My recent trauma - to help anyone who may experience this

[Newmum0113]

Hi all,

I'm really new to MN but have found it really helpful so far. I thought I'd share my recent trauma with you all and am looking for some reassurance really.

I was just wondering if anyone had ever had/know someone who had appendicitis during pregnancy.

I'm currently 21+2 weeks PG. Two weeks ago at about 2am I started having really bad stomach cramps - too high for baby - and I tried to ignore it and went back to sleep. I woke up at 5am in complete agony and took some paracetamol and tried to go back to sleep but I couldn't lie down or sit or stand comfortably. I vomited it all back up.

In the end I phoned NHS Direct as I was staying with my mum so nowhere near my own surgery, plus it was 6am. They sent a paramedic out while I was on the phone to assess me.

While he was there I was really sick again and the pain had spread down my right side. I was shaking and in undescribable pain. The paramedic took me straight to A&E and I was kept waiting for another hour before being taken through to a bay.

They gave me co-dydramol for the pain and called all sorts of doctors to come see me from the labour and antenatal wards. They sent me for an ultrasound but couldn't see much of my appendix as they suspected it was the culprit.

The pain worsened and they switched me to gas and air which helped for a while. I was then moved up to the antenatal ward to be monitored - no gas and air anymore! I was still in agony and had no idea what was going on. Yet another doctor, this time a surgeon, came to see me. They said that it was almost certainly my appendix and it was necessary for me to have an operation to remove it.

I was given a consent form to sign as she explained the risks of miscarriage or premature labour to me. I was at a complete crossroads. I did not want to sign but my DH was with me and supported me all the way. I signed the consent and just had to wait. They got me hooked up to an IV to keep my fluids up and get some pain relief in me as I couldn't keep anything down.

I had a further 3 surgeons come and see me and tell me all the risks again - I felt like they were trying to put me off the surgery or make me feel guilty for putting my baby at risk. I said I was worried about the baby and was told that their only concern at the moment was making sure I was ok.

They moved me to the surgery ward and said I was going to have emergency surgery as soon as a theatre was available. I waited 20 hours before going down to have the operation.

The surgery lasted over an hour and a half and was complicated. I believe it ruptured as they were removing it and there was some spillage into my body. Had they waited any longer I would not be here to write this post. I spent a further 4 hours in recovery before being returned to the ward where my family where waiting for me. Looking at their faces I thought the worst had happened. My family were given a few minutes with me then sent away for me to rest, as I was heavily sedated and on morphine too.

Throughout the night I had hourly checks and my blood pressure was highly elevated and I had a temperature of 38.7'C. I was tachy-cardic for the next day or so too (abnormally high heart rate).

I was finally able to ask about the baby and was told everything was fine. But I wasn't convinced. The next day my DH came to see me and I told him I was worried about the baby. I hadn't felt it move at all since before the surgery. We were relieved when the nurses came round with a Doppler to listen to the heartbeat and all was well.

It took a few days before baby started moving around again as normal.

Unfortunately I've not been able to have my 20week scan yet due to the wound. We are booked in for tomorrow morning. Hopefully will be able to find out what we are having!

I am still so worried about the amount of medication I was given and what effect it might have on the baby. I have had gas and air, paracetamol, co-dydramol, morphine, co-amoxiclav, metronidazole and flucloxacillin. Plus the anaesthetic and whatever they gave me during the surgery.

I am now making a slow recovery and the baby is moving more and more. Unfortunately it likes to be on the right side where my wound is. I'm also getting bigger by the day which is putting pressure on the wound and stretching it open, but luckily it's closing up nicely now.

So that's my story so far. I am praying for smooth sailing the rest of the way through.

X

I have come across someone else who had to have their appendix removed while pregnant. With regards to the various medication you received:
Gas and air is safe, thousands of women (including me) use this in labour every year;
Paracetamol is also safe, we are told this is ok to take while pregnant;
Morph one I'll make the baby sleepy, but I believe it is safe, I was given it after a CS while preparing to breast feed;

I can't tell you about the antibiotics, but all the medics were aware of your condition and would not have given you unsuitable education.

I can see that this was really traumatic for you, and clearly Iftar hey had reacted quicker you would not have been so ill, but perhaps they were hoping it was only grumbling and would settle down.

Good luck for the scan.

Sorry, medication not education!

Thanks mikkii - It's just when they say 'mum is no1 priority' it makes you think they'll give you anything you need regardless !

I'd never heard of it happening during PG but my MW has said she's had 3 expectant mums go through it.

Am hoping scan won't be too painful tomorrow, but really anxious to have if done soon.

X

Wow, what an adventure. Best of luck for rest of the pregnancy.

Hi it sounds like you've had a really traumatic time. I can't comment that specifically as I haven't seen your records but as an anaesthetist can I reassure you that we take surgery and anaesthetics in pregnancy extremely seriously and every effort will have been made to ensure you were not given anything that would harm the baby. All the medications you have listed are safe in pregnancy and are often given for a variety of reasons. The most likely effects on the baby of the drugs you would have been given would be sedation for a while which might correlate with you feeling that baby had been a bit quiet. Don't forget that we give general anaesthetics for delivery and the techniques would have been broadly the same. The most important part of the process is to make sure you are safe and well looked after as this will help do the same for the baby.
Good luck with the scan and rest of the pregnancy.

Ps
If you are going to need surgery during pregnancy the second trimester is generally the safest time for both of you. Xx

Picklebean thank you so much this really does put my mind at rest somewhat. It's reassuring to know that the medications I was given are ok and often given during delivery. It's odd because throughout PG you're told paracetamol only, so you worry when they give you other medications.

Annie sorry to hear you experienced the same. And thanks for the reassurance that your DD is fine, I'm so happy for you! My DH wants me to get a zip tattooed over my scar and tell the baby that's where it came out! I think some of the difficulty the surgeon had was due to the size and location of my womb.

I actually told my DH that if childbirth was anything like that we were certainly only having one! Although my mum had no labour with me at all and only 3 hours with my brother so fingers crossed!

My mum had her appendix out when was pg with me and that was a loooong time ago.
I'm fine and she went on to have two more babies

Holy shit that sounds so traumatic poor you!

I asked if they could take out my appendix during my C section but they said no.

Stupid organ - does nothing but can randomly decide to kill you. Ridiculous thing you are well shot of it.

Good luck for the rest if your pregnancy.

Hi all.

Scan went well yesterday and they have confirmed (as much as they can) the we are expecting a healthy DD.

I did want a boy first but am absolutely thrilled nonetheless!

It was a bit painful and baby was not interested in being cooperative but they got all the measurements and images they needed.

Super happy and wants the next 3 1/2 months to whizz by so I can hold my little girl in my arms.

Hey newmum great news that the scan went well and that you're on the mend after what must have been a heck of a trauma!

Just thought I'd add my two penn'orth. I had to have emergency surgery at 8-9 weeks pregnant thanks to a perianal abscess (nowhere near as bad as appendicitis). If I hadn't have had it I may have ended up with blood poisoning and other terrible things so it needed doing.

I thought it would be done under epidural due to being in first trimester, but in the end it was under a general - I only found out 10 mins before going under.

This was all a bit scary as I had never considered this a possibility until that moment (had not had consultation with anaesthetist as they had a string of life-or-death emergencies that put me back by 5 and a half hours) but all they assured me was that it would be safe for baby.

They then sent me on my way the next day with a huge bag full of drugs including some of those drugs you had, and some that even said in big block capitals 'must not be taken in first trimester of pregnancy'. I phoned up the pharmacy to double check and they assured me it was safer to take them than not, and it was only a minimal course.

The 3 weeks to my first ultrasound were the longest three weeks ever - was terrified baby had been harmed - but all was fine. And this was backed up at 20 weeks, too. Now at 34 weeks, I'm being pummelled away by a very active, very wiggly baby - so it seems that all is fine.

I won't know for sure until it comes out and says hi, but wanted to let you know that all seems okay here so far despite GA and loads of drugs!

Just totally sucks to be ill like that while pregnant! Fingers crossed that the next 3 and a bit months whizz by for you so you get to meet your DD asap

BraveLilBear Thank you so much for your reassurance and sorry to hear you had a hard time too especially so early on. In a way it was good you didn't have long to ponder over it but it must have been so scary to be rushed like that.

We went on a shopping spree today and bought all our sleep suits and baby grows and terry towel nappies. And the baby bath.

Tomorrow we are going to buy some furniture for it all to go in!

Really makes up for having to wait so long! Although I'm exhausted after it all! Time for bed methinks.