Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Appendectomy Anyone?

Just a brief post to say that my ten year old son decided he has had enough of all those weird come-and-go stomachaches that kept making him tardy for school. He decided to just get over with and have appendicitis instead.

His symptoms were a little wonky so it took me a day before I decided to take him in to the ER. His pain was across the entire midsection of his abdomen, instead of being focused on the right side. He wasn't in immense pain and his pain was getting better, not worse. But no diarrhea, no constipation, no vomiting, no upper or lower abdomen pain. He also was experiencing decided relief laying on his right side. Hm...yes, it could be. Naw, you morbid mom. It's just the flu. Um, but...

Finally, I just decided to stop reading online appendicitis articles and polling friends and to trust my gut feeling. The kid's never been a whiner and a busted appendix could kill him. Best to check it out. Turns out the poor kid's appendix was tucked away behind his intestine and as a result his symptoms were atypical. I thank God that the useless thing didn't rupture.

His surgery went well. He's uncomfortable but they are treating his pain to the good meds. His temperature is fluctuating a bit too much for my taste. (If they don't give kid something for it soon I'm going to have to put on the Mama Bear suit.)

Anyhow here I am enduring countless hours of cartoon network in a Mr. L's hospital room. Amazingly enough, I'm feeling a bit tense. If I could play PathWords on facebook (my favorite brain-number) I would, but I can't seem to get the hang of doing it on the laptop. Since PathWords is out I should be reading blogs a lot today, wandering around saying stupid, distracted things. I'll keep you all posted.

10 comments:

Annette Lyon said...

Way to trust your mommy instinct!

Elisa said...

Put on your Mommy Bear suit! I am glad you listened to your Mommy voice!

I hope the little man in on the mends soon!

Kristina P. said...

I had my appendix out when I was 8. This was before the tiny little Britney Spears incisions, and I have a massive scar.

I hope he's doing ok!

Jami said...

They gave him a traditional incision for whatever reason. Should the surgeon ever get out of surgery I will ask him why.

Mama Bear suit is getting a workout today. I'll need to get this thing dry cleaned after the trauma is all over.

Melanie Jacobson said...

I love the "mommy bear suit." I'm totally stealing that. But like only in verbal conversatino so no one can accuse me of being a lame plagarist.

Jo said...

Oh my gosh! I am so glad he is okay. It is normal for people to run a temp after they have had surgery, that MIGHT be why they don't seem very excited about it. Hope you are all home soon, safe and much more healthy!

Heidi said...

Yay for mommy instincts! My wife instincts were so bad when my husband's appendix was about to burst that I wouldn't even drive him to the hospital (this was some years ago--long story). He had to pull over and throw up. When he got to the emergency room, they thought he was a drug addict crying about pain to get drugs. He talked a nurse into handing him a phone so he could call me and tell me that they were about to do an X-ray, that it was going to be his appendix and that they would be operating--this was all before anyone even told him. Thank goodness he did call b/c no one in an official capacity called me until after the surgery was over. His appendix was also atypical which is one reason I didn't figure it out myself. Well! Now you don't have to worry about that particular kid bursting his appendix for the rest of your life! (Your other kids might have atypical symptoms as well--Roy's family members did, too).

April said...

Awww!!! Poor little guy! Way to go with the instinct! NEVER ignore it!

mindyluwho said...

Ouchie! Oh the joys of motherhood. (I seem to be saying that a lot lately.)

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! you go girl.

Poor thing.

And I love that word wonky! You're so cute.

I haven't had to deal with any appendix problems yet. (knock on wood).