This usually goes away in a few days. Your recovery time depends on the type of surgery you had. If you had laparoscopic surgery, you will probably be able to return to work or a normal routine 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. If you had an open surgery, it may take 2 to 4 weeks. If your appendix ruptured, you may have a drain in your incision.
Your body will work fine without an appendix. You won't have to make any changes in your diet or lifestyle. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for any changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional.
If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Recovery How can you care for yourself at home? When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Recovery Your doctor removed your appendix either by making many small cuts, called incisions, in your belly laparoscopic surgery or through open surgery.
How can you care for yourself at home? Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover. Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. For about 2 weeks, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include a child, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. You may be able to take showers unless you have a drain near your incision 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Chronic appendicitis is estimated to account for just 1. When people talk about appendicitis, they're usually referring to acute appendicitis, which generally begins with abdominal pain around the belly button that then migrates to the lower right abdomen and intensifies.
Acute appendicitis is typically caused by an abdominal infection that has spread to the appendix, or an obstruction — such as hardened stool, a foreign object, or an ulcer — that has blocked up the appendiceal lumen the inner cavity of the appendix. If the appendix is not removed promptly, pressure within the organ will increase until the appendix ruptures , releasing its contents into the abdomen and potentially causing other serious infections.
Sometimes, however, the appendiceal lumen will be only partially obstructed, resulting in chronic appendicitis. Sources of the partial blockage include:. Over time, the inflammation of the appendix will worsen, and its internal pressure will build. But instead of bursting the appendix, the pressure will overcome the partial obstruction, allowing the contents of the appendix to move out of the pouch. When this happens, appendicitis symptoms will partially or fully subside — until, that is, the obstruction causes the appendix to become inflamed again.
Like acute appendicitis, chronic appendicitis most often results in pain located in the lower right side of the abdomen. The pain may be as sharp and severe as it is with acute appendicitis, but it's often more like a dull ache.
Sometimes, abdominal pain is the only symptom that people with chronic appendicitis experience. In other cases, people may suffer from some of the other typical symptoms of acute appendicitis, including nausea, fever, and diarrhea.
Some clinicians make a distinction between recurrent appendicitis and chronic appendicitis. A case report published in May in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology describes the difference between recurrent and chronic appendicitis. Chronic appendicitis, on the other hand, usually occurs as a less severe, nearly continuous abdominal pain lasting longer than a hour period, sometimes extending to weeks, months, or even years.
Once chronic appendicitis is properly diagnosed, removal of the appendix usually resolves the symptoms for most patients. In the early s, the diagnosis of chronic appendicitis was made relatively often. Infections that can result from a burst appendix include peritonitis, an inflammation of the lining of the abdomen, or an abscess.
With prompt treatment, appendicitis is treatable, and recovery is normally fast and complete. With early surgery, the mortality rate is under 1 percent. Without surgery or antibiotics, for example, in remote areas, the mortality rate can be 50 percent or higher.
If the appendix bursts, this can lead to complications, such as an abscess or peritonitis. Recovery may be lengthy in these cases. Older people make also take longer to recover. The appendix is often considered a nonfunctioning organ, unnecessary for survival, but some scientists suggest that it may play a role in maintaining a healthy immune system.
Read the article in Spanish. Chronic appendicitis is an infection of the appendix. Though rare, it can become extremely painful and, in some cases, become life-threatening. Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Learn about its risk factors, effects on the body, and…. Abdominal pain can result from problems in the stomach, gallbladder, or large intestine. Causes include gas and menstrual cramps. Here, find out more. Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and fills with pus. It can cause a range of symptoms, including pain that worsens gradually, an….
Appendicitis: What you need to know. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Complications Recovery Appendicitis happens when the appendix becomes inflamed. Share on Pinterest Appendicitis can cause pain in the lower, right-hand side of the abdomen.
Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage.
0コメント