Even when you live a healthy lifestyle, life has a way of surprising you. In my case, that surprise came in the form of an emergency appendectomy. I didn’t expect it, I wasn’t prepared for it, and honestly, I made some mistakes along the way that could have cost me dearly.
This is why I am sharing my story, not for sympathy, but as a public service announcement. I don’t want anyone else to delay medical care the way I did. I want you to understand the warning signs of appendicitis, why you should never try to self-diagnose or self-medicate, and how taking immediate action can save your life.
What Is the Appendix, and Why Does It Matter?
The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch that sticks out from your large intestine on the lower right side of your abdomen. For many years, doctors thought it was useless, a leftover organ from evolution. Now, research suggests that it may play a small role in immunity by storing healthy gut bacteria.
But here’s the kicker, you can live perfectly fine without it. The problem arises when the appendix becomes blocked or infected, resulting in inflammation known as appendicitis. If untreated, it can rupture, spilling dangerous bacteria into your abdomen and causing a life-threatening infection.
Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies in the world. It’s most common between the ages of 10 and 30, but it can happen at any age, and as I found out, it doesn’t matter how healthy you are or how careful you are with your lifestyle.
My Story: When Indigestion Wasn’t Indigestion
The First Night: Self-Diagnosis Begins
Around 2:30 in the morning, I woke up feeling uncomfortable. My stomach felt bloated, tight, and uneasy. Like most people would, I thought, ‘Oh, it’s probably indigestion.’ It’s not something I get often, but it happens to everyone.
So, I did what many of us do: I reached for over-the-counter medicine. A few Tums later, I went back to bed, hoping it would pass. But it didn’t. I tossed and turned, even tried using the bathroom, but the discomfort lingered.
Day Two: Convinced It Was Food Poisoning
By the next morning, the discomfort hadn’t gone away. Instead of thinking it could be something serious, my mind jumped to another possibility: food poisoning. The day before, I’d gone out to lunch with my business partner. I remembered eyeing the chicken on my plate and thinking it wasn’t cooked as thoroughly as I usually prefer. I ate most of it anyway, and now I was convinced this was the culprit.
I pulled out the bottle of Pepto Bismol, that famous pink liquid, and took the recommended dose. I figured this would settle things. But it didn’t. I spent the rest of the day in bed, rubbing my stomach, trying to go to the bathroom, and denying the fact that I was in real pain.
Day Three: The Situation Worsens
By the following day, my abdomen was so bloated it looked like I was several months pregnant. The pain hadn’t gone away. Still trying to convince myself it wasn’t serious, I took Tylenol to dull the discomfort. But deep down, I knew something wasn’t right.
I finally gave in and booked an appointment at an urgent care center. That’s when reality hit.
Forty-Eight Hours Later: The Wake-Up Call
Urgent Care called me back for details. When I explained that I’d been in pain for two days and that it was concentrated on the lower right side of my abdomen, the nurse’s response was immediate and firm:
“Oh no, dear. We can’t see you here. It sounds like your appendix may have ruptured. You need to get to the emergency room immediately.”
Those words shook me. Suddenly, I realized I was in serious danger.
Diagnosis and Treatment
At the ER, things moved fast. Within minutes, I was surrounded by medical staff checking vitals, starting IV antibiotics, and running tests.
The doctor ordered a CT scan to confirm appendicitis. Because I’m allergic to iodine, they performed the scan without contrast. Even so, it was clear: my appendix had to come out.
The plan was surgery that night, but complications delayed it. The antibiotics they gave me triggered a dangerous allergic reaction. I know my body and could tell immediately that whatever they were giving me was not agreeing with my body. Within seconds, my blood pressure skyrocketed, my head started pounding, I felt heart palpitations, and I began vomiting. Surgery had to wait until my body stabilized. There was no way the surgeon would put on anesthesia.
The next morning, I was wheeled into the operating room and had my appendix removed.
The Dangers of Waiting Too Long
Looking back, the most dangerous part of my story wasn’t the surgery or even the allergic reaction. It was the fact that I waited nearly 48 hours before seeking medical help. Here’s why that matters:
- Appendicitis can rupture in as little as 24–72 hours. Once it ruptures, infection spreads throughout the abdomen, leading to peritonitis, a life-threatening condition. A ruptured appendix can cause sepsis.
- Symptoms can mimic other conditions. Indigestion, food poisoning, stomach flu, menstrual cramps, it’s easy to confuse them. That’s why misdiagnosis, especially self-diagnosis, is a common occurrence.
- Delays increase complications. A simple surgery can turn into a complex emergency with longer recovery, higher risk of infection, and even hospitalization in intensive care.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Appendicitis
Appendicitis is not necessarily the same for everyone, but the most common signs include:
- Pain starting near the belly button and moving to the lower right side
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal swelling or bloating
- Fever
- Worsening pain with movement, coughing, or deep breaths
Not everyone has all these symptoms, and children, older adults, and pregnant women may experience them differently. That’s why it’s so important not to ignore persistent abdominal pain.
Treatment Options
The most common treatment is appendectomy, the surgical removal of the appendix. There are two main types:
- Laparoscopic surgery: minimally invasive, using small incisions and a camera. This usually means faster recovery, less pain, and smaller scars.
- Open surgery: a larger incision in the abdomen, often needed if the appendix has ruptured or there’s widespread infection.
In some cases, especially when surgery poses a high risk, doctors may treat with antibiotics first, but surgery is still the standard solution.
Recovery: What to Expect
Recovery depends on how advanced the appendicitis was and the type of surgery performed. For me, because I had complications, it wasn’t as straightforward as it could have been. But in general:
- Laparoscopic surgery: most patients go home within 24 to 48 hours and recover fully in 1–3 weeks.
- Open surgery: hospital stays are longer, and full recovery may take 4–6 weeks.
- If the appendix ruptured: Recovery is harder, with increased risk of infection and longer hospital time.
During recovery, doctors recommend rest, limited lifting, a gradual return to activity, and a healthy diet to support healing.
Lessons Learned: Don’t Wait, Don’t Guess
So why did I wait so long? Honestly, the same reason many of us do:
- I didn’t want to “overreact.”
- I thought it would pass.
- I didn’t want to look foolish going to the doctor for “nothing.”
But here’s the truth: your health is never “nothing.”
Final Thoughts: My Scar, My Story
Today, I carry a scar, proof that I survived a surprise attack from my own body. But I also carry a new perspective:
- Don’t self-diagnose. Google, Tums, and Pepto can’t replace a doctor.
- Don’t delay. It’s better to find out it’s nothing than to risk your life.
- Take care of yourself. If you don’t, you may not be there for the people who depend on you.
This is my public service announcement: Listen to your body. Take action. Don’t wait because when it comes to your appendix, waiting too long can be deadly!
