. it turned out that the appendix had ruptured like five days prior. i was given antibiotics, pain medication and tylenol for the fever. i am home now and moving about very slowly and thank God, my doctors and the ct scan.
good luck to all of you!!
Maria, are you all better now? some of us could use some encouragement. Hope so!
Thank you everybody again for your individual stories. I am confident that we are creating a useful resource here.
It goes without saying that an early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. Easier said than done. Most of us will wait until before we take ourselves along to hospital casualty or ER.
Thanks Maria and get fully better soon.
same thing with me – ruptured appendix, lapro surgery, hospital 5 days, home with oral antibiotics for 3 days, then back to hospital week later with pain (cramping) and high fever. back on oral antibiotics for 10 days this time (cipro + flagil), and yesterday was my last day on them. still have abdominal cramping but without the fever? how long does the pain last? it’s been 24 days post op. still in pain. anyone with the same?
Hi, I’m wondering if you are now out of pain 100% and have your strength and energy back, 6 weeks after this post?
I hope so, that will be encouraging to the rest of us.
Thanks sj for adding your story.
I hope by now you are fully recovered, or at least well on the road.
I’m glad I found this website. I’m recovering from a ruptured appendix and I have NO information as to what to expect for recovery.
My story: March 30, 2009 I woke up in the middle of the night with bad stomach pain all over, and backpain unlike I’ve felt before. But the next morning it wasn’t too bad. Tues./Wed./Thur. I continued my routine and obligations (have 4 kids ages 7-13). It would be fine in the morning and then escalate to an 8-9 pain in the night. I thought I was sore from my workout Mon. or it was food poisoning. I do have a high tolerance for pain which wasn’t a good thing this time. Finally on Friday April 3rd, a little embarrased, I asked my husband to take me to the Dr.’s. They sent me to emergency. Did a CT scan and said it looked like a ruptured appendix (although they said I didn’t LOOK like I had a ruptured appendix-not moaning, etc.). Surgery came shortly afterwards. I had one of the best surgeons I heard. He said there wasn’t much left of my appendix. He said I had an abscess the size of a large baked potato and he drained that as well during surgery. I did not have that tube you all are talking about. He is a very careful Dr. I went home on the 11th day. I had 4 different types of antibiotics. No food or drink for 6 days. I got my own morphine clicker. The nurses were terrific. I did not feel any better after surgery, the same pain stayed. He said my organs had come down to surround that abscess to keep that from opening up. I’ve been home 4 days now. I’m still hurting and walking (shuffling) bent over like an old lady. I take a pain pill every 5 hours and can sleep well, only on back. He has me on 10 days of 2 different oral antibiotics. I want to know when I will feel normal again. Taking a shower exhausts me. It’s hard to be patient. But I am very grateful for all the care I got, the way my husband took over and ran the show, the fact that my mother-in-law flew in to take care of things the next 2 weeks, the visitors, meals and support, etc. I have NO idea what a hospital bill will be like for a surgery and 11 days, but I am grateful for an HMO, I think it will be covered 100%. I just pray for no additional infection. Thanks for reading.
Thank you Debbie for adding your story.
As far as I can tell recovery differs for each case. I just hope you are covered for the costs. Is’not good to have a mother-in-law to step in?
Best wishes.
Thank you for your reply. Well, my mother-in-law left last Thur., one day after I finally started feeling better. Basically, the whole month of April was a pain, literally. But the recovery and getting strength back, etc, is slow. Maybe because I’m 43, with 4 kids under 13!
Anyway, thanks for making a place where we can share our stories. Not many people understand how this is.
P.S. I am wondering from others what is a good way to eat after this. I hate to admit this, but the gas pains are difficult, hours at a time.
I am a 23 year old female and have been recovering from appendicitis for over a month now. Here’s a brief version of my story.
I had 2 hours of excruciating pain in my stomach, went to emerg, was sent home on pain killers, and told I had an ovarian cyst. The next morning I had an ultrasound as a precaution to rule out apendicitis. Quickly after the ultrasound the nurse ordered me to check into emerg for appendicits!
Went into emerg at 10, had the appendectomy at 7 pm. Turns out my appendix had ruptured, but I did not need a drain. I was in hospital for 5 days, and sent home. I was told I was young, healthy and I should heal quickly.
After about 10 days of being at home, I still was feeling horrible, having no apetite, horrible diarrhea, and bad abdominal pain.
I went to see two doctors, who both told me I was healing normally and these things take time.
I know my body well enough, and I knew that I was not healing but felt myslef getting worse, so I checked myself into emerg again. Had a CT scan and they found an abscess about 3 inches long where the appendix used to be.
So they stuck a drain in me, and I was in hospital for another 5 days. Then I was sent home with the drain for 10 days and was given anoter round of cipro and flagyl. About 3 days after the drain was removed I started to feel good again. I could actually go out and enjoy life.
About 10 days later, after being off antibiotics for 5 days, the diarrhea returned, and I started to feel sick again. So I gave stool samples and I now have c-diff. Im back on flagyl for 2 weeks taking it 3 times a day. I had a hard time believing my dr when she said it was c-diff and another abscess. My fingers are crossed that after this round of antibiotics I will be back to normal.
I have such a hard time trusting dr’s now. My advice to anyone recovering from appendicits is this: listen to your body, and if you don’t feel you are healing, make sure you tell someone, and if they won’t listen find someone who will.
Hello Mary, I’m sorry to hear about what you’ve been through. I’m Debbie, I did the April 19th post. I am still recovering, after the April 3rd surgery, but am definitely over the “hump” since last Wednesday. 2 weeks after surgery, and 6 days after getting out of the hospital my Dr. told me also that I should be “all better” now and didn’t know why I still had pain. But he had me do another scan and another blood test. The scan only showed some fluid in the pelvic area. He kept saying also “give it time”. Today, he said if I don’t feel like “a million bucks” in a month than he will do another scan to be sure. I guess I’m lucky I had such a careful and cautious doctor.
Hang in there. No one knows the pain and frustration like we do on this website. I pray you will be better very soon. By the way, I had to go off of Cypro, it really caused joint pain, especially in the arms. Are you doing OK with it?
Debbie, age 43
Thanks for your comments Mary and Debbie.
I hope you are both fully recovered now.
Yes, finally fully recovered about 6 weeks after surgery and 4 weeks out of the hospital. Had to take acidopholus to help restore natural balance to digestion after all those antiobiotics. couldn’t tolerate milk, spicy, hardly anything. But now all back to normal in every way. Thank goodness.
This website was very helpful, thank you for hosting it.
Debbie
Debbie:
I am pleased this post amazingly composed of different people’s stories was helpful. You seem now to have made a recovery, and I hope it has not cost a fortune, or that you were fully covered.
Reading these posts has given me so much perspective on my son’s recent surgery. After 15 years of excruciating stomach pains, the last episode lasting 10 days, he was finally diagnosed with acute appendicitis. They believe it ruptured about a year ago. He had an abscess 6 in. long in that area. I had no idea you could survive so long with a ruptured appendix, or that it could be so difficult to get a diagnosis. After 11 days in the hospital he has finally been discharged. His incision runs right down the middle of his abdomen and is approx. 12 inches long. He still has diarrhea about once an hour and this has been going on since before the surgery. His surgeon told us that he had run out of time and would not have lasted long if he hadn’t come to the ER. Why do so many people question the length of his hospital stay or the slowness of his recovery, as if to hint that he’s somehow weak? I’m tired of hearing, “When I had MY appendectomy, I went home in two days, and back to work in a week”. Right now he’s walking constantly. He’s not holding back. How careful does he have to be?
When I get the bill, I will tell you. 11 days in the hospital and surgery will probably blow my mind. HOWEVER, I know for a fact that I am only responsible for $100.00 (HMO), thankfully!
Kathleen, wow. That’s amazing he had pain for so long, I’m so glad it’s taken care of now. I can’t believe people say that—anyway there is a BIG difference between an appendectomy and having a ruptured appendix. All that stuff that got out and was floating around and all the antiobiotics can really set you back–not to mention the organs moving around to protect the abscess. Then, the body getting used to food again and being irritable. That’s great he’s walking. That’s what they say is the best thing to do–and it’s hard. It was 6 weeks after surgery for me to feel back to normal, and I did not have the surgery incision he had.
Thank you Debbie, for your words of encouragement. I find it so inspiring that after only 6 weeks you felt back to normal after what you went through. My hat’s off to all of you for your strength and endurance. These are really the most amazing stories and I’ll certainly share them with my son. Good luck to all of you.
My appendix ruptured as well. It wasn’t diagnosed until two weeks after the rupture when I finally got a cat scan.
I was in hosptial 6 days and had to go back daily for two weeks for IV antibiotics. They were able to drain most of the toxins but won’t operate for three months as they indicate it is too dangerous to operate until I am 100%. I was surprised to read some of you had surgery while the toxins were still there.
Right now I’m fearing every little ache or feeling of nauseau or anything is a sign something is wrong. Won’t relax until they remove it and I wake up.
I’m in Canada so fortunately for me the costs are fully covered.
When I had my appendicitis I released myself from hospital to come back home to see what the dogs were up. I then got a call to say that I had to go back straight away, which I did. So I am a little surprised in your case, Sheilagh you are able to wait some time before the operation.
Good point about the costs been fully covered. Our political leaders, their medical policy advisors and public opinion in Australia had the good sense to follow your lead in Canada. Despite the problems that our respective systems might have, lets not forget the dedication of the medical people at all levels doing their best for us, for which we can only be grateful. To add another editorial comment, holding any person to ransom for medical care strikes me as appalling.
Thanks for comment Sheilagh, and best wishes for a successful outcome.
Twenty years ago I had a ruptured appendix which for some weird reason the doctors could not diagnose. I started feeling quite ill with a bad stomach ache on Friday. On Sunday I went to the hospital where they kept me under observation and didn’t do any special tests of my abdomen. I live in Alaska, by the way.
On Tuesday a doctor gave me a painful test, don’t know what the exact name is, and then they finally decided to operate on Tuesday night, on the fifth day. I had to have an IV put directly into my heart from a vein in my arm for antibiotics.
Now I have a large scar from the upper incision in my abdomen and two hernias. I could die if the hernia becomes strangulated or incarcerated, so I guess I’ll have to have surgery to fix it, which is major surgery.
I don’t know what the big problem is in diagnosing a burst appendix, but here in Alaska we’re like 50 years behind times. I’ve heard that some surgeons down south will just go ahead and remove the appendix when they’re doing an operation for something else, so why don’t they just remove the appendix if someone has a bad stomach ache? It can’t hurt anything and probably would help in many cases. I think it should be done if the patient wants it done BEFORE it bursts and causes problems, if it’s such a difficult condition for some doctors to diagnose.
P.S. What happened to the old fashioned doctors’ test on the appendix where they merely press their fingers firmly on the right side of the patient’s abdomen and release it quickly?
Best wishes for your full recovery Kristen and thanks for the comment. Ideally I suppose your questions might be addressed in the post operation consultation – I did not attend mine, as I remember.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to find my way back here, but I was in the hospital for 5 days with a perforated appendix, got out about 3 days ago, still wearing the drain, still much pain. I’m seeing the surgeon in 3 days, not sure whether the drain will be removed then. Worst experience of my life, this has been a nightmare. I also thought I had food poisoning. I am more natural medicine oriented, but clearly this needed traditional western medical intervention, and in retrospect I think I’ve had a problem with the appendix much longer than I realized. I’m assuming the surgeon will recommend surgery to remove the appendix once it has drained and healed up, so to speak, but I’ve been reading about how many people think we need our appendix for the immune system, and I’m both afraid to have it out and afraid to leave it in. I’m also self employed, working from home, and I nearly lost my livelihood over this. I have blue cross self pay, but I chose the cheapest possible coverage because they kept hiking our rate, and I thought I wouldn’t get sick, and we were trying to save money. We will have to pay at least 20% of the total bills along with a 1000 deductible,and that’s assuming my policy even approves everything that was done. I noticed recently they don’t even cover a pap smear, I really did not do my homework.
I’m sorry to hear about what many of you have gone through. My 6 yo niece went through this exact same thing not 6 months ago, and I didn’t understand till now how bad it was. She recovered quickly, the way kids do. My brother said her appendectomy was a “cake walk” compared to the time she spent in the hospital with the abscess draining. based on what I’ve read here, I’m not sure I can expect such a speedy recovery. Truthfully I’m terrified of long term ongoing bowel issues post-surgery.
Thanks for the report Diane.
Everybody’s case is slightly different. As well as having my appendix removed, I have had my spleen removed, which is far more significant in terms of the body’s immune system. So on that ground you may be able to rest assured.
I hope you have a full recovery. Your comments illustrate how I also would not be able to make good judgments about the appropriate level of health coverage, which in my mind reinforces the utility of universal health coverage. Our system is not free of problems but at least everyone gets a level of coverage, although that might depend such factors on where you live in Australia.
i’m in the U.S., btw, and we are disappointed that it doesn’t look like the plan they are putting through will help us. One major illness can break an american family without very good health coverage.
The political problem is to get a decent medical coverage introduced and then it will stick.We have to be thankful for our situation, otherwise I would be in as much and more trouble than many Americans. The personal stories I read are to me horrifying. I suppose the best approach is to support the constructive alternative – whoever and in whatever form that presents itself.
Wow, interesting stories. Here is one more.
On a Friday, my wife had extreme pain and fever. On Saturday PM I took her to Red Cross, got a pain shot. she felt better. Saturday afternoon another pain shot… on Sunday I took her to San Rafael Hospital in Alajuela. They observed her for 36 hrs. They operated Tuesday around 2 AM. Ruptured appendix and perionitis (sp) infection. 6 inch belly scar and a small hole from the drain. 8 days in Hospital. Doc says she cannot lift anything or do any physical work for 6 months. It has been 1 month since the opration and she still has fluid leaking from the hole and is in delicate condition. We live in Costa Rica so there will be no medical bills to pay thank God.
My 13 year old son is in the hospital with my husband as I type. We didn’t know, but his appendix has ruptured and they are deciding what to do now (I am at home with the little ones). We thought it was muscle aches or food poisoning as well as he had been at a waterpolo tournament last weekend. He too felt better on Tuesday and then feverish and vomitting since. He didn’t seem to be in that much pain. Thanks for sharing your stories so I have a better idea of what to expect. I don’t know why they are debating on whether or not to operate right away as they did the same for Sheilagh’s case. We also live in Canada and will not being paying a single cent for his treatments unless we have to get prescriptions which is covered under my work insurance. I am very thankful for that during this time of year and during these economic times. I can’t imagine the stress of the illness and recovery along with high hospital bills. Leaving for the hospital now.
As I sit here in my daughter’s hospital room, I am HORRIFIED but what I am reading.
11 days ago my seventeen year old daughter told me her stomach was really hurting when I came home from work approximately 4:30 pm (that morning she had vomited before going off to school, but since she has had some sensitive stomach issues since she was 9 didn’t thing much of this occurance). She felt warm to the touch, didn’t have a thermometer at the moment but she felt slightly warm. Gave her Tylenol, and she rested for a couple hours, letting me know still in pain. Called her Gastroenterologist’s colleague (she had started seeing a GI specialist about a month and a half prior to find out source of ongoing nausea and vomiting intermittently over the years), and he suggested me taking to immediately to local ER. This doctor’s hospital being over an hour away, I went to one about 10 minutes from house. The doctor came in, checked her stomach, told me he didn’t want to hear what this specialist had to say because he had never met my daughter (apparently the fact that GI had records to all my daughter medical history did not bear considering for him). When he asked if she had had any fever, when I opened my mouth to answer him, he cut me off saying, “and i don’t want to hear about “the mothers touch”. He then proceeded to send us home saying on paperwork (artfully leaving his name off paperwork) saying Gastroenteritis (generalized stomach pain). 2 and 1/2 days later, I bring her to another hospital after vomiting for 2 days and fever now going up to 101.6. They did a CT scan and said it was either Crohn’s disease or appendicitis. After surgeon looked at ct and checked my daughter, appendicitis was ruled out and she was tentatively diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, admitted into hospital with over 21000 white blood cell count (10000 is normal) they immediately put her on antiobiotics (2), nausea medicine, and steroids to treat the inflamation of Crohn’s in her lower bowels. Was in the hospital for 4 and 1/2 days and sent home having already setup an appointment with her GI specialist for 1 and 1/2 days after release. Took her to appointment and from the SAME ct scan the other hospital used to diagnose Crohn’s a radiologist at HIS affiliated hospital said my daughter had a ruptured appendix with infection and fluid throughout abdomen. My daughter very upset and not wanting to go again into the hospital she was admitted and immediately taken off steroids (I was told this is the worst thing that could have been given to her as will spread infection she had and heighten the danger of surgery). She finally had surgery yesterday (Dec 11) and had so much swelling throughout her body from the steroids and fluids given by previous hospital and has the drainage tube in her belly which he said he could not believe she looked so good for how bad he found everything inside her. She had this film that collects on the other organs that surround the appendix after rupture along with several abcess throughout her abdomen. All they keep saying is at least a week in the hospital and no promises after that. I as well have insurance that will ONLY cover 80% of the costs and am terrified of how I am going to cover these costs as divorced mom of 2 teenage kids. I am really scared for my daughter and what the long term effects of this will be for her. So very upset that this could have been avoided by just a white blood cell count or even urinalysis done at 1st hospital or the other hospital catching the ruptured appendix!!
Lynette, I am so, so, sorry to hear about what your daughter is going through. She will get through this and in 6 months it will just be a fuzzy memory. I think this is better than Chron’s disease though (chronic). Can’t believe so many people missed it. I hope your 20% isn’t too much. I know they will give a big discount if you pay all at once when the time comes. But for now, keep being a great mom to her and take care of yourself too.
so pleased i found this site. came out of hospital last friday and stitches due to come out tommorow. not looking forward to it at all. this has no doubt been the worse experience of my life. what made it worse is suffering for a week thinking i had food poisoning.
cant do anything at home and christmas the end of week.still i am grateful to be alive