I Walked Around with a Ruptured Appendix for 6 Days47 lbs LOSTso farNovember 28, 2007 by Israel Lagares | 49 comments

It was unintentional. I wasn’t trying to be a tough guy. I recommend that if you feel any odd pains to go check yourself out ASAP. It started as a small pain on the right side, which I shrugged off as being a mild strain from having worked out. The pain was bearable and rarely occurred. For the next few days it remained the same, an annoying pain in my side that I was able to shrug off. It wasn’t until I got home on Saturday night from seeing Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium with the family that it got really bad. My entire abdomen was in pain so I tried taking a laxative to rid my body of what I thought may be some sort of food poisoning.

Bad idea! The laxative, which I will never take again in my life, caused my stomach to get even worse. Now I had stomach cramps AND side pains. I was unable to sleep. I slept maybe only a total of two hours in 20 to 30 minute increments. That’s when I decided to induce vomiting to get rid of the laxative that was causing me even more pain. For the next 30 minutes I threw up some of the nastiest stuff I have ever seen come out of my mouth. It helped for a bit, but then the pain returned.

Ruptured Appendix Recovery

It wasn’t until I did some research on WebMD.com that I narrowed it down to being either Appendicitis or some form of intestinal damage. At around 10 am I decided to wake my wife up (she tried to help but was unable to so I asked her to go to bed and rest) and tell her that I was thinking of going to the emergency room. She recommend I go to the Doctors Walk-In Clinic that was nearby. I thought it was a great idea since I don’t have health insurance and the cost to visit them would be about $90. She offered to drive, but me being a hard headed warrior, asked her to stay home with the baby.

So I drove to the clinic and was told by the doctor there that I had “rebound” pain around the appendix and that I should go to the emergency room. I then drove to the hospital and waited for about 15 minutes in emergency before being seen and taken in by the staff. I was told that I would most likely be operated on, but needed to have a Cat Scan before they would know exactly what my condition was. They immediately connected an IV to me and after three hours and drinking some clear fluid that was supposed to help with the scan, I was finally told that I had Acute Appendicitis. They weren’t 100% sure if they were going to need to cut me open or perform a Laparoscopic Appendectomy (also known as an Appendicectomy). During a Laparoscopic operation they make three small incisions and use a camera to guide them. I am happy to report that they did end up performing a Laparoscopic Appendectomy. The doc scared me a bit because he said that if my appendix was ruptured that they would need to cut me open.

Ruptured Appendix Getting Better in bed

He must be really good because afterwards he told me that my appendix was ruptured. I couldn’t stop thinking about my family and leaving them behind. I am not afraid of dying. But I am afraid of not being there for my family, my wife, my beautiful baby girl. I kept on tearing up as I thought about the possibility of losing them. Even now, I am getting teary-eyed as I think of it. It is one of the worst feelings in the world. When the accounting rep. asked me if I had a living will I almost flipped on her ass. Stupid bitch. I know she was doing her job, but damn. From what I have heard people with ruptured appendixes don’t normally survive, especially when the bacteria enters the blood stream. Which happened to me.

This post has gotten way too long, so I am going to cut it short here. I will post the second part of my emergency appendix surgery experience tomorrow. Take care folks. Peace.

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49 Comments »

Comment by great008No Gravatar
2007-11-29 01:52:47

Hope you feel better and i know you will pull through. Stay strong and think positive. peace.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:04:56

Thanks.

 
Comment by LayNo Gravatar
2008-09-15 12:53:58

It sucks- mine burst when i was just 11- 3 months before had pains the docs told me it was the flu- it burst 7 or 8 days before it got taken out- we (you and me and alot of other people) are lucky to be alive.

Comment by Israel LagaresNo Gravatar
2008-09-16 23:21:13

Wow, you are lucky! Thanks for stopping by.

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Comment by ChemiNo Gravatar
2007-11-29 02:08:50

Hey man get better soon!!!

 
Comment by JanBNo Gravatar
2007-11-29 07:14:02

What a scary episode! I am glad that you went to the ER when you did. I am glad that you will be healthy again. Whew. Take care and I hope that you have an easy recovery from this.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:05:27

thanks Janb, it was scary indeed.

 
 
Comment by Skinny GuyNo Gravatar
2007-11-29 08:36:05

Wow! I hope you’re feeling a lot better now. Make sure you take care of yourself and don’t worry about working out until you’ve recovered from all this.

Hang in there!

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:05:48

Yeh, i have had to cope with the no exercise. thanks.

 
 
Comment by ShawnNo Gravatar
2007-11-29 08:53:19

You had an angel on your shoulder. Get better soon and God bless.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:07:08

I suppose I did. thanks Shawn.

 
 
Comment by Hustle StrategyNo Gravatar
2007-11-29 09:40:25

best of luck man. take the time you need to recover. i feel you on the insurance.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:08:05

thanks Hustler, It’s much appreciated.

 
 
Comment by JamesNo Gravatar
2007-11-29 14:51:38

Take care Israel! Positive note: it happens only once, me I don’t have the appendix removed yet, so it can happen to me at anytime. Hope you’ll be fine soon.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:08:29

I hope it never happens to you man, it sucks!!! In more ways than one.

 
 
Comment by mousearooNo Gravatar
2007-11-29 18:40:12

Glad you caught it and you’re ok :)

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:09:06

My entire family is glad too. LOL. Thanks.

 
 
Comment by chuckNo Gravatar
2007-11-30 05:25:37

Wow man. I don’t know are you aware of it, but you are happy to be alive. You waited to long to have that checked out. I remember when my pain started, I was sure it wasn’t stomach ache. I don’t know how you managed to walk with that.Damn, you should join marines or some other tough guys organization :)

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:11:45

I didnt know it was my appendix. I a have a high tolerance for pain so I figured it wasnt that bad. I did go to marines bootcamp, piece of cake.

 
 
Comment by TeejayNo Gravatar
2007-11-30 10:57:27

I never knew you could still walk when you have a ruptured appendix. I always feel some pain on my side. Maybe it’s time to have a doctor check it out.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:13:44

GO CHECK IT OUT ASAP. Dont try fat man unleashed at home kids…

 
 
Comment by phoenixNo Gravatar
2007-11-30 13:33:41

your basically a moron.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:14:19

Phoenix, what’s your deal? You jealous cuz I am a real man?

 
 
Comment by phoenixNo Gravatar
2007-11-30 13:35:09

what kind of guy swallows the back of a book? weirdo?

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-01 03:14:43

eh? book? swallow? you have flash backs bro? lol.

 
 
Comment by Background SearchNo Gravatar
2007-12-04 17:26:57

Wow man! Can’t you die from a ruptured appendix? How did you survive for 6 days like that? I had my appendix taken out when I was 14. A friend of mine nearly died when his ruptured, and had to be airlifted to a hospital.

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2007-12-04 20:51:53

That’s what I keep hearing. I don’t know how I was able to make it man. The last day was really painful though.

 
 
Comment by SusanneNo Gravatar
2007-12-12 17:00:05

My ruptured appendix horror story

I was seeing an acupuncturist for about four weeks to treat a supposed small intestine / ileocecal valve issue (he established that). The ileocecal valve is located right next to the appendix. Tuesday before Thanksgiving 07 I saw him for a treatment and the very next day I suffered from a fever and pain in my abdomen. I initially thought it was a bad case of IBS and called his office to inquire. He suggested to take acidophilus and Vitamin C.

The pain never went away and I called his office again on Monday after Thanksgiving. He suggested I come in. I was in no shape to do this, but drove the 40 miles to his office anyway. He insisted it was a missing enzyme, tested me with biofeedback to establish which enzyme would be best for me and sent me on my way with the remedy. I had explained the location and severity of my pain. He simply shrugged it off. This is a man who has 35 years experience and claims to be the guru of acupuncture – Dr. Sunderlage of Elgin, IL. Yet, he was unable to pick up the usual symptoms of appendicitis. Where does that leave biofeedback and acupuncture? Sometimes we simply need a Doctor!

The pain got more and more excruciating. The next morning, I finally could not take it anymore. Early in the am, my boyfriend took me to the ER at Chicago’s St. Joseph Hospital. I cried and moaned in agony, I needed assistance walking. I would have done anything for the pain to go away. The Doctor suspected an appendix problem right away. I was given some pain killers and prepped for a CT Scan. In my agony, I had to drink a big bottle of white liquid for them to see my abdomen on the scan. I hurried up drinking the liquid. I wanted to move on and get rid of whatever was bothering me. The pain grew more and more intense.

The CT scan confirmed a ruptured appendix. I was getting nervous but felt relieved we knew what the issue was. Within an hour I was in surgery. The anesthesist confirmed the surgeon had 25 years of experience and knew what he was doing. I begged the Doctor to put me out right away. I could not lie there much longer. Never in my life had I experienced pain like this.

A couple hours later I woke up in the recovery room. I was freezing and felt weird. After about an hour they put me in my room. Shortly thereafter, the surgeon paid me a visit and told me my appendix case was the worst in ten years. The appendix must have burst a couple days back and it was free-floating in my abdomen. It had also blown a hole into my colon which make stool leak all over my abdomen. A couple hours later and I would have been in ‘septic shock’ and all help would have been too late.

The surgeon just shock his head, wondering why I had waited for so long to come in. I explained the situation to him, mentioned the fact that I thought it was IBS and the acupuncturist story. He could not understand how I could bear the pain.
I expected to be out of the hospital within a few days, but the surgeon warned me I’d be there at least four or five days. I ended up staying for five days. Five days with lots of pain and discomfort. For three days I was given morphine for the pain. I suffered from fevers for two days. Fever as high as 103.5. Anti-nausea medicine, Morphine, Anti-biotic were given intravenously and Tylenol by mouth to lower the fever. The Morphine gave me psychedelic dreams and visions. I could not sleep, every time I closed my eyes, I was in another world. It got kind of annoying after a while, but it surely helped the pain. A drain was also attached to my abdomen, puss drained out for seven days.

The second day in the hospital, I called the acupuncturist (on Morphine) and informed him about what happened. He acted dumb, but admitted he should have picked up the typical symptamology for appendicitis. In the meantime I have written a letter to him, asking for a refund for his near-deadly treatment.

Only days after the surgery I realized how close I was to death. I am grateful and lucky to be alive. I ended up in a great hospital with wonderful care – thanks to my boyfriend who reacted quickly.

Now, two weeks after the surgery, I am still hobbling around, but getting stronger. Total recovery is six weeks. I can’t lift anything over 10 lbs, can’t work out. I am trying to gain the weight back that I lost in the days after surgery. My appetite is only slowly coming back. It is amazing what kind of grief a little appendix, a remnant from the past, can cause. Remember, sometimes a real Dr. is the only one who can help. Natural medicine is great, but it nearly killed me. If surgery is needed, only Western medicine can help.

If you ever suffer from a pain in the lower, right corner of your abdomen – go to the ER right away!

 
Comment by Jason A ClarkNo Gravatar
2007-12-20 14:16:05

I think Susanne pretty much wrote a blog entry. That comment has to be longer than the actual article. lol

Now that you’re feeling better, which was worse, the pain from the appendix or “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium?”

Sorry, I had to ask. :)

Comment by Fat ManNo Gravatar
2007-12-20 18:35:45

Wow, I’m going to have to go with the appendix, but it was close.

 
 
Comment by ajtrock14No Gravatar
2007-12-21 16:53:32

Isreal…. first of all you look HOTT in a hospital gown… second im glad you’re doing better and safe. I hope that you can get back to your old self before the surgery. I am sure that it impares a lot of your functions. Im glad you’re feeling better

 
Comment by JaneseNo Gravatar
2008-03-17 11:15:29

I moved to Ireland from the states, got married, and a month ago, had a tummy ache. I hate doctors and hospitals, so I blew it off. A week later, it was back and I threw up all day. By 10pm I rang an abulance and went for an hour ride to the hospital on the tangle of roads they have here. A day later and after a camera down my throat, Xrays, Ultrasounds and a Key hole surgery, I woke up to find a huge gash in my tummy where they extracted my Ruptured appendix.

6 doctors (only one of them Irish) and none of them communicating, sent me home 8days later. Pain was horrid, an the leaking fluid worse. I was readmitted for a few more days, pumped full of antibiodics, and released again. The gash they cut was 8″long, with only 4 stitches that went 6 inches across. They took two out, and a week later the other two. No bedside manner, no communication and me in so much pain. Finaly I have one doctor, that told me the surgury was because it had ruputred and been inside me for a week, causing serious problems. For two weeks I was told it was just removed, and then I got the explaination.
I thought you died instantly when they ruptured, but, you dont, not always. The doctors need to explain it better to the world, and take sensitivity training.
I never missed the US of A so much. Being a woman 37 with one child, I can safely say that I apprciate my life and loves so much more now.
I am still recouping at a cousins house near the hospital. Pain still a bother, and I cant wait to take the dressing off soon. Hugs

Comment by IsraelNo Gravatar
2008-03-17 11:20:28

Wow my surgery was totally different. I’m glad i was in the USA

 
 
Comment by jmsboggioNo Gravatar
2008-03-23 09:14:31

Wow, I’m really sorry this happened to you - but “stupid bitch”? If you know that she was just doing her job, why all the hate? It’s so offensive.

Best wishes for your recovery.

Comment by JaneseNo Gravatar
2008-03-30 15:55:25

what are you on about, with the swearing and name calling? I dont know who your refering to, by saying ’she was just doing her job’? All the hate??? The hate comes from the brutality of the treatment at the hospital here in Ireland. I delt with it gracefuly while there, but, was shocked as was my Irish family at the treatment of patients in the hospital.

 
 
Comment by DamienNo Gravatar
2008-04-04 15:08:45

I also had ruptured appendix and it was just 3 days after it busted it got remove and believe the pain is very serious indeed it took 2 months for me to get fully recovered people also say im lucky to be alive and also congrats to all who has survived this because its a 50-50 chance of survival

Comment by Israel LagaresNo Gravatar
2008-04-04 22:36:07

I agree. It took a few months to heal fully

 
 
Comment by sheriNo Gravatar
2008-06-29 01:14:48

I just got back from the hospital where my husband has had his appendix removed. For 7 days he was in pain but here’s our story. My daughter had just gotten over the stomach flu which lasted three days. My husband had gone to her house to take her family some dinner. That next morning, 3am, he woke up in pain. I figured he too was getting sick. His urine was dark yellow and brown, I thought that was because he had just started taking vitamins and I know your urine changes color.

He laid around in pain for days, no nausea, but he did go in and out of hot and cold spells. He got sick on Sat. and
Weds. he went to the doctor where they took blood and urine samples. Friday they called and said things looked fine with his white cells and never gave him any more info. I knew he wasn’t fine so today went to a different doctor who asked him a lot more questions then the other idiot doctor had AND he listened to his abdomen with the stethoscope. I could see that there was an area where he stopped and listened intently like he heard something. He then said he wanted my husband to go across to the Emergency Room for more blood work and CT Scan. This was at noon today. He had surgery at 7:30 pm and once over the doctor, bless his heart, said he removed a cup of puss. That it was real nasty. He also put a drain in. He’ll be in the hospital for 4 days and recovery is six weeks.
The ER doc said he has real strong white cells and that they showed normal. It was the scan that showed the rupture. 7 days with a ruptured appendix! I am so grateful to God tonight!! They said he was lucky to still be here. I don’t know what I would have done if one morning I would have woke up and found him gone.
I knew he was sick and I knew it was time to go to the doctor but man I feel so very bad I didn’t insist he go to the doctor earlier.
I’m making a pact with him that whenever one of us is ill we have to use the scale of pain from 1-10 on how much it hurts. BECAUSE he said it hurt but only tonight did I know that it was at a 10 when he told the doc!
It’s been a long day and I left him at the hospital on drip meds. Now they are talking about the other complications they need to watch for. Infection, pneumonia etc. guess until he’s released it’s scary.
Take care, glad everything ended up good for you. Thanks for sharing your story with us all!
Sheri

Comment by Israel LagaresNo Gravatar
2008-06-29 12:33:42

Sheri, that sounds very familiar to what happened to me. I am glad he is okay. Us men tend to try and be tough, not anymore for me.

 
 
Comment by ShadowSandyNo Gravatar
2008-10-04 00:09:45

I have to say, I lived 10 days with a ruptured appendix. I was sent home from the emergency room the night it burst. I was flipping my bed when the pain hit me 10 days later. They had to do a 5 inch incision and take out a fallopian tube with the appendix.

After all that I stayed 11 days in the hospital, and 2 months stuck in bed with a very deep open wound. But honestly, it was worth it. It showed me what was really important to me in life.

I know how it feels to be in the situation. I am glad to see so many have made it through.

Comment by Israel LagaresNo Gravatar
2008-10-05 15:03:22

Wow, 2 months in bed? 11 Days in the hospital? That’s a lot. I am glad you made it through.

Comment by sheriNo Gravatar
2008-10-19 12:15:58

Israel and Shadow,
Thanks for your comments! Sounds like you both had a journey! I’m glad Israel that you are better too…yeah, there is something about this tough guy syndrome…lol.
And you Shodow, what an experience you had! Wow! I’m glad you were able to find a new reason for life.

Thanks,
Sheri

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Comment by CammNo Gravatar
2008-10-19 16:00:40

the same thing just happened to me, im only fourteen and i was walking around for six days too. but i never had any serious pain, it just hurt a little so my mom took me to the docter after six days, and they rushed me to the hospital. after a cat scan they told me it had been bursted for six days and i had to go to surgery. they found it very odd that i was seemingly fine, and they think i am missing a bunch of pain sensors. but i got out of the hospital abouta week ago. i was there for five days.
haha so yeah.
but glad you got through it your family sounds great. :)

Comment by Israel LagaresNo Gravatar
2008-10-19 17:26:54

That is similar to what I was told, that I should be lucky to be alive. Thanks for sharing.

 
 
Comment by ChristineNo Gravatar
2008-10-25 13:55:52

I pretty much did the same thing. I felt pain but not severe. I decided to go to my primary doc who said I either have a bladder infection or UTI so he sent me off with a RX for Cipro and said if I didn’t feel better w/in 2 days to go the the er. This I did 2 days later only to find out my appendix was ruptured, when this actually happened, who knows. They told me in the er that they were trying to contact the surgeon and I would be having surgery that night.This was after I had all the tests done. The surgeon came to my room the next morning and said we normally put the pt on anti-biotics for a week so that all the “garbage” in the abdomen abcesses then they will set me up as an out patient and remove the remainder of the appendix along with the garbage abcess. I was to ill to go home and after a week told the dr. just to operate. He wasn’t too happy to do this but the surgery was done, I have a not to beautiful scar from navel to pubic bone and spent a total of 18 days in the hospital to the un-insured tune of $96,000. This doesn’t include the other docs bills. At this time I am recovering at home, this is going slower that I thought it would, it really knocked me for a loop. But, I’m alive and thats what matters.

 
Comment by Diane EwertzNo Gravatar
2008-11-12 19:24:52

My daughter is a student at Trinity Law School in Dublin, Ireland. She went into the ER with classic burst appendix symptoms and they gave her Tylenol and sent her home. Diagnosis, intestinal bug.

She went back to the ER over the course of 2 months and got the same diagnosis, all the while dealing with excurciating pain in her lower right abdomin.

9 weeks after the first day she went to the hospital, they performed exploratory surgery and found a ruptured appendix that had been leaking infection into her abdomin for 2 months. Her large bowel had wrapped around it and seemed to limit the extent of the rupture. But now her reproductive organs are severely damaged and as a newly married young woman hoping to have a family in the future, she is devastated.
If any of you would like this kind of experience here in the U.S., then push hard for socialized medicine.

Comment by Israel LagaresNo Gravatar
2008-11-13 04:21:09

Diane and I so sorry to here such a thing could even occur. I hope your daughter makes a well enough recovery to be bear children and live a satisfying life. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

 
 
Comment by NatashaNo Gravatar
2008-12-07 23:31:26

I have a question, and this may sound dumb, I don’t know. I have been in the hospital for 4 nights now with symptoms of appendicitis. The doctor consulted with a surgeon who said I don’t have appendicitis because I don’t have fever or elevated WBC count. But here is the kicker…when they did the CT scan, they were unable to see my appendix….at all. So NOW, they are trying to send me home. I still have all my same symptoms, my pain is worse and my abdominal area is swollen, I’m wondering, how in the heck can they send me home saying I’m fine when they can’t even see my appendix to know if it is enlarged or not. What could make them unable to see it?

Comment by Israel LagaresNo Gravatar
2008-12-08 00:50:38

GET A SECOND OPINION! If you have read some of the horror stories in the comments left here, then do just that. Don’t go home if you are in pain.

 
 
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