Ruptured appendix

[LadyShea]

So after 3.5 days of dealing with "severe gas and constipation", Frankie goes to a doctor, who sends him the hospital, where a contrasting CAT scan shows he ruptured his appendix several days before, probably Wednesday. He went to work on Friday and was feeling better!

So they're all incredulous that he didn't come in sooner with a ruptured organ and all, but it never occured to either of us that appendecitis, let alone a rupture, would have such subtle symptoms. I thought it would cause unconsciousness or at least debilitation. He never even ran a fever or vomited or anything. He had sharp pains, but they seemed to move....leading us to the severe gas home diagnosis.

He had emergency surgery last night, and will stay at the hospital on IV antiobiotics for a few days He should be okay though, they were amazed at his strenght and health in the face of this.

Moral of the story, don't handwave away symptoms just because they don't meet your idea of what they should be. My dad's heart attack only produced a sore arm.

[Petra]

Shit! :eek:

I hope he feels better soon. That's pretty scary - his body could've poisoned itself, couldn't it? Damn.

But Frankie must be made of metal or wood or something. Woody the Ironman: even his own body can't kill him.

[pescifish]

I hope he feels better soon. That's pretty scary - his body could've poisoned itself, couldn't it? Damn. Yeah! That's what I always thought ruptured appendices did to people.

I guess this is one of those times I'd almost wish I'd get the severe symptons so that I'd know it's Doctor Visit worthy. But I'm very glad he's got it removed now and is doing well!

[One for Sorrow]

Whoa, scary stuff. Send Frankie my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[viscousmemories]

I'm glad to hear he's okay.

As someone chronically anxious about organ failure it's actually kind of reassuring to me to know that it's possible to have a ruptured appendix and not be writhing around on the floor screaming. Since I'm home alone a lot I'll likely have to get myself to the hospital if something bad happens, so it's nice to know I won't necessarily be debilitated.

[freemonkey]

Wow, Frankie's one tough guy. I'm glad he's OK.

I'm one of those people who brushes off symptoms, too, unless they are severe & debilitating. I may never have gone to the doctor for that if I was feeling better by Friday.

[Legs]

Poor Frankie, get well soon! :hug:

[Veritas]

Perhaps doing a big poo would help? :chuckle:

Well that's my cure for everything. GWS Frankie. :hug:

[livius drusus]

It's amazing how well he's doing considering how bad it could have been. Peritonitis is nuthin' to fuck with.

I'm glad all is well. :phew:

[Veritas]

I still think doing a big poo is a smart move.

[Beth]

I'm glad that Frankie made it through that without any really serious consequenses. I am amazed that it did not kill him (I knew someone who ended up in intensive care for a week from a ruptured appendix.).

THank you for the warning, though. You are right, sometimes people do not always have textbook symptoms.

[Bella]

Oh my God, LadyShea. I'm glad that Frank is okay. LIke other people said, I can't believe that he is doing as well as he is, especially because I've always heard that a ruptured appendix caused such huge problems.

How is he doing now?

[Julie]

Add me to the list of wow I can't believe how well he doing! What an amazing Man you've got there!

[Leesifer]

Best wishes to Frankie, LadyShea.

[LadyShea]

The surgeon told me something weird and cool about the human body. Apparently there is some part of the stomach (starts with a vowel, an oo sound IIRC) that actually moves around in response to inflammation to protect the abdomen. Whatever it's called wrapped itself completely around the appendix, isolating the abcess and preventing the infection from spreading through his abdominal cavity. He thinks this is why Frankie didn't have severe symptoms.

We also have found that his pain doesn't respond well to opiates (neither do I) and they keep going through them rather than trying a non-narcotic as I have asked. So he is now on morphine after demerol and delauded (sp?) didn't do much.

[cappuccino]

Wow, I'm amazed Frankie didn't feel much when his appendix ruptured, he must have steel guts, literally. When I had appendecitis, I was in such agony for two days before heading into the hospital for an emergency surgery. My appendix didn't even rupture but yet it felt like a monster with razor tipped claws had taken up residence in my abdomen.

I'm glad to hear Frankie's doing well now.

[Tanda]

Scary. He got really lucky!! :yup:

[viscousmemories]

So he is now on morphine after demerol and delauded (sp?) didn't do much.
So um... how does one rupture his appendix? :drool:

[cappuccino]

So um... how does one rupture his appendix? :drool:

You should just stab yourself in the stomach, it's a lot less trouble and less pain than having a ruptured or near-ruptured appendix.

[viscousmemories]

You should just stab yourself in the stomach, [...]
I can't tell you how often I get that advice.

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

You should just stab yourself in the stomach, [...]
I can't tell you how often I get that advice.

:rofl:

Brandi, I'm glad to hear he's okay. That's some scary shit.

[livius drusus]

Whatever it's called wrapped itself completely around the appendix, isolating the abcess and preventing the infection from spreading through his abdominal cavity. He thinks this is why Frankie didn't have severe symptoms.

That is both supercool and totally freakish. :spleen:

[Puck]

Oh, I'm so glad he's okay. Tought ole buzzard, ain't he? ;)

Personally, I don't understand why they give opiates for pain. They work for maybe 20 minutes and then you have to take more. I think they just like to give you drugs that will make you a zombie so you won't bother the nurses.

[LadyShea]

Personally, I don't understand why they give opiates for pain. They work for maybe 20 minutes and then you have to take more. I think they just like to give you drugs that will make you a zombie so you won't bother the nurses.

That's my hypothesis as well...just try to make em loopy so they'll be quietly in pain.

[Petra]

Whatever it's called wrapped itself completely around the appendix, isolating the abcess and preventing the infection from spreading through his abdominal cavity. He thinks this is why Frankie didn't have severe symptoms.

That is both supercool and totally freakish. :spleen:

I'd love to watch the oo sounding thing do what it does. Way, way, wayyy cool!


Best wishes for Frankie's speedy recovery, LadyShea. And please know that, just for youse, I'm more than happy to help out with any leftover opiates disposal. :yup:

[Dingfod]

When I had a ruptured appendix, I used Scotch tape to hold the pages in.

[Lauri D]

Whoa! Please pass along my wishes as well to Frankie for a speedy recovery. Man of steel indeed!