Table of contents
I was the victim of a sudden attack of appendicitis, except that I didn’t recognize the symptoms and took too long to act. Fortunately, I made it to the emergency room in time. Today, I’m sharing this personal experience, not for the sake of sensationalism, but to make you aware of the dangers of this medical problem, which is often underestimated by many people.
First of all, what is an appendix?!
The appendix is that little piece of tubing at the intersection of your small and large intestines. It’s a kind of evolutionary relic, a remnant of something our ancestors probably used, but which today doesn’t do much… except sometimes make a mess!
When it becomes inflamed, it’s called appendicitis. And this is no laughing matter: acute pain in the lower right of the abdomen, fever, nausea. If this happens to you, you’ll have to go straight to hospital for a small operation to remove it before it causes any more problems, but I’ll tell you all about it later in my article!
The fun fact? Even without an appendix, we live very well. So, if one day it’s removed, don’t panic, you’ll still be able to enjoy your favorite pizza without any worries. So, are you ready?
Sudden symptoms: it all starts on a Sunday evening
It was a Sunday evening like any other. After a weekend with friends, I had settled into bed to watch a series on Netflix at around 7.30pm. Everything seemed normal, until it all changed in a matter of seconds:
- Hot flashes.
- Incessant vomiting.
- Unbearable abdominal pain, like hundreds of stab wounds.
Unable to understand what was happening, my first thought was food poisoning. I tried drinking water and taking anti-vomiting medication, but nothing helped. Every sip of water made me vomit more, and I began to feel dizzy.
A nightmare night: between exhaustion and denial
The pain and vomiting exhaust me. At one point, I collapse from exhaustion, unable to remember the details of that night. I discover later, thanks to my surveillance cameras, that I managed to get to the pharmacy at 4am to buy another drug to calm the vomiting. Yet even this medicine had no effect. I went back to sleep and blacked out again, remembering nothing except that I was crying in pain.
At around 7 a.m., exhausted, I opened my eyes and felt exhausted. I ran to my car in my shorts, dirty T-shirt and flip-flops. My condition was so alarming that I shouldn’t have waited so long, but let’s move on…
The medical verdict: to the emergency room
As soon as I arrived at the doctor’s, she noticed my critical condition:
- Pale complexion, obvious signs of dehydration.
- Unusual abdominal pains.
She immediately referred me to the emergency room, where the situation accelerated. I was put on a drip and sent for a CT scan. A few minutes later, the surgeon told me how serious the situation was:
- My appendix was about to burst.
- Imminent risk of sepsis or peritonitis.
- Immediate surgical intervention required.
Emergency surgery: everything becomes a blur
Between the pain, the medical discussions and the administrative formalities, I’m overwhelmed. They tell me about the risks of the operation, about organ donation, and about the need to act quickly. Everything happens very quickly, and I realize how much I’ve put my life at risk by ignoring the warning signs. I feel like an idiot, and I’m starting to fear that the situation will get worse…
About 30 hours in hospital
Between my admission and discharge, about 30 hours passed. I was operated on a few hours after my admission, the time it took to get everything in place and, above all, to make sure that I had an empty stomach because of the general anaesthetic, which was the case given the previous night’s incessant vomiting.
When I woke up, I was happy to say to myself, “It’s all over, they’ve removed that appendix and the danger is now behind me”.
In my room, I’m so thirsty, I haven’t had anything to drink for several hours, I’m so happy to have a little glass of water. As time went by, I realized how stupid I’d been, I couldn’t sleep, I stayed awake until around 4 a.m., wondering what would have happened if it had been fatal for me, I’d left my apartment almost open, my computer on, my little cat all alone… in short, I had a lot of soul-searching that night.
Don’t underestimate an appendicitis attack
What I learned from this experience is the importance of not underestimating unusual symptoms. An attack of appendicitis can affect anyone, at any age, and complications can be fatal if not treated promptly.
If you experience sudden, intense abdominal pain, don’t delay: seek medical attention immediately. It could save your life.
Especially if you’re in the USA, remember to always take out travel insurance, because when I saw the total bill, I was really scared…
