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RussBLib

(9,664 posts)
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 12:24 PM Jun 2015

acute appendicitis

I got out of the hospital on Monday after having an operation to remove my "angry, swollen, and leaking" acute appendix. It's been a very rough three days. Getting much better now.

I made a post on Facebook about it and got a ton of well-wishes, and you know? Not one single one of them said they'd pray for my speedy recovery! Most of them - but not all - know I am an atheist. During the screening process at the hospital, they asked me, "Religion?" I replied, "none" and they didn't bat an eye. Also refused to have a chaplain come and visit me.

Starting to make some posts on my blog about it if you'd like to read. I'm very grateful to be still walking this Earth, however gingerly.

Praise science!

30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
acute appendicitis (Original Post) RussBLib Jun 2015 OP
Glad you are on the mend! trotsky Jun 2015 #1
Glad we got that out of the way Lordquinton Jun 2015 #11
This message was self-deleted by its author Pacifist Patriot Jun 2015 #2
Good to hear you are doing well. Curmudgeoness Jun 2015 #3
Get well soon! AlbertCat Jun 2015 #4
yes, they did this one laparoscopically RussBLib Jun 2015 #5
Did you have it stuffed, mounted and framed? Warren Stupidity Jun 2015 #6
flushed RussBLib Jun 2015 #8
St. Joseph's Hospital needledriver Jun 2015 #7
I went to Methodist Hospital in Houston RussBLib Jun 2015 #9
I had my gall bladder removed Lordquinton Jun 2015 #10
Most people reply "none" these days Warpy Jun 2015 #12
Glad you made it! onager Jun 2015 #13
Bazinga! EvolveOrConvolve Jun 2015 #18
I echo EvolveOrConvolve's sentiments! trotsky Jun 2015 #19
Intelligent design.... AlbertCat Jun 2015 #21
Well put. JNelson6563 Jun 2015 #22
I'm definitely gonna keep that! sammythecat Jun 2015 #27
lol, awesome PeaceNikki Jun 2015 #28
I'm glad you're okay now! frogmarch Jun 2015 #14
Well, I've been praying for you! progressoid Jun 2015 #15
Appendicitis is awful, you just can't find a comfortable position Warpy Jun 2015 #16
my cat can sense it RussBLib Jun 2015 #24
Glad you are feeling better, SusanCalvin Jun 2015 #17
except for the tropical storm RussBLib Jun 2015 #25
Glad you are doing well... rexcat Jun 2015 #20
I'm very glad that you're doing better. deucemagnet Jun 2015 #23
Thanks, and in no way RussBLib Jun 2015 #26
Right on, glad you made it through. AtheistCrusader Jun 2015 #29
there have been some good results using antibiotics instead of surgery RussBLib Jun 2015 #30

Response to RussBLib (Original post)

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
3. Good to hear you are doing well.
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 01:03 PM
Jun 2015

I also had to have mine removed many moons ago. It was an emergency surgery (prepping me for surgery in the elevator on the way to the OR) and I was told it was within a half hour of bursting, which would have been much worse.

Don't worry, you won't miss it.

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
4. Get well soon!
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 01:13 PM
Jun 2015

My father was a surgeon (THE surgeon in town I'm told) in the age when they just took everything out...by splaying you open and grabbing it. He did like a dozen or more different kinds of surgeries every week. I hope they didn't have to do that but did one of those cool and amazing less invasive surgeries.


In a cosmic sorta turn, when my father's gall bladder went it was so far gone they had to do the old fashion kind of surgery he himself was well versed in to scoop the practically liquified thing out! He didn't feel the pain until that stage because by that time in his life (80's) he was popping Oxy like Rush Limbaugh..... while he listened to Rush Limbaugh!

RussBLib

(9,664 posts)
5. yes, they did this one laparoscopically
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 01:22 PM
Jun 2015

I understand there is a resurgence of dosing with antibiotics instead of removal. Mine was too far gone.

NY Times article

Thanks for all the kind words, y'all.

 

needledriver

(836 posts)
7. St. Joseph's Hospital
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 01:56 PM
Jun 2015

I had my appendix out at the nearest large hospital; Providence St. Joseph's. My patient room had a crucifix on the wall, and twice a day we heard a prayer and religious affirmation over the public address system. That was it. No one tried to cram religion down my throat, there was no chaplain visit, the nurses and staff were terrific and professional. Their religion and my lack of it had absolutely no effect on the quality of my care.

RussBLib

(9,664 posts)
9. I went to Methodist Hospital in Houston
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 02:19 PM
Jun 2015

And I did not see or hear one single reference to religion or Jesus or anything similar anywhere in the hospital, and I was looking. Even though I was in pain, I was looking. Even the black male nurse, overweight and ebullient, didn't make any such remarks.

When they asked my religion, I simply replied "none" and they moved on to the next question. These folks are professionals and hopefully have no time for that kind of nonsense.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)
10. I had my gall bladder removed
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 02:42 PM
Jun 2015

It took an emergency room visit after being misdiagnosed for a long time, since the symptoms i reported were severe lower back pain. Went to John Muir and they tried to double charge me after telling me it wasn't my appemdex (this was when i had severe abdominal pain) and said ey couldn't help so fo to county, which has actually been overhauled to be a nice place.

In the ER there er whisked me to surgery pretty fast, and told me that while they were in there they checked my appexdex, just in case, and it was healthy.

I don't remember much of my stay, except that the mornin i woke up Gabby Giffords was shot, so that kinda burned into my memory.

Glad you're doing well. Honored that you came to us to share.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
12. Most people reply "none" these days
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 02:59 PM
Jun 2015

as in "none of your business, if I need anything, I'll call my own god botherer." It doesn't mean they're godless scum of the earth like us, it means they want to cut unwanted intrusion to a minimum.

Nurses in Boston and NM aren't pushy about religion, don't know about the bible belt. Even the coworkers who kept their noses in their bibles during down time kept the science front and center out in the work areas.

onager

(9,356 posts)
13. Glad you made it!
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 04:28 PM
Jun 2015


IMO, the human appendix is a lot like religion. It usually just sits there doing nothing very useful, until it suddenly flares up and tries to kill you.

frogmarch

(12,221 posts)
14. I'm glad you're okay now!
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 04:52 PM
Jun 2015

Back in the mid 70s I too had an angry, swollen and leaking acute appendix. I too survived - thanks to the nurse who kept the surgeon from opening me up on the wrong side to remove it.

I haven't been hospitalized since then, but the next time I am, I'll say "none" too when asked for my religious affiliation and see if they let me out alive. Around these parts, it's all about "God" and "Jesus," so who knows what will happen.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
16. Appendicitis is awful, you just can't find a comfortable position
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 05:45 PM
Jun 2015

and eventually it dawns on you that you're sick enough to head for the ER.

The only thing that felt good when I had it was a calico cat under the covers, purring loudly against the parts that hurt the worst.

The only good news is that we come equipped with only one of the damned things. When it's gone, it's gone forever.

RussBLib

(9,664 posts)
24. my cat can sense it
Thu Jun 18, 2015, 09:56 AM
Jun 2015

When I got home from the hospital, she wanted to crawl up in my lap right away and snuggled up gently to my stomach and started purring. Normally she will climb up in my lap and knead and knead and knead with her paws on my belly before settling down, which would have hurt a lot this time and I was ready to toss her off of me if she did that. This time, she just went right for the curl and started purring. It felt great.

Cats are pretty awesome.

RussBLib

(9,664 posts)
25. except for the tropical storm
Thu Jun 18, 2015, 10:00 AM
Jun 2015

and the hour it took to get a cab for my wife in a tropical storm, things went really smoothly.

But it feels like a dark cloud has been lifted from my body and my mind. I was kind of in a downward spiral over the last few weeks, but this experience has pulled my head out of my proverbial ass and reminded me there are a lot of things to be grateful for and a whole lot of things I still want to do before it's "my time."

They say there is nothing like a near-death experience to get your mind right.

rexcat

(3,622 posts)
20. Glad you are doing well...
Wed Jun 17, 2015, 07:52 PM
Jun 2015

without complications. I had my appendix taken out 3 1/2 weeks after I had shoulder replacement surgery (2009). Talk about uncomfortable. Unfortunately I requested no chaplain to see me but one showed up anyway. I kindly told the person I did not need any of their assistance.

deucemagnet

(4,549 posts)
23. I'm very glad that you're doing better.
Thu Jun 18, 2015, 09:53 AM
Jun 2015

It would truly suck to lose any of our merry band of godless bastards.

RussBLib

(9,664 posts)
26. Thanks, and in no way
Thu Jun 18, 2015, 10:03 AM
Jun 2015

has this experience moved me closer to god. Indeed, closer to science and the power of people to help other people.

Science is the reason.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
29. Right on, glad you made it through.
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 12:07 PM
Jun 2015

I'm in my late thirties. I wonder if mine is ever going to kick my ass.

RussBLib

(9,664 posts)
30. there have been some good results using antibiotics instead of surgery
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 01:09 PM
Jun 2015

...but that is going to require vigilance and awareness of any pains in that area. A CT scan is what revealed it in my case, and that's not a normal test under normal circumstances.

Just stay aware. In your late 30's? You are no longer "invincible".

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