Apendicitis

Scarlett81

New member
as some have read on my other thread, the answer to my troubles this week was found-on a cat scan they saw my appendix more than double the size of what it should be.

within an hour, i was in the OR. they didn't waste much time. it was pretty scary, but all in all they were a great team. i love the staff there.

i am in alot of pain right now-i'd rather give birth right now than deal w this pain. it was laporoscopic, but my abdomen is really sore and my whole body. it feels like someone took my body and threw it all over the street like a rag doll. i aj trying to keep expanding my lungs-if you've had surgery u know you have a tendency to do shallow breathing...i am trying not to. coughing just kills...
my neck and shoulders are omg, they are excrutiating from them ballooning my torso.

other than pain meds what have u done for situations like this? this is my first surgery and it sucks.
i want to get in the shower to relax but i worry about my bandages. i have tegaderm over them. i guess i could hold a towel over them.

i worry about my lungs. i don't want to lose my function. i am doing the deep breath exerc they showed me to keep them expanded. what else can i do?



wanted to update w a question
my abdomen seems to be swelling a little. i have no fever, its not hot to the touch, and i am still passing gas and stool (sorry tmi). i called the floor nurses and the resident doc said its ok but to call if there's a change.

did you experience any type of swelling post surg? i'm just making sure this is normal. some swelling seems logical to me but this is my first time.
 

Scarlett81

New member
as some have read on my other thread, the answer to my troubles this week was found-on a cat scan they saw my appendix more than double the size of what it should be.

within an hour, i was in the OR. they didn't waste much time. it was pretty scary, but all in all they were a great team. i love the staff there.

i am in alot of pain right now-i'd rather give birth right now than deal w this pain. it was laporoscopic, but my abdomen is really sore and my whole body. it feels like someone took my body and threw it all over the street like a rag doll. i aj trying to keep expanding my lungs-if you've had surgery u know you have a tendency to do shallow breathing...i am trying not to. coughing just kills...
my neck and shoulders are omg, they are excrutiating from them ballooning my torso.

other than pain meds what have u done for situations like this? this is my first surgery and it sucks.
i want to get in the shower to relax but i worry about my bandages. i have tegaderm over them. i guess i could hold a towel over them.

i worry about my lungs. i don't want to lose my function. i am doing the deep breath exerc they showed me to keep them expanded. what else can i do?



wanted to update w a question
my abdomen seems to be swelling a little. i have no fever, its not hot to the touch, and i am still passing gas and stool (sorry tmi). i called the floor nurses and the resident doc said its ok but to call if there's a change.

did you experience any type of swelling post surg? i'm just making sure this is normal. some swelling seems logical to me but this is my first time.
 

Scarlett81

New member
as some have read on my other thread, the answer to my troubles this week was found-on a cat scan they saw my appendix more than double the size of what it should be.

within an hour, i was in the OR. they didn't waste much time. it was pretty scary, but all in all they were a great team. i love the staff there.

i am in alot of pain right now-i'd rather give birth right now than deal w this pain. it was laporoscopic, but my abdomen is really sore and my whole body. it feels like someone took my body and threw it all over the street like a rag doll. i aj trying to keep expanding my lungs-if you've had surgery u know you have a tendency to do shallow breathing...i am trying not to. coughing just kills...
my neck and shoulders are omg, they are excrutiating from them ballooning my torso.

other than pain meds what have u done for situations like this? this is my first surgery and it sucks.
i want to get in the shower to relax but i worry about my bandages. i have tegaderm over them. i guess i could hold a towel over them.

i worry about my lungs. i don't want to lose my function. i am doing the deep breath exerc they showed me to keep them expanded. what else can i do?



wanted to update w a question
my abdomen seems to be swelling a little. i have no fever, its not hot to the touch, and i am still passing gas and stool (sorry tmi). i called the floor nurses and the resident doc said its ok but to call if there's a change.

did you experience any type of swelling post surg? i'm just making sure this is normal. some swelling seems logical to me but this is my first time.
 

Scarlett81

New member
as some have read on my other thread, the answer to my troubles this week was found-on a cat scan they saw my appendix more than double the size of what it should be.

within an hour, i was in the OR. they didn't waste much time. it was pretty scary, but all in all they were a great team. i love the staff there.

i am in alot of pain right now-i'd rather give birth right now than deal w this pain. it was laporoscopic, but my abdomen is really sore and my whole body. it feels like someone took my body and threw it all over the street like a rag doll. i aj trying to keep expanding my lungs-if you've had surgery u know you have a tendency to do shallow breathing...i am trying not to. coughing just kills...
my neck and shoulders are omg, they are excrutiating from them ballooning my torso.

other than pain meds what have u done for situations like this? this is my first surgery and it sucks.
i want to get in the shower to relax but i worry about my bandages. i have tegaderm over them. i guess i could hold a towel over them.

i worry about my lungs. i don't want to lose my function. i am doing the deep breath exerc they showed me to keep them expanded. what else can i do?



wanted to update w a question
my abdomen seems to be swelling a little. i have no fever, its not hot to the touch, and i am still passing gas and stool (sorry tmi). i called the floor nurses and the resident doc said its ok but to call if there's a change.

did you experience any type of swelling post surg? i'm just making sure this is normal. some swelling seems logical to me but this is my first time.
 

Scarlett81

New member
as some have read on my other thread, the answer to my troubles this week was found-on a cat scan they saw my appendix more than double the size of what it should be.
<br />
<br />within an hour, i was in the OR. they didn't waste much time. it was pretty scary, but all in all they were a great team. i love the staff there.
<br />
<br />i am in alot of pain right now-i'd rather give birth right now than deal w this pain. it was laporoscopic, but my abdomen is really sore and my whole body. it feels like someone took my body and threw it all over the street like a rag doll. i aj trying to keep expanding my lungs-if you've had surgery u know you have a tendency to do shallow breathing...i am trying not to. coughing just kills...
<br />my neck and shoulders are omg, they are excrutiating from them ballooning my torso.
<br />
<br />other than pain meds what have u done for situations like this? this is my first surgery and it sucks.
<br />i want to get in the shower to relax but i worry about my bandages. i have tegaderm over them. i guess i could hold a towel over them.
<br />
<br />i worry about my lungs. i don't want to lose my function. i am doing the deep breath exerc they showed me to keep them expanded. what else can i do?
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />wanted to update w a question
<br />my abdomen seems to be swelling a little. i have no fever, its not hot to the touch, and i am still passing gas and stool (sorry tmi). i called the floor nurses and the resident doc said its ok but to call if there's a change.
<br />
<br />did you experience any type of swelling post surg? i'm just making sure this is normal. some swelling seems logical to me but this is my first time.
 

Rebjane

Super Moderator
Are you at home now or still in the hospital? You do need to do coughing and deep breathing. Do you have a "cough pillow"? When I have a patient that has a belly incision and I want them to cough or they have to cough I have them hold a stiff pillow(usually just stiff blankets taped together from the hospital) on their incision, seems to hurt less with coughing. You should also make sure you take your pain medicine to allow for movement.
 

Rebjane

Super Moderator
Are you at home now or still in the hospital? You do need to do coughing and deep breathing. Do you have a "cough pillow"? When I have a patient that has a belly incision and I want them to cough or they have to cough I have them hold a stiff pillow(usually just stiff blankets taped together from the hospital) on their incision, seems to hurt less with coughing. You should also make sure you take your pain medicine to allow for movement.
 

Rebjane

Super Moderator
Are you at home now or still in the hospital? You do need to do coughing and deep breathing. Do you have a "cough pillow"? When I have a patient that has a belly incision and I want them to cough or they have to cough I have them hold a stiff pillow(usually just stiff blankets taped together from the hospital) on their incision, seems to hurt less with coughing. You should also make sure you take your pain medicine to allow for movement.
 

Rebjane

Super Moderator
Are you at home now or still in the hospital? You do need to do coughing and deep breathing. Do you have a "cough pillow"? When I have a patient that has a belly incision and I want them to cough or they have to cough I have them hold a stiff pillow(usually just stiff blankets taped together from the hospital) on their incision, seems to hurt less with coughing. You should also make sure you take your pain medicine to allow for movement.
 

Rebjane

Super Moderator
Are you at home now or still in the hospital? You do need to do coughing and deep breathing. Do you have a "cough pillow"? When I have a patient that has a belly incision and I want them to cough or they have to cough I have them hold a stiff pillow(usually just stiff blankets taped together from the hospital) on their incision, seems to hurt less with coughing. You should also make sure you take your pain medicine to allow for movement.
 

fondreflections

New member
Hi Hun,

I'm so sorry about your whole ordeal. Thankfully, it was caught in the 'nick of time'.

In order to keep your lung capacity, I would recommend first making sure to take a pain pill about 1 hour before any kind of activity. For example, take 1 pill one hour before showering or sitting up. I would try to sit straight up for at least 30 minutes at a shot. After about 1 week, you shouldn't need any pain meds. At least, I didn't. I had/have a 2 inch incision in the lower right quadrant.

As far as the dressing, are they the strip-things? You are allowed to get them wet. They fall off on their own, usually 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery was done. Your stitches are on the inside so don't worry about anything coming loose or falling apart. You probably don't have too many stitches if you were able to get it all done with lap procedures. I didn't have that option 14 years ago.

The pain will get better and easier to tolerate. Try not to lift anything for the next couple days. Also, don't do any stretching or pulling. They usually stress that you shouldn't run a vaccum for at least 2 weeks.

Try to always be in a semi-laying/sitting position that way if you need to go to the bathroom, it doesn't take all your strength to get up.

Edited to Add: My doctors told me to hold a pillow over the incision when coughing to help ease the pain. I would recommend making sure to have some pain medicine in you before your treatments too.

On a good note, at least you felt some kind of pain BEFORE it burst. I must have been dead not to feel any pain and walk around with it burst for nearly a week. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
 

fondreflections

New member
Hi Hun,

I'm so sorry about your whole ordeal. Thankfully, it was caught in the 'nick of time'.

In order to keep your lung capacity, I would recommend first making sure to take a pain pill about 1 hour before any kind of activity. For example, take 1 pill one hour before showering or sitting up. I would try to sit straight up for at least 30 minutes at a shot. After about 1 week, you shouldn't need any pain meds. At least, I didn't. I had/have a 2 inch incision in the lower right quadrant.

As far as the dressing, are they the strip-things? You are allowed to get them wet. They fall off on their own, usually 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery was done. Your stitches are on the inside so don't worry about anything coming loose or falling apart. You probably don't have too many stitches if you were able to get it all done with lap procedures. I didn't have that option 14 years ago.

The pain will get better and easier to tolerate. Try not to lift anything for the next couple days. Also, don't do any stretching or pulling. They usually stress that you shouldn't run a vaccum for at least 2 weeks.

Try to always be in a semi-laying/sitting position that way if you need to go to the bathroom, it doesn't take all your strength to get up.

Edited to Add: My doctors told me to hold a pillow over the incision when coughing to help ease the pain. I would recommend making sure to have some pain medicine in you before your treatments too.

On a good note, at least you felt some kind of pain BEFORE it burst. I must have been dead not to feel any pain and walk around with it burst for nearly a week. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
 

fondreflections

New member
Hi Hun,

I'm so sorry about your whole ordeal. Thankfully, it was caught in the 'nick of time'.

In order to keep your lung capacity, I would recommend first making sure to take a pain pill about 1 hour before any kind of activity. For example, take 1 pill one hour before showering or sitting up. I would try to sit straight up for at least 30 minutes at a shot. After about 1 week, you shouldn't need any pain meds. At least, I didn't. I had/have a 2 inch incision in the lower right quadrant.

As far as the dressing, are they the strip-things? You are allowed to get them wet. They fall off on their own, usually 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery was done. Your stitches are on the inside so don't worry about anything coming loose or falling apart. You probably don't have too many stitches if you were able to get it all done with lap procedures. I didn't have that option 14 years ago.

The pain will get better and easier to tolerate. Try not to lift anything for the next couple days. Also, don't do any stretching or pulling. They usually stress that you shouldn't run a vaccum for at least 2 weeks.

Try to always be in a semi-laying/sitting position that way if you need to go to the bathroom, it doesn't take all your strength to get up.

Edited to Add: My doctors told me to hold a pillow over the incision when coughing to help ease the pain. I would recommend making sure to have some pain medicine in you before your treatments too.

On a good note, at least you felt some kind of pain BEFORE it burst. I must have been dead not to feel any pain and walk around with it burst for nearly a week. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
 

fondreflections

New member
Hi Hun,

I'm so sorry about your whole ordeal. Thankfully, it was caught in the 'nick of time'.

In order to keep your lung capacity, I would recommend first making sure to take a pain pill about 1 hour before any kind of activity. For example, take 1 pill one hour before showering or sitting up. I would try to sit straight up for at least 30 minutes at a shot. After about 1 week, you shouldn't need any pain meds. At least, I didn't. I had/have a 2 inch incision in the lower right quadrant.

As far as the dressing, are they the strip-things? You are allowed to get them wet. They fall off on their own, usually 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery was done. Your stitches are on the inside so don't worry about anything coming loose or falling apart. You probably don't have too many stitches if you were able to get it all done with lap procedures. I didn't have that option 14 years ago.

The pain will get better and easier to tolerate. Try not to lift anything for the next couple days. Also, don't do any stretching or pulling. They usually stress that you shouldn't run a vaccum for at least 2 weeks.

Try to always be in a semi-laying/sitting position that way if you need to go to the bathroom, it doesn't take all your strength to get up.

Edited to Add: My doctors told me to hold a pillow over the incision when coughing to help ease the pain. I would recommend making sure to have some pain medicine in you before your treatments too.

On a good note, at least you felt some kind of pain BEFORE it burst. I must have been dead not to feel any pain and walk around with it burst for nearly a week. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
 

fondreflections

New member
Hi Hun,
<br />
<br />I'm so sorry about your whole ordeal. Thankfully, it was caught in the 'nick of time'.
<br />
<br />In order to keep your lung capacity, I would recommend first making sure to take a pain pill about 1 hour before any kind of activity. For example, take 1 pill one hour before showering or sitting up. I would try to sit straight up for at least 30 minutes at a shot. After about 1 week, you shouldn't need any pain meds. At least, I didn't. I had/have a 2 inch incision in the lower right quadrant.
<br />
<br />As far as the dressing, are they the strip-things? You are allowed to get them wet. They fall off on their own, usually 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery was done. Your stitches are on the inside so don't worry about anything coming loose or falling apart. You probably don't have too many stitches if you were able to get it all done with lap procedures. I didn't have that option 14 years ago.
<br />
<br />The pain will get better and easier to tolerate. Try not to lift anything for the next couple days. Also, don't do any stretching or pulling. They usually stress that you shouldn't run a vaccum for at least 2 weeks.
<br />
<br />Try to always be in a semi-laying/sitting position that way if you need to go to the bathroom, it doesn't take all your strength to get up.
<br />
<br />Edited to Add: My doctors told me to hold a pillow over the incision when coughing to help ease the pain. I would recommend making sure to have some pain medicine in you before your treatments too.
<br />
<br />On a good note, at least you felt some kind of pain BEFORE it burst. I must have been dead not to feel any pain and walk around with it burst for nearly a week. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
 
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