Appendix Surgery and the Aftermath!

***For clarity- I wrote this one week post-op from my appendix surgery, but am just getting around to sharing it publicly now. Trigger Warning: picture at the bottom of article contains post-op scarring.

As of exactly one week ago, I am now a member of the population without an appendix residing inside them! Hooray! 🥳

Now, I’m not deluded into thinking this is somehow interesting. Hundreds of thousands of these surgeries take place every year in the US, and I just happened to be one of them in 2022. However, what IS worth talking about is my experience and the warning signs. I was super lucky to catch it while it was still categorized as appendicitis, not a ruptured appendix. Had I waited too long, I might still be bedridden, because that type of appendix surgery is a bit more invasive and takes longer to heal from.

Per usual, I am not a doctor or medical professional, just sharing my experience to hopefully aid someone else if they’re in a similar situation! So, let’s get right to the nitty-gritty details:

What happened?

I started feeling some pain on Saturday night while at work. I chalked it up to a very busy week/weekend and just my stomach bothering me from something I’d eaten. Two more days passed like this. I was experiencing consistent stomach pains that kind of ebbed and flowed throughout the day, nothing incapacitating or debilitating, so I just kept on with my normal routine!

The third day was when I really started to take notice. The pain had shifted to my right lower abdomen and was now a bit more pronounced, especially while bending and lifting my right leg to put on pants or take off shoes. Still though, I was pretty unconcerned. I had just received CT scan results earlier in the month that confirmed I had an ovarian cyst on my right side, so I honestly just figured it had burst. Which may sound scary, but for smaller cysts it is pretty common and does not require surgery when they resolve themselves.

In typical Devony fashion, I spent the entirety of that painful third day legit running around. 😂 I ran to the doctor’s office, to pick up cookies for my sister, into Midtown, got on a train back to Jersey, met with an accountant to do my business taxes for the first time, and then took the train (and subway) back to my apartment.

During the course of this day (and inspired by the progression of pain), I shot a message over to one of my girlfriends who had some experience in this field. THANK THE LORD she knew the signs of appendicitis, because this had truly not even crossed my mind as an option! I did a quick Google search to confirm her theory and started packing my bag to head over to the closest ER.

What to look out for?

For me, the pain started out centrally on the abdominal wall. It didn’t feel particularly deep or muscular, it was actually hard for me to describe in the moment, which was my first inkling that something might be really wrong. SORT of like a stomach ache, but not exactly.

The main thing to remember is if the pain moves, that’s a big indicator that you could be experiencing appendicitis. If you have central pain that moves down to your lower right side, it’s a red flag.

I also was experiencing mild nausea and loss of appetite, which I didn’t clock until that last day. I had been running around nonstop for work, so not eating frequently is part of that routine. But when I stopped to think about it, I really had not been eating much at all and was getting no joy from the food I was consuming.

A low grade fever and bloating are two other things to look out for if you have been experiencing any of the above symptoms. The pain was honestly not as debilitating as I would have expected. But it did continue to worsen as I spent more time at the hospital, and my medication intake increased as needed.

What was the hospital experience like?

Well, my hope was to avoid the hospital entirely because MONEY. With the help of my friend, I made a few calls to gynecologists and UrgentCares by my apartment, just to see if I could get this confirmed before committing myself to a hospital visit. To my surprise, none of their offices had the equipment or the specialized knowledge to actually verify appendicitis. So, an emergency room visit it would be.

Honestly, I could write a whole other post about this ER visit considering it took 16 HOURS for them to diagnose me and get me into “emergency surgery.” It was fairly upsetting truth be told and had I not been drugged up with morphine at that point I likely would have made much more of a fuss. I truly feel for the healthcare workers that are doing their best amidst a litany of challenges this year, and gave genuine thanks and appreciation to every one I had contact with.

I had to have a myriad of tests done including ultrasounds, CT scans, a COVID test, and blood/urine tests to confirm what we suspected. Then, I was hooked up to some IVs and settled in to await a surgery time!

PRO TIP: Remember to treat any service or healthcare worker with kindness always, they are there to help you.

PRO TIP #2: You can’t eat or drink anything before surgery, not even water. Seems obvious, but when you are loopy and dehydrated for hours on end, it can be easy to forget and want a sip of water!

How is recovery going?

So far, so good! As of this writing I am one week post-op, and am feeling pretty good all things considered. Since we caught it so early, surgery was able to be done laparoscopically. While this still is categorized as “major surgery,” it is a lot less invasive than if you have to be fully opened-up!

There were just three small holes cut into my abdomen, two were able to be glued and the third in my belly button required two dissolvable stitches. The bruising and swelling was pretty major for the first two days after. I spent most of that time sleeping, eating soup, and getting up for a brief walk to promote good circulation.

My throat was also a bit sore the first few days from the breathing tube, but that passed quickly! You will likely feel nauseous and dehydrated right after a major surgery. And, if you are me, you will immediately throw up the narcotic pain medication the nurse gave you the second you try to sit up. Special shout out to Nurse Dominque for being the MOST unbothered and supporting me every second until I got my ass in an Uber. That woman deserves a raise.

What should I do to heal properly after my appendix surgery?

• Rest
  • Obvious first one! Rest your body; it’s been through an ordeal and needs to repair itself.
• Hydrate
  • Water is a must (especially if you, like me, had an indefinite amount of time that you couldn’t eat or drink before surgery). Despite being given fluids intravenously, I still felt incredibly dehydrated for the next few days. I stayed on top of it with lots of water, Gatorade for electrolytes, and ginger ale to combat the nausea.
• Short Walks
  • As mentioned, these help keep your blood circulating properly (and avoid blood clots from remaining too sedentary). It’s also good to keep your body moving and endurance up!
• Extra Fiber
  • I utilized a fiber supplement in my protein shakes, but added fiber after a surgery is recommended to help your system regain regularity.
• Anti-Nausea Medicine
  • We grabbed some Dramamine to have on hand because I am particularly sensitive to anesthesia and become incredibly nauseous after surgery. Not a bad OTC medication to keep in the house if you experience motion sickness or vertigo!
• CHILL
  • I’ve been told I can be “a bit intense” and “averse to slowing down.” 🙃 This is factual (for the most part), but the last few days have been glorious in that I have not demanded much of myself. I’ve woken up late and played Mario Party and worked on a puzzle and then taken a nap. It has truly been a blessing to be “forced” to slow down once and awhile, and caring for your body means no excuses! 😉

Still have questions about appendix surgery? AMA- Ask Me Anything !

Feel free to comment, DM on instagram, hit up the Contact Us page, or email dimattianeverquits@gmail.com .

I will try to respond to questions publicly to ensure the most people can benefit!

Love you all, stay safe. 🥰