Appendicitis?

ajuhdg · #1 05-30-2004, 10:26 AM

I'm curious who out there has had their appendix removed? I've been in the middle of huge ordeal for the last two weeks, and I've learned some interesting new things.

Has anyone heard of 'Chronic Appendicitis'? My Army doctor referred me out to a German doctor after I'd been having severe abdominal pain for the last two weeks. An ultrasound showed that there was some inflammation, but appendicitis was ruled out. I saw another German doctor Friday, and he said I had appendicitis from elevated WBC and ultra sound. I went to the ER, and the nurse saw my chart and yelled at me that it was impossible for me to have appendicitis, because it's been two weeks.

I talked to MY doctor in the states and he suggested Chronic Appendicitis. I then do some family research and find out that my grandmother, mother, one aunt, and a cousin have all had similar situations...appendectomy after extended period of symptoms. To make things all the more wierd, two of my cousins and I were all in ER's on Friday with similar problems. One was diagnosed with Gall Bladder disease (I've had mine out), the other with appendicitis, me...still undecided.

I've found a lot of info about it online, but I'm just curious to see what others have experienced?

aj

swissmiss04 · #2 05-30-2004, 11:30 AM

I myself have never had appendicitis. I do know a few people that have. It's really important that your doctors keep an eye on the situation because you definitely do not want to rupture. It would probably be better to get it removed rather than wait around for it to cause problems. I hope everything works out.

ajuhdg · #3 05-30-2004, 11:39 AM

I'm leaning towards having it out...my husband could possibly come home for a few days (from Iraq) if I do! Not to mention, it hurts like hell!

aj

swissmiss04 · #4 05-30-2004, 12:03 PM

Oh, dear! If it hurts, get thee to a surgeon ASAP. A ruptured appendix can be fatal. Besides, there is no need to live in pain. Plus, it would be great to have mr. ajuhdg home, right?

Please keep us posted.

Tom Earp · #5 05-30-2004, 12:37 PM

Doctor ASAP!

Still have mine, wheew!

As said before, a burst organ can be fatal!

Appendicts, is that how it is spelled?

Nothing to mess with!

Painful is tuff, burst can be worse!

sageofages · #6 05-30-2004, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ajuhdg
I'm curious who out there has had their appendix removed? I've been in the middle of huge ordeal for the last two weeks, and I've learned some interesting new things.

Has anyone heard of 'Chronic Appendicitis'? My Army doctor referred me out to a German doctor after I'd been having severe abdominal pain for the last two weeks. An ultrasound showed that there was some inflammation, but appendicitis was ruled out. I saw another German doctor Friday, and he said I had appendicitis from elevated WBC and ultra sound. I went to the ER, and the nurse saw my chart and yelled at me that it was impossible for me to have appendicitis, because it's been two weeks.

I talked to MY doctor in the states and he suggested Chronic Appendicitis. I then do some family research and find out that my grandmother, mother, one aunt, and a cousin have all had similar situations...appendectomy after extended period of symptoms. To make things all the more wierd, two of my cousins and I were all in ER's on Friday with similar problems. One was diagnosed with Gall Bladder disease (I've had mine out), the other with appendicitis, me...still undecided.

I've found a lot of info about it online, but I'm just curious to see what others have experienced?

aj

I suffered from Chronic Appenditis for years. YEARS. It would flair up and make me miserable but not enough to "warrant surgery at this time".

When it would get sore, a round of antibiotic would generally calm it down. The dr warned eventually it would need to come out. About 3 years ago, it finally went over the top and had to be removed, after about 20 years of aggravation.

DolphinChicaDDD · #7 05-30-2004, 01:04 PM

The boy had apendicitis. His started hurting about a week or so before it ruptured. It was right when I first started seeing him...I thought he was trying to ignore me.
Anyway, I'd say get it out.
Cause ya don't really need it, and now they take it out through athroscopocy (sp?) and they go through your belly button and there is minimal scaring(not like the Madeline scars of the past). He was fine in a week, week and a half. He just couldn't lift weight for 2 months...which is better than 6-10 months.

Wine&SilverBlue · #8 05-30-2004, 02:13 PM

I had really bad stomach pains for a month or so, eventually to the point where I could barely do anything without very sharp pains. Eventually I started throwing up every day and went to the ER at 5am... it turned out my appendix had RUPTURED!!! and the doctors think it had been ruptured for at least 2-3 days!!! They don't know how I survived...

In the ER they did an xray and CAT scan.. and they couldn't tell from there if it was appendicitis or Crohn's disease (an intestinal auto-immune disease that i have family history of) so they had to go in laproscopically to see what was going on...

and they found my appx already ruptured! (and ruled out Crohns)

then after being readmitted to the hospital 2x more (for a total of a month) they realized I had crohns too, and it was what made my appendix rupture.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DONT WRITE IT OFF AS NOTHING!!! I WOULD HAVE DIED IF I DIDNT GO TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN I DID!! (I TOLERATED THE PAIN TOO LONG AS IT IS, BC I WAS USED TO STOMACH PAIN)

JUST HAVE THEM TAKE IT OUT LAPROSCOPICALLY SO YOU DONT EVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AGAIN.. ITS WORTH IT

ajuhdg · #9 05-30-2004, 02:21 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone...I'm just scared to do it in the German hospital! They aren't exactly nice, and there are odd differences. The closest military hospital is Landstuhl...four hours away!

I really think this is what is wrong with me...the md's think I have an intestinal infection, and want me to have a colonoscopy! NO THANK YOU!!! My cousin had to go through the same thing, and it was her appendix the whole time!!!

aj

Tom Earp · #10 05-30-2004, 02:30 PM

SH*T or get off of the pot!

Dont mess with this!

This is some serious stuff!

Germans can be rude to Americans, but health is the main concern here!

Nice if and when Hubby can come and see YOU!

That is the key! Hubby can see you!

It has been a very simple operation for a long time.

Aint like ice cream malady, tonsils when you get mature!

#11 05-30-2004, 02:40 PM

I have had an appendectomy. Back in 92. I was getting sick to my stomach with severe abdominal pain and it was chronic in the sense it kept reappearing. the third trip to the ER was the deciding factor. they caught it before it ruptured. If you feel it could be don't let up and be in a dr's face until he agree's with you.

I have had a few surgeries in my time and i think the appectectomy was worse.

ajuhdg · #12 05-30-2004, 02:54 PM

This would be my second laproscopy...had my gall bladder out in 2000 (right in the middle of mid-terms!).

My mother-in-law is volunteering to come and stay too. It'll be me AND the baby, so it's a lot to take into consideration. The German doctor wants me to go to the ER if/when I have an 'attack' to have my WBC done again...that leads me to believe HE truly thinks it's appendicitis. I have to wait until Tuesday to talk to my regular Army doctor, though.

My German friend just got here and wants to take me to the ER again...we'll see what happens!

aj