JUST HAD MY APPENDIX OUT AND OUCH!

DropInTheOcean54 · 2020-11-08T19:52:20+00:00

Tummy pains Mon, increasing Tues so called 111, got immediate docs appt and he immediately referred to to the emergency floor of my local hospital. They did scans and bloods etc. diagnosed acute appendicitis and Weds morning I was wheeled into theatre for a laparoscopic removal of the useless piece of body. I was home the following day and am sooooo sore! I know this is normal but just wondering if anyone has experienced an appendectomy and what to expect. Also when did you take your dressings off? They said 4-5 days (today or tomorrow) but I feel really queasy about it. Thanks

rattlemehearties · 08/11/2020 19:55

I'm amazed you're home already. I had a few days in hospital. So it took a week to feel comfortable - on painkillers - then another week of serious bedrest before I felt ok to go out for a walk gently etc. Keep taking pain relief and phone your GP for advice about dressings (or were you given details of anyone at hospital to contact? Follow up outpatient appointment? I'm amazed you are home so soon after surgery)

TheBabyAteMyBrain · 08/11/2020 19:56

I had mine out in June, I swear the worst part was the shoulder pain from the gas they pumped in 😂

My dressings were on for 7 days, I did get an infection after surgery so recovery was a bit longer but about 4 weeks and I was back to normal with only slight niggles if I over did it. Listen to your body and take it a day at a time.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

TheBabyAteMyBrain · 08/11/2020 19:57

@rattlemehearties

I'm amazed you're home already. I had a few days in hospital. So it took a week to feel comfortable - on painkillers - then another week of serious bedrest before I felt ok to go out for a walk gently etc. Keep taking pain relief and phone your GP for advice about dressings (or were you given details of anyone at hospital to contact? Follow up outpatient appointment? I'm amazed you are home so soon after surgery)

I was also out within 24 hrs of surgery. I think it's pretty normal in current times if people can recover at home to ship them out.

Original poster

DropInTheOcean54 · 08/11/2020 19:58

Thanks Rattlemehearties I know! I think it is because of Covid. They literally sent me home the next day, despite my fluctuating oxygen levels and blood pressure (which stabilised before I left hospital). I feel almost nauseous with the pain - not actually like being sick but the thought of the pain and sensitivity around the incisions makes me cringe. No way could I go for a walk but it seems as I am home, people assume I am on the way to recovery! They did say 2-4 weeks as an average and this is only 4 days so I am not expecting to be hurdling or pole dancing but even getting up off the sofa is painful. I have morphine and paracetamol here from the hospital.

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BrokenLink · 08/11/2020 20:02

I was out within 12 hours of a laparoscopic appendectomy. It was about 7 years ago. I did not have any pain, and I don't recall having any dressings. But maybe I forgot that bit. I was back at work within 2 weeks.

Original poster

DropInTheOcean54 · 08/11/2020 20:08

BrokenLink Wow!!! I am pretty sure you'd have had dressings on your stitches and wounds. So lucky that it went without incident! You are very lucky

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Original poster

DropInTheOcean54 · 08/11/2020 20:18

TheBaby I was warned about potential shoulder pain but I didn't get that I got really intense bloating and pain in my stomach which never shifted!! My stomach seems to be slowly deflating now though. That was really uncomfortable!

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mineofuselessinformation · 08/11/2020 20:21

Make sure you are taking your pain relief as much as is allowed - it's always more difficult to get back on top of it if you don't.
If you are still in a lot of pain despite this, speak to your GP about what else you can take.
Try peppermint tea for the trapped wind. Hopefully it will help make you feel more comfortable.

Original poster

DropInTheOcean54 · 08/11/2020 20:37

Mineofuselessinformation - yes am taking it regularly then if it gets a bit much I m taking a shot of morphine! It is OK in the morning then gets worse during the day.

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mineofuselessinformation · 08/11/2020 22:51

So take the morphine in expectation of being in pain for now- at least for a couple of days, and then taper down if and when you are more able to potter around a bit.
They didn't prescribe it for no reason!
And make sure you are well dosed up ready for the night so you get a decent sleep.
There's nothing worse than being awake in the night because you're in pain.

TheBabyAteMyBrain · 09/11/2020 00:36

The liquid paracetamol in the hospital was the dogs bollocks, personally I'm not a fan of morphine where I can help it. I was sent home with a bottle of I needed it but was able to manage on paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Glad you didn't get the shoulder pain, but for the bloating and gas you need to stand as upright as you can when you walk. It'll work its way through, bending double will hamper progress though

OhTheRoses · 09/11/2020 00:45

Crikey, DH had his out over 25 years ago. GP sent him straight to hospital and it was out by noon. I collected him from hospital at 10.30am the next day and went back to the pharmacy for his meds that afternoon because they weren't ready. I don't think he took more than a couple of doses. Was waited on hand and foot that weekend, had a week off work. Think the nurse at GP practice took the stitches out after a week.

lovelilies · 09/11/2020 00:47

Nurse here

Definitely take ibuprofen regularly if you can (with food). And paracetamol.
Make sure you get up and potter about at home frequently (it will help with recovery).
Avoid codeine as it will constipate you. Keep your stools soft with lactulose if needed.
Get someone else to take your dressing off, it should be healing well by now. Dissolvable sutures?
Shower as normal but don't have a bath until healed. Leave uncovered if possible, loose fitting clothing.
Keep hydrated and eat little and often, your guts have had a shock.

Hope this helps a little 😊

OhTheRoses · 09/11/2020 00:50

Oh, and I hope you soon feel better op

InglouriousBasterd · 09/11/2020 01:00

@BrokenLink

I was out within 12 hours of a laparoscopic appendectomy. It was about 7 years ago. I did not have any pain, and I don't recall having any dressings. But maybe I forgot that bit. I was back at work within 2 weeks.

Snap! Came out of surgery late on the Saturday, was discharged first thing Sunday. You’re better in your own space in my experience so take it very easy, take your painkillers regularly to keep on top of the pain and don’t nip to the shop and run across the road like I did - I actually felt like my insides were falling out

Original poster

DropInTheOcean54 · 09/11/2020 21:42

Thankyou all. lovelilles I feel a lot more comfortable today. It is fine in the morning but gets sore the more I move about but not as bad today as yesterday and the bloating, which was really uncomfortable, is now diminishing! REassuing to hear others' stories of similar surgery so thank you all for your comments.

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TrackandTrain · 05/12/2020 06:03

@DropInTheOcean54 how are you doing now?

I had mine out yesterday, hoping to go home today but my blood pressure is a bit low. Huge amount of pain yesterday, bruising around the incisions and gas pain in shoulders, wrists and ankles!

Grimbot · 05/12/2020 19:59

You’ll be ok. I felt so low for a few days after mine as I was in so much pain and felt like I was recovering so slowly however after that initial week my recovery went incredibly quickly and I was back doing everything I was before (within reason!) really quickly. You’ve just got to get past this initial really sore bit. I’d recommend peppermint tea for bloating and get some dressings and antiseptic spray from your chemists. I had my appendix removed last year and can barely see my scars now they are very tiny. Hope you feel better soon.

makingmiracles · 06/12/2020 23:17

I had mine out, i had some other surgery at the same time(an incidental finding when they did CT scan to diagnose appendicitis) and i was in agony, so much so with 48hrs they had to take me back in to theatre and remove the rest.

Apparently when they remove the appendix, they always leave a small stump- i had to have that removed as well.

I cant tell how much was appendix and how much was the other surgery they did at the Same time, but i spent 2 weeks in hospital and struggled to walk for the initial 48hrs afterwards, very much a case of shuffling along the handrails very slowly clutching my belly! I was on oromoorph, tramadol, neurogenic and paracetamol until discharge and continued with tramadol for about a week after i went home. One of my entry sites (i had 3) also became infected so i had a course of antibiotics.

In hospital i had to have a stoma bag on my lowest incision as when. Came out of theatre they put a plain dressing on and it bleed through all onto the bed, i had the bag on for about 8 days and it continually filled up with blood then yellowy/greenish fluid, now that was gross! So glad when that stopped and a normal dressing could go back on!