|bd| Appendicitis

Posted by bendodge on Dec. 20, 2006, 4:05 p.m.

No, not me, my 5 year old sister.

Saturday and Sunday my little sister Katie (nicknamed Bug) wasn't feeling well, and on Monday she was feeling terrible and said her side hurt. So my mom and dad were looking in our Merk's Manual, but they didn't find anything so they called my mom's parents. Turns out both of them had had appendicitis, and so we figured that must've been Kate's problem.

So at 10:30 PM Mom and Dad took Kate to the emergency room where she was examined, given pain killer, x-rayed ect. and then transfered to a pediatric hospital at about 1:00 AM. (Dad talked the hospital into letting him take her in our van, instead of the staggeringly expensive ambulance.)

The doctor examined her, looked at the x-rays, and said we they could fiddle around with more scans and blood tests, but the only way to know for sure was to operate. So at about 6:00 AM she went into surgery, and it took about 1:2

Her appendix had ruptured, and it took 9 liters of fluid to clean out all the bile. Now, Kate is only about 50 LBS and skinny as a rail, so that was quit a bit. She was very brave through the whole thing, and she never cried, but she was very, very tired.

The doctor said she would probably be at the hospital a week, so she will probably be there for Christmas. (We're praying she won't be.) Mom and Dad are taking turn staying at the hospital and sleeping, so I get to watch the other 6 kids, since I'm the oldest. (In fact, I'd probably better get off here and get some school done, or Dad will be upset when he comes home.)

She is staying at the hospital of course, and sleeps most of the time. Last night she walked to the door, and later a bit down the hall. The hospital now has people walk after surgery, because it is supposed to make you heal faster. She is on Morphine, so she is rather out of it. She sleeps with a control in her hand that has one button to call her nurse, and another one to give her an extra bit or Morphine if she needs it. (Naturally it has a regulator so she can't overdose.)

Kate's antibiotic machine beeps loudly whenever it runs out or thinks it runs out, until a nurse comes and reloads it. Consequently my parents can't get a good night's sleep at the hospital.

Pic: <a href="http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1206hl7.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6963/img1206hl7.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>

I'd post some pics that the internal camera took during the surgery, but I only have them in printed format, and my scanner's broken.

Comments

NeutralReiddHotel 18 years ago

I had that once, when I was in 3rd grade, it hurts like a bitch… [:(]

Sorry to hear it, hope she heals soon.

APlusHost 18 years ago

Never had one but know a few people that have.

I know you should not have to think about things like this, but remember this site and its images can be viewed by anyone.

Just watch out what you put on the internet, be very carefull, however like i said its sad you have to think of things like that.

bendodge 18 years ago

Yes, but I didn't put anything like the hospital name, room number ect and the photo has nothing incriminating on it.

APlusHost 18 years ago

I know im just sayiny, be carefull with what you do put on.

Thats all, i was not saying you had done anything wrong.

Graydon 18 years ago

Mabye you should put a picture of the surgery, because some people faint at the sign of blood. But not me of course.

Polystyrene Man 18 years ago

I had appendicitis as well, but it was a much slower process. I was in bed for a week before my dad decided to have a doctor look at me. When it was determined that I had appendicitis (and that it had ruptured) I was moved to the hospital for a week and was on painkillers and other medications. They sent me home for a couple of months, and then I came back for surgery. Not a fun time.

Polystyrene Man 18 years ago

Quote:
I had that once
Heh, you'd be pretty messed up if you got it more than once.

Graydon 18 years ago

Ya, more than once would be weird because you only have one appendic.

Polystyrene Man 18 years ago

You're a quick one, Graydon77222 [;)]

Andes 18 years ago

Quote: Captain Obvious

Ya, more than once would be weird because you only have one appendic.
No way!