recovering from appendicitis

[themarquis]

Just wondering if any of you have had an appendectomy and what the recovery was like?

Sunday night I began having pain -- we were in the ER monday afternoon and I was taken to surgery Tues. early morning. They talked about doing it laporascopically, but for some reason they did it "open" instead -- and my incision is almost five inches long!

The recovery process has been okay so far, but I am in a ton of pain that the medication just doesn't help with. A lot of the pain is actually in my muscles in my arms and chest -- I think because I've had to alter the way I move around because of my belly. The first day in the hospital, they pumped me up with a ton of fluids, and I had to get up and go back and forth to the bathroom every hour! Moving around that much really left me in a ton of pain.

I'm also starting to worry about work -- at first they said I'd only be off a week (I think maybe for the laproscopic surgery) but now they are saying at least two weeks. I work as a computer programmer in the health insurance field, and we're getting ready for "open enrollment" -- in the insurance field , that equals tons of extra work and long hours -- obviously, I will miss a lot of that! I'm worried that my bosses will be unhappy with me for being out so long; I'm not even sure what they'll do about the time off since I haven't been working there a year yet so I have prorated sick/vacation days. I'm definitely going to use up all my days off and more, meaning I'm going to have to depend on their kindness to let me have extra days, and also meaning I will have no days off for the holidays!

Anyway, if any of you have had appendicitis, tell me about your recoveries! How long did they take, how was your pain and tiredness level, and how was the transition back to work?

 

[Sonya]

Well I had mine out the "old fashioned" way too, but in college. I loved the pain pills but they didn't always work 100%. I was out a week and a half, went back to school and went out on a date wearing heels! I was crazy b/c it hurt like heck.

As for the time off, it was 4 days in the hospital, and maybe 5 days at home recovering. I forced myself to get back into the swing of things since it was the week before finals and I needed the review time in class.

Good luck! If you are just sitting at your computer it won't be so bad, it was always the walking that got me. Bring some pillows with you for support.

 

[JessicaR]

Don't worry about what you have no control over. Everybody recovers at different rates for many different reasons. I had mine out when I was young - 20 years old, the same procedure you had. I was out of work for two weeks. I recall the severe level of exhaustion I had after getting home form the hospital. Use a pillow for everything! Your upper body will hurt until your muscles adjust.

That was the first time I realized my stomach muscles were involved in every movement I made! Stay hydrated, walk a lot and eat well. That should help you heal quicker. If you are taking pain meds remember they are constipating so hopefully your doc has already told you what to take to avoid that.

I hope with each day that you are feeling a bit better!

 

[themarquis]

bump!

 

[themarquis]

Thanks for your responses --

Well, I have to say that after a first couple of days of recovery feeling relatively well, things have started to go downhill a bit. Today I had trouble eating anything, and then started to vomit a couple of hours ago. We've talked to the residents on call and GF is now going in to pick up some anti-nausea medication, so hopefully that will help.

I guess the story is that when you have major abdominal surgery, your intestines and all that are not going to want to work right away. They seem to think that things are a bit "stuck" and I won't really be able to eat until uh ... you know ... things happen on the other end.

Well wish me luck "on that end" and keep the responses coming if any of you have "been there, done that".