Have any of you had an appendix removed as a middle-aged adult and did you have any issues? I have a LOT of abdominal muscle soreness and bruising to scare the dead. Surgeon won’t see me til next week. Just curious as to what “normal” looks like.
TIA!
Yes. I had mine done laparoscopically though. Were you able to have it done that way?
I had a lot of soreness that improved slowly but surely. I think I was at about 90% in three weeks. I don’t remember significant bruising.
I do remember stopping to put my feet up and nap every day!
Hope you feel much better soon!
If the appearance is worrying you, snap a selfie of it and email it to the doc, noting your soreness as well. Ask if there’s any reason to see him sooner than next week. If it’s normal, you’ll feel better just knowing that. Hope you mend quickly!
My primary has seen the bruising and bleeding from one of the sites (yes, it was a laparoscopy). It’s my surgeon who won’t see me til next Tues. I can’t bear to take a picture. It is truly horrible looking. I won’t even show DH.
We are leaving for vacation in ten days and I will be flying. I sure hope I’m less sore by then! It’s hard to get in and out of a chair.
Wow, CD!!! Hugs. With so much going on your plate already - ouch. More hugs!!!
Mr. B healed like a cat. Laparoscopic. Went to work on the second day after the procedure.
That said, if you think something is not going well, go to the ER!!!
^^Totally agree. Go to the ER or see another doctor if you think there are complications, please. Don’t take a chance. Are you on blood thinners?
And when you travel, sit in the aisle seat. Get up a lot, if you can. Wear compression socks/hose. Flex your feet back and forth. Don’t get deep vein thrombosis. Move around.
You can also go to Urgent Care if you don’t want to go to the ER or even the internist or whatever doctor is available. I’d be bugging the surgeon regularly to fit me in tomorrow first thing in the morning!
Fever, bad odor, red swelling (not purple-yellow-green bruising) and/or drainage?
Those are your reasons not to wait.
@CountingDown are you on any blood thinning medicines? You have had heart issues, correct?
Your heart medicines may make the bruising worse as they keep the blood flowing more easily.
Also because of some the medicines my H is on, soreness is a side effect.
If you have a pharmacist you could ask them if the bruising and soreness are a side effect. But agree with the others that another trip to the doctor might be in order.
I had mine out at 47. Since my appendix was tucked under my large intestine, I had to have open surgery. They frog-marched me out of the hospital the next day when I still felt feverish and out of it, but I didn’t really have any problems, besides brain fog from the anesthesia that lasted about a week. I didn’t have much appetite either. I’m sorry you’re having problems - one of the things I remember once I came to after surgery was how much better I felt, even cut open and drugged up!
I had open surgery as a young teen, it was painful for several weeks and I had scar tissue a decade later that you could feel if you touch the scar site (which is now a faded line about 3 -4 inches long)
but if you are concerned you should go to the e.r. if you can not see the surgeon sooner. it will give you some mental relief even if everything is ok…and if there is an issue it can be fixed sooner than later. (I was told by a doctor when in doubt seek medical care do not worry about the er staff thinking you are an unnecessary patient) I would say go to an urgent care center but they may decline seeing you for that.
What did your PMD say when they saw it?
Oh, yeah, I’m on a Lovenox bridge and 12 mg of coumadin. Don’t poke me with a finger or I’ll bruise at this point. (Seriously. I get bruises in places that would cause mandated reporters concern!)
Busdriver, I do wear compression hose when I fly. DH got me a business class seat with his FF miles so I have more space. I tend to do a lot of standing and foot-rotating in-flight. Primary is insisting on a lovenox shot before both flights. My cardiologist took me off Plavix three months ago and never checked my INR. Unbeknownst to us til pre-op, my INR was very low for a cardiac patient (but great for a surgical one). So now we are trying to re-establish a new baseline coumadin dosage at the same time we are leaving for overseas.
The surgeon only sees follow-up folks two days a week. Primary thought it was ugly, but said I could apply antibiotic ointment if needed. Now that I’m back on all the anticoagulants, I think the surgical insult inflicted upon me is now in full bloom. The other two incisions look completely fine and aren’t bruised. I see the primary Monday for another INR and the surgeon Tues.
Mominva, thanks for the specific signs to look for.
Have you got medical clearance to fly? I seriously would not fly.
Yes, internist has okayed with precautions and meds. I see the surgeon Tuesday. She has indicated I can go.