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Original poster

Appendicitis at 55! Totally in shock

24 replies

Sherlockdee · 25/08/2023 17:16

I was right as rain on Sunday and by Monday morning I was in agony. Turned away at 1st hospital "take paracetamol" I was taken more seriously the following day at 2nd hospital. By then I had begun vomiting and the pain was off the charts.
As it transpired, the appendix had ruptured and it was removed by keyhole surgery.

I can't believe appendicitis is a thing at my age! They told me it goes for biopsy now, to check for appendix cancer (didn't know that was a thing!). So an anxious wait.

Worried because it was so random and sudden. Anyone else been thru similar? Thank you

OP posts:
User1324593 · 25/08/2023 20:24

FIL just had his appendix out at 66! Apparently it's not that unusual and can affect adults of all ages.

43ontherocksporfavor · 25/08/2023 20:32

DD had it aged 4 and I was surprised . Dr told me he’s seen 18 months to 90!

saltrocking · 25/08/2023 20:34

I was 45 and was told back then that it was rare at that age. All lab results came back ok. Speedy recovery x

Xrays · 25/08/2023 20:36

It can happen at absolutely any age.

Hope you recover quickly ❤️

Iwishmynamewassheilah · 25/08/2023 20:37

SIL just had hers removed at 69. Completely out of the blue. Not unheard of apparently.

LindorDoubleChoc · 25/08/2023 20:40

My brother had a ruptured apendix at about the same age. He's right as rain now, 10 years later. Try not to worry op!

loveclipbook · 26/08/2023 03:11

Sherlockdee · 25/08/2023 17:16

I was right as rain on Sunday and by Monday morning I was in agony. Turned away at 1st hospital "take paracetamol" I was taken more seriously the following day at 2nd hospital. By then I had begun vomiting and the pain was off the charts.
As it transpired, the appendix had ruptured and it was removed by keyhole surgery.

I can't believe appendicitis is a thing at my age! They told me it goes for biopsy now, to check for appendix cancer (didn't know that was a thing!). So an anxious wait.

Worried because it was so random and sudden. Anyone else been thru similar? Thank you

Glad you eventually were operated on but it is not good that the first hospital turned you away, they basically gambled with your life. This seems to be typical of the NHS right now and it is not like there is any private emergency alternative we can turn to. Best wishes going forward.

OhcantthInkofaname · 26/08/2023 03:26

I was 6. It was December 25.

OhcantthInkofaname · 26/08/2023 03:28

Sherlockdee · 25/08/2023 17:16

I was right as rain on Sunday and by Monday morning I was in agony. Turned away at 1st hospital "take paracetamol" I was taken more seriously the following day at 2nd hospital. By then I had begun vomiting and the pain was off the charts.
As it transpired, the appendix had ruptured and it was removed by keyhole surgery.

I can't believe appendicitis is a thing at my age! They told me it goes for biopsy now, to check for appendix cancer (didn't know that was a thing!). So an anxious wait.

Worried because it was so random and sudden. Anyone else been thru similar? Thank you

No one did a "rebound pain assessment" at the first hospital? Or a white blood cell check?

43ontherocksporfavor · 26/08/2023 08:39

DD 4 was sent home from out of hours with Calpol in the morning.Took her back an hour later and was sent straight to A&E. Heart was racing but they did blood tests and rebound test and said they weren’t sure so she stayed on a ward all evening until a consultant came at midnight and examined her and said she needed surgery first thing. Her appendix had perforated! She was in two days and lots of antibiotics but was fine once home. Not other problems since .

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 26/08/2023 11:32

I needed to have mine out at 48. Removed by keyhole surgery and recovery time was two weeks. No one mentioned sending the appendix off for tests, though. Is that the usual way?

The one complaint I had is that I was given the painkiller Tramadol afterwards. Never had it before and vomited constantly until it wore off so only took a couple of doses. Found out that it's called the 'vomiting drug' which made me question giving it to those who've just had abdominal surgery.

BrendaMcPherson · 26/08/2023 11:50

DH had his out last year and he was 54. He'd been in agony for a couple of days and I drove him to A&E. His appendix was removed the next day.

Wishimaywishimight · 26/08/2023 12:03

I had mine out at 44.

I was advised to have a colonoscopy afterwards (7/8 weeks after I think) as the consultant said that an older (older than 30) person with appendicitis can sometimes be caused by polyps in the intestines. Colonoscopy was all clear thankfully.

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 26/08/2023 13:23

How do polyps in the intestines affect you, I wonder?

No one mentioned any of this to me, but it was in 2010 so a while ago now. I was treated at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, btw.

43ontherocksporfavor · 26/08/2023 13:32

Polyps can turn cancerous so they like to check or remove.

43ontherocksporfavor · 26/08/2023 13:34

I think they’re always sent to pathology as standard practice .

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 26/08/2023 14:37

Thanks. I guess my appendix must have been tested and come up okay, then.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 26/08/2023 14:40

My colleague had appendicitis a couple of years ago at 51! We were all are as surprised as you! Everyone at work thought it was something you'd have by the time you were about 12 if you were going to get it!

floribunda18 · 26/08/2023 14:42

I always thought appendicits could flare up at any age.

All the best anyway, OP.

43ontherocksporfavor · 26/08/2023 16:25

You’re right @floribunda18

43ontherocksporfavor · 26/08/2023 16:26

Never heard of appendicitis being a childhood thing. Not sure why some think it is.

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 26/08/2023 17:20

@43ontherocksporfavor for a lot of us, me included, it's what we were told growing up so we believed it.

NeonHalo · 26/08/2023 22:27

My 70 year old mother had hers removed a few years ago! Totally out of the blue. She had a colonoscopy to check for cancer which came back clear, as did the appendix. It’s unusual but not uncommon in adulthood.

PollyCreo · 26/08/2023 23:28

Mine went at the age of 50. Thought I had food poisoning and even went into work the next day. I was going mad with the pain and spent hours in A&E. Eventually got rushed up to theatre and found out the next day it had burst, spent 5 days in hospital 😞

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