ruptured appendix and peritonitis

Oi Vey mamma · Jul 16, 2011

I was 64 when my appy ruptured with perotonitis. Yuk. I wasn't supposed to throw up due to the e-coli invasion into my system and was given IV pramin to prevent it. But one dark night, all the green, horrid stuff that looked like slime sheets from the rain forest came out and out and out. If I were my nurse, I would have left me with it. But she didn't. I managed to aim it at the toilet so I could flush the mess. I gargled and rinsed so that perhaps the worse would not happen--have the e-coli infect my esophagus. It didn't.

I was in the hosp for 8 days. My incision got infected, and the nurse taught my daughter how to clean my wound and change my dressing, and they sent us home with extra wash and dressings and had me continue on cipro. The nurses were wonderful and cooperative on the ward in our local Israeli hospital. Cipro is awful and sickening, but it did the job.

However, I understood (later) that it was protocol in most Israeli hospitals to automatically inject Clexan into women over 50 after abdominal surgery. I did not get that. No one ever discussed pulmonary embolism with me and what to watch for. Now that I know the preliminary symptoms after nearly dying at home, I realize that they started right after surgery, and they were undetected. I could barely get out of bed much less exercise on my own. I felt weak and lazy for not being able to do what I should have been able to do with just a bit of effort. I am never afraid to push myself, but no one on staff was "talking" with me about what I should be doing and why outside of exercising my lungs with that cute ball machine. I was discharged and happy to go home. After a week at home, I was gasping for breath every time I moved. A nurse friend of mine visited and made sure I got immediately to the hospital. I was in(cardiac) intensive care for three days then in a private room for 5 more, where I was attended night and day by my daughter and rounds of friends who even slept next to my bed at night on a cot. Standing up or lying flat would bring on an attack, so I slept almost in a sitting position and could not move otherwise. If you've ever had "massive and multiple" pulmonary embolisms, you know what these attacks are like. By the time I went home, I was up and about by myself. but the surgeon had also nicked my femoral nerve, and my thigh is still numb but not prickly and hot anymore, SEVEN months later. The nerve is redirecting itself, I imagine, and now it's just an annoyance rather than making me sit after standing or walking for an hour. Most things feel pretty normal considering. Is anyone ever totally normal at my age after surgery?

Once in cardiac ICU, I had an attack in the middle of the night when I could not breathe without bringing on the most severe diaphragmatic cramping--like labor pains that just intensified and never stopped. The nurses didn't know what to do even when I could not draw a breath. I purposed not to panic and just THINK. Then it occurred to me (and I truly believe it was God's wisdom) to treat it like intense labor and do short panting breaths with my upper chest. My focus was intense--to save my LIFE--and the nurses were yelling at me, like "What are you doing?" All I could gasp was the word "focus." I called them the "street nurses" like they were called in off the street to act as nurses. I was on a low level of oxy in my nose, so every little pant was helped along a bit. After that, I was afraid to go to sleep as, by this time, I was essentially treating myself. When the "real" nurses came in on morning duty, the night nurses were thrown off the ward, not just excused for the day but thrown out for all that they didn't do for me the night before.

Does anyone know what that kind of attack that was? When the doctor examined me--looked at my age, then back at me--he said that most women my age would not have survived the night. I am on cumadin for a year, and have been told that the embolisms may still be there but they would be asymptomatic. I don't know if I believe them, but I sure would like to be off the meds.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2011

My dad's appendix blew, and he sat on it for over a day before I got mad and told him he wouldn't have to worry about what was on TV that night, because he'd be 6 feet under.....he went to the hospital and ended up fine (regular hospital room for 10 days- back in the early 80s). :eek: He was well enough to let me know that my bedside manner stunk (this was before I went to nursing school and just had a generic household medical book to flip through- but it seemed pretty obvious). He was being a typical man, and moaning and groaning (with good cause), but wouldn't do anything- so I got ticked off... it got him moving :)

Kids are quick to get really sick, but also get well better than adults do. :)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 16, 2011

My son in law has just 3 days ago undergone a ruptured appendix with the fecal matter and pus and the blood work not good. He is experiencing fluid in his lungs so they took him off IV for a bit and got him up to walk around as his tummy is extended. They say day 5 and 7 are days to pass by and look forward to improvement, else then worry. What happens after this is 5 and 7 look bad??? Any answers I could give my daughter?

This thread originally started several years ago and in that time I am sure the Terms of Service of the site has evolved and we know longer can give medical advice. You are better asking the nurses and doctors caring for your family member