Appendicitis - what do i do now?

[Laranna]

TD, I had appendicitis when I was 17 weeks pregnant with DS. I had all the symptoms you had for 3 days before I went to the GP who sent me to the hospital. The ob and the general surgeon were stumped because I had no other classic signs such as fever and vomiting - just pain. They decided to take it out just in case, as a precautionary measure I guess because I was pregnant. It turned out that my appendix was actually starting to rupture, so luckily they got it out when they did.

If you are not happy at all with the pain, or get a fever or feel sick, definitely head straight to the hospital.

[Turkish Delight]

Thanks ladies. I love your avvy Eluned!

i don't have the vomiting or the fever as you said Eluned either. But what i don't is why they make you wait until you are in soooo much pain or it has ruptured to do something about it.

What is putting me off from going to the hospital is the looooooong wait time at our local hossie. The pain is not that severe and i know that i'd be waiting for hours to be seen by the drs there. i do have a letter from GP which states that i have appendicitis, so that might make my wait a little shorter, maybe??

I might go on Oz day. I have too much on before then! Oz day is a quiet day for me.

Is the surgery a day stay thing? Or is it an overnighter? have to check my schedule to see if it fits in I am such a busy lady these days!

[*Beema*]

I have to giggle that you have to see if you can squeeze it into your schedule and that Oz day might work! I hope that it is just a grumbly episode.

My Bosses daughter had to have hers removed when I had DD - we both went into the same hospital same night, she went via ER and I went via Maternity, was hilarious in the end as we all got to visit each other.

She was in for a couple of days, before going home on some pretty nice pain meds

If the pain gets worse definitely go in, I am sure the letter would speed up your trip through triage.

[Rivlas]

TD the letter does make a difference. DD2 had one when she was so ill just after she come home from overseas and she only had to wait a short time before being seen.

I agree with Eluned, you don't always have the vomiting and fever so take care and listen to your body.
If Mar... is your local ring before hand and ask how busy they are and tell them why you are asking. We have found that sometimes this helps if they tell you to come in

[Laranna]

Thanks ladies. I love your avvy Eluned!

Is the surgery a day stay thing? Or is it an overnighter?

Thanks TD

It won't be a day stay, you'll probably be in for at least a couple of days. I was in for four days (3 nights) but I was also pregnant so I don't know if I was in longer than "normal".

[Lisa]

I had mine out when I was in Yr 10 at school (so like 16yrs ago! )

I had pain in my belly that was excruciating, but I put up with it as at the time I also had glandular fever so I thought it was to do with that. In the morning I told my mum and she took me straight to our GP. He then called up a surgeon who told me to go straight over. He felt my belly and told my parents to go home, pack a bag for me and take me to the hospital. This was at 12pm. That evening I was operated on and my appendix were close to bursting when they were removed.
I was in hospital for 2 days and should have stayed in for 2 more days but I needed to sit for my half yearly yr 10 exams. So on the 3rd day I was at school doing exams. Because mine was such an urgent thing I have an 'old school' appendix scar, so they didn't do it via keyhole like some people get.

Wishing you all the best. I hope you get to have yours removed soon

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I got appendicitis when i was 19. I woke up in the middle of the night with the worst stomach pain, when i layed down it felt like someone was sitting on me. Then i started vomitting, i couldnt lay down without intense pain. I slept on and off all night in a chair as i had to be up right. By morning the pain was on my right side and i could barely walk. I went to the hospital (by myself mind you) walked up a BIG hill stumbled into emergency could barely talk i think all i said was "pain...tummy" so they put me through triage and they at first kept saying i was pregnant and it was ectopic, i kept saying there was NO WAY i could be. So they fart assed around giving me a blood test which came back negative (hmm YA THINK!!) then some other doctor came and asked what was wrong and what symptoms i had he felt the area and he asked if it hurt more if he pushed down or let go and when he let go i burst straight into tears, and that was when he said "we think you have appendicitis. we will operate and see.." Sure enough it was.

[Visitor7]

I had appendicitis & a ruptured ovarian cyst when I was 15. It was the most excrutiating pain of my life! I was rushed to hospital and the hospital staff practically threw me onto a bed and I was wheeled to theatre straight away. They thought it was only appendicitis at that stage, they didn't know about the ruptured cyst until I was operated on.

[~Raven~]

Appendicitis is like labour. It's bothersome and painful but you know when it's serious enough to get yourself to the hospital

Jokes aside TD, I had a ruptured appendix and it was the most painful thing I have ever been thorough. It turned really bad in a matter of hours so be careful OK!