Ruptured Appendix

[LeighAnn]

Hey there. Anyone out there had their appendix rupture? I'm one week post-op and would like any information and support from someone who's been there, as I was pretty much kicked out of the hospital at the first possible moment given my lack of health insurance, and I'm trying to recoup. Bad time, what with the election and all. Just seeing if there's anyone who's been down this road before.

Gracias.

[mike_c]

1. no, but damn-- I'm sending sympathy vibes at full strength....

Hope you feel better soon!

[molly]

2. No, but rest and drink lots of fluids

you'll need to get all the crap out of your system.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. I've not had that happen but do follow your discharge instructions

Any sign of fever 101 or more go to the ER.

Watch for nausea. Soft diet.

Watch for redness and swelling at the incision site.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[no one in particular]

4. Yup

Happened to me when I was nine. It was so bad, my father carried me into the emergency room in the middle of the night after I crawled in to my parents' room, unable to talk. Doctor said I was a few hours from dying.

Spent a week in the hospital hooked up to an IV machine. Couldn't walk for the first few days and gradually got to where I could go back to school after about a week and a half.

Best wishes to you.

[eleny]

5. Did you see this web site?

It has some post op information that looks helpful
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Appendicectomy?open

Feel better soon!

[stray cat]

6. The concern is with an infection from the ruptured appendix

They should have given you antibiotics. If you get an infection your temperature will go up so get a thermometer and keep an eye on your temperature. If it starts to go up above about a 100 or higher I'd contact the hospital.

Hope you get to feeling better and there are no complications such as infection. Otherwise you should recover completely over the next few weeks.

[NEOBuckeye]

7. Drink plenty of water

My thoughts and best wishes are with you for your recovery.

[ulysses]

8. mine didn't rupture

but it nearly did - believe me, I feel your pain. Ditto what was said earlier about the risk of infection, and all best for a speedy recovery!

[Fridays Child]

9. Did you receive post-op info from the hospital? Are you on antibiotics?

From Discovery Health (http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/819.html):

What happens later at home?

Once home, a person should: · try to limit lifting as much as possible until given other advice. · eat a soft, bland diet for a few days. · take any medicine recommended. · use a mild laxative such as or stool softener, such as docusate sodium, if no bowel movement occurs by 72 hours after leaving the hospital. Eating prunes or drinking prune juice may help, too. · use a heating pad sparingly to relieve pain around the incision site(s). Usually, this is just a muscle ache. · stay active by going on short walks. Slowly resume daily activities.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

Infection is the biggest problem after this type of surgery. As many as one in five people who have a ruptured appendix may develop an abscess (collection of pus) in the abdomen that needs to be drained. This may not show up for as long as 2 weeks after surgery. Some people get an infection around the site through which an infected appendix was removed. Because of this, a surgeon may leave the wound partially open to heal on its own.

[skygazer]

10. No experience with this

But I'm so sorry and hope you have a speedy and uncomplicated recovery. :hug:

[ikojo]

11. That sucks! My appendix ruptured and I was in the hospital

for a week. They had to leave the excision where they took my appendix out open so this sponge like thing could soak up all the poisons. The nurses also came in several times during the day to check up on the surgical site.

I had a private room because they were afraid of infection.

I think they left my surgical would open for three or four days.

I was very very sick that's for sure. Not nearly as sick as when it ruptured but sick nonetheless.

Sending healing vibes your way. I feel for ya!

[flamingyouth]

12. Wow, I'm so sorry for you

My mom had hers rupture about 15 years ago, right before Christmas. I can't recall how long she was in the hospital, but it was about a week.

Did they close your incision? They sent mom home with a drainage tube of some kind. I had to help her for about two weeks with it, IIRC. (My dad was too freaked out to even look at it.)

She was almost 50 at the time, and I don't know your age, but it took her a good 4-6 weeks before she was even close to being back to normal. I'll reiterate what everyone else here has said: antibiotics, rest, lots of fluids, check your temperature. Take care of yourself. Wish I could bring you a big pot of soup or something. :hug:

[Spirochete]

13. my appendix ruptured in 1988

I was in the hospital for 9 days. The first week, I had a J-vac in. The scar looks like they cut me in half with a chainsaw, almost. They were in a big hurry to get in there and get it cleaned out. The incision leaked for a month or more after I got out. It sucked, in general.