Does My Appendix Weigh 6 Pounds?47 lbs LOSTso farNovember 29, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 23 comments
I doubt it does, since it’s such a tiny insignificant part of the human body. This is a continuation of yesterdays post about my come back from appendicitis. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital just because my blood was still a bit contaminated. It took me a couple of days, but my body got back to form and with the help of some antibiotics I was able to get well a lot sooner then they expected. I was up and about the second day after my surgery. Overall I think I had a quick recovery, or better said, am having a quick recovery.
I almost forgot to mention my experience right before going into surgery. First off, it was freezing cold in the hospital. They told me that it’s because bacteria has a hard time forming in a cold environment. Sounds smart. They told me to take my clothes off and put on a gown. The prep guys name was Isador. Uncannily similar to Israel I think. They were calling him Izzy, which is what some people call me. He also told me that he had the appendix surgery done and that I wouldn’t remember a thing. He was right. He was also of Spanish decent. Hmmmmm. After saying goodbye to my warrior wife, I was on my way into the white, cold OR (operating room). She came to be with me after I told her I was being operated on and didn’t want to leave my side all night. I love her so much. I finally asked her to go home after my two hour operation so that she could have a good nights rest. In the OR, they were playing some slow jazz music and all six people in the room had vibrant colors on. The contrast with the white, metal room was very apparent. The OR felt good. Nothing like on ER. They then had me slide onto thing operating table and began strapping my arms and legs down. Once they did that, they told me to take some deep breaths and gave my some anesthesia.
The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital room with my wife saying that I looked pale. She was happy that I was back and looked really worried. You need to understand something. I am not the kind of person to go to hospitals or have any major health issues. I usually heal quickly and without any medications. So when my family sees that I am being operated on, they immediately think the worst. It’s almost like Superman being wounded, it just doesn’t happen. Even my daughter was scarred of me. She is not used to seeing me being sick and wouldn’t come near me the entire time I was at the hospital. The only time she let me hug and kiss her was when she came with my wife to pick me up to go home.
I was at the hospital for four days, from Sunday to Wednesday. I wasn’t able to get online and blog, but was fortunate enough to have some posts timestamped for the week. I was beginning to get used to the hospital, which is not something I like. Whenever they asked me if I had any allergies I would answer with, “Yes, hospitals.” I would say it with a straight face. The overall experience at the hospital was very pleasant. One thing I didn’t like was that there was a funeral home right next door to the hospital. WTF? Talk about inappropriate.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to perform any strenuous exercise for about four to six weeks, but I will be able to continue to regulate my diet. That should help maintain my weight. I actually only lost six pounds throughout the whole ordeal. That’s a lot less than I expected. I was thinking I would lose 20 lbs. They only kept me on a liquid diet for one day. Again, I think it’s because of my inner-warriorness. They kept saying I was in great health and that made me feel good. I was thinking that maybe I did something to cause this, but the journey that I began this summer has paid off. This appendix mishap was just a fluke.
I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, well maybe my worse enemy, but not on anyone else. I am at about 90% health and still feel a slight bit of pain, nothing unbearable, where one of the incisions was made. I suspect that within two weeks time I will be able to get back on my recumbent bike and perform some light exercise movements. It’s up to the doctor though. I plan on following his advice, which I will get when I see him at out appointment next week. Thanks doctor Patel. You da hombre! For those few guys that I was supposed to start a challenge with in December, I am sorry but I may not be able to do that challenge. Unless the doc says I can.
I highly recommend that if you feel any pain in your abdominal area, or anywhere for that matter, that you get yourself checked out. FAST! You just never know what could happen.
It sucks that I don’t have health coverage. The enormous bill I am going to receive is going to be hard to pay. I guess now is the time to ask for any donations or advertising purchases. They would definitely help with the hospital bill.
I tried asking the nursing staff and doctors what could have caused this or what I could have done to prevent it. The answer was the same: It’s a bit random and nothing. Now, I am the kind of guy that thinks that for every action their is a reaction, but from doing some research and speaking to the docs and nurses, the appendix is just plain stupid. It’s a tiny obsolete thing in the human body. One nurse told me that it was used more before we evolved from eating tree trunks. There are even reports of some children being born without them. But anyway…
Who else do you know that could walk around (go to Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies, drive the family around town, go to the movies, go to dinner, drive himself to the emergency room) with a ruptured appendix for six days and live to blog about it?
The Fat Man Unleashed that’s who!
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your hot in a hospital bed. any sponge baths? do you have any pics of the gown from the back.
dude, wtf? only my wife can see those!
Even after hearing the story, still very scary. Very glad this worked out OK.
Yeh, it was a horrible experience, but you gotta make the best of it. I’m back aren’t I?
You have 6 in the title of two blog posts sequentially… Definitely keep the diet on track, it will make you happy when you do get back into working out. I guess the next six weeks of post will be about your new turkey burger recipes and diet advice.
Question, how often do you update your weight scale that is posted on each post?
haha, i didnt notice that. is that bad? I update that stat whenever i weight myself, which hasnt been in a while.
Here’s top hoping you recover quickly. Mine almost burst when I was 20 years old. For about two weeks after the surgery it felt like my insides shifted around every time i got up or sat down.
That was also the end of the “permanently-always thin” stage of my life. Before that surgery I was thin without working out or caring. After I gained ten pounds and started my journey to fatness.
for real? wow.
I discovered your blog by accident, & will read back posts with interest. I also am a ‘fat man’ - 133Kg (297lb), 6′4″, unfit & not quite 50 years old. I’m about to become a double-grandaddy, so I need to start getting healthy.
Re the appendix being ‘obsolete’ or vestigial, it’s recently been found that it is an important part of the anatomy. It’s a reservoir of vital stomach bacteria, a backup supply, in case the digestive system is purged of digestive bacteria, which can happen in the case of cholera or dysentry. Without it, the victim wouldn’t be able to digest food, & would starve.
Recover well & quickly.
That is very interesting Mick, can you direct me to the source for that?
Here ya go: http://www.optimum.net/News/AP/Article?articleId=333992
I’m a little amazed that scientists & medicos still talk about certain organs (appendix, coccyx, etc) being useless leftovers of our evolutionary past, when such claims made in the past have been almost universally wrong. The list of supposed vestigial organs has been whittled down from over a hundred to just a handful, as the purpose of these organs has been discovered.
I guess it makes a bloke feel more authoritative to say “This bit has no purpose.” Saying “We don’t know what it’s for” is a bit ego deflating.
Thanks, I will read that article.
hello
i wanted to say good luck on recovery. hopefully your over it.
I had a question about the pain prior to surgery. I was told about weeks ago that my appendix is starting to get swollen.
It feels like I have a golf ball in my lower right side. Near my hip. Anyways, the last few days i have been having sharp pains in the same spot.
Did you have any of this- if you can remember?
Im glad you made it through surgery ok. and You are very blessed to have the wife you do!!
Hello Jenee. Go check that out ASAP. I had those sharp pains. DO it right now.
Yes-my appendix burst on vacation in Kauai-lots of metal staples and IVs and antibiotics,a little fluid in the lungs-great little hospital ,though-I wasn’t even in that much pain when it burst-thought it was women problems or something i ate. For a month before this happened my right hip hurt a lot and strangely enough-my right ring finger ached like it was bashed with a bat. It’s a foretelling of what’s to come-wish more Medical web sights mention this pain.
Wow, it was extremely painful for me on the last day.
thanks for writing back so fast!
i see my doc tuesday so– not to sound dumb but im going to try to wait til then. if it gets worse, changes or anything im heading to the ER!
Im glad you wrote this blog
Okay, but be careful. I thought I had a minor hernia or something and wait 6 days.
I was misdiagnosed with “the flu” and i was actually walking around for ten days with a ruptured appendix! i know what you went through
Glad to see you came out of this episode alive and continued to share your battle against the belly.
Did you ever update your blog about what happened with your hospital bill?
I am just getting health insurance after coasting without incident since last August, but many friends are still rolling the dice. I have heard that hospitals will in many cases work something out — like forgive part of your bill so they can get the amount you can actually pay — but that a large number of bankruptcies result from high hospital bills.
I know its kind of personal to ask about your finances but did you ever/would you ever share what came of that?
Nick, thanks for stopping by. It worked out in the end.
i got a call from my boyfriend the other day saying he was in the hospital. he was complaining about really bad back pain, which he needs disks replace, so we thought it was his back. once he got to the hospital they ran tests and found out it was his appendix. he’s the same way you said you were. he hates doctors and hospitals. i live 2 hours away from him and when i heard what was going on i came out to make sure everything was okay. he was home by the time i got into town. he then went back to the hospital at 2 in the morning and didn’t bother to call me to let me know, but again he refused to get admitted. the next day he was still in severe pain and had started vomiting.I’m waiting for him now so we can go to the hospital so he can get his surgery.I’m just glad this happened while him and i are together cause i know how he is and if i wasn’t here for him he wouldn’t do anything about him.I’m going to share your story with him and maybe it’ll make him think twice next time. thank you for sharing your story with us it’s very inspirational.
wow, take care of the big lug…I know I wouldnt be around if my wife didn’t help me out.’