Appendicitis

Last Thursday I had my appendix removed. I always thought it was a teenage thing but apparently it’s very common in men of my age (51).

Anyone else had there’s removed later in life? Obviously I’m not going to rush back and mess myself up, but how long was it before you got back on a bike?  I was feeling quite good on a bike up until then, and am really p’d off I’ll lose my fitness! 

Had mine out last year (also 51). Up and about sorting the garage / waking within a couple of days and eased back into riding after 4 weeks. Got a gp note off work for 4 weeks.

Had mine out a 23, back on the BMX 3 days after getting out of hospital! bit silly but i did take it easy and just rolled around the ramps and just rode sensibly, back to work after 2 weeks

My step-dad kept putting off having his out after it started causing trouble until one morning, as he was walking to get the paper, it burst on him and he ended up needing emergency surgery and a bunch of drugs.

Yes, he was a doctor and should have known better.

I had mine out when I was 19. I ignored it for several days and it had a gangrenous tip when it was removed. Three weeks in hospital tubes up my nose lots of meds.
If you think you have symptoms don’t hang about.

Carlos Sainz only missed one F1 race when his was removed earlier this year. He’s probably fitter than you though and has better doctors! 🙂

Medicine has also changed since 1972 🙂

Think I was 42 when mine popped… horrendous experience as I got an infection from it, so a week in hospital folloeing surgery, pumped full of opiods and antibiotics.

Carlos Sainz only missed one F1 race when his was removed earlier this year. He’s probably fitter than you though and has better doctors! 🙂

When mine was removed in my mid 30’s the consultant told me Pat Cash had gone to Wimbledon and won the tournament 2 weeks after having his out.

won the tournament 2 weeks after having his out.

I think a lot depends on how complicated it was… in a simple case it’s pretty much key hole surgery and recovery will be pretty quick.

I’d follow your doctors advice, as even in a simple case there could be risk of a hernia or something if you are too active too soon.

Had mine out in late 20’s thought it was a pulled muscle from playing squash so carried it around for too long before it was diagnosed and rushed into hospital. Had started to leak so really lucky. Ended up with a wound infection which was worse than the appendicitis.

Feels timely as I’m lying in a hospital waiting to see a surgeon.

Been working hard for the national hill climb. It’s in 19 days. I’m probably not going to make it am I. More worrying is the 2 weeks in Cape Verde with my wife 2 weeks later. If I can’t go I guess insurance will cover me but not my wife 🙁

Also need to message my boss. Been in the job 8 days ?.

If we’re talking laparoscopic appendectomy (aka key hole appendix out) and no complications then it’s fine. I had mine done in my late 30’s, came out of theatre at 7pm, decided the NHS sandwiches were not gonna resolve the hole that had been left by nil-by-mouth since the night before. So discharged myself, ordered a taxi, picked up a doner kebab on the way home. my wife gave birth to a baby boy two weeks later and life just carried on. I could have been on the bike for a gentle ride a few days after surgery tbh.

I’m now Day 6 post surgery. (I had an aggressive inflammation apparently)

Been on a few walks to keep things moving, but no further than a couple of miles before things get uncomfortable. Should be going back to work on Monday, but everyone’s situation will be different I guess.

Got a long weekend booked in Mallorca for some mtb riding in EarlyNovember – not sure my innards will cope with the bouncing around as yet but still time to heal up fully I guess?

not sure my innards will cope with the bouncing around as yet but still time to heal up fully I guess?

It really depends…your doctor will advise…I doubt ‘going on holliday’ would be an issue at all, but if ‘extreme sports’ are involved that might be a different kettle of fish.

Worst case scenario, you could cancel the MTB aspect of the holliday, and just use the trip to relax and chill out.

So I had surgery yesterday.  My appendix burst some point between scan and op. So I’m stuck here on IV antibiotics for a bit. I also have a lovely tube coming out my abdomen – I look like a human brake bleed.

I feel ok unless I move. At which point it is agony. Going for a piss is hell. Please tell me gets easier quickly.

I got kicked by my Wife’s horse a few days after having mine out in my 40’s. I lived to tell the tale.

If I can’t go I guess insurance will cover me but not my wife 🙁

I’d be more optimistic than that – I had to cancel a ski trip after being dumped in hospital with a broken collar bone and knee cap after being hit by for  a **** driver and the insurance paid out on me and Mrs BH.

Quick update.  4 weeks later I’m still not on a bike.  I can now walk ok, even quite briskly at times.  Still get a very sharp pain pretty much daily, caused by the food moving through my system (I think)

I’ve had to cancel my Mallorca trip which has really p’d me off as I do struggle this time of year, and riding bikes with mates in the “winter sun” would have been most beneficial!

Thanks for the update, albeit not a great one.

FWIW, I really can’t remember how long my recovery took, because it’s in the past, it’s all behind me. You’ll be there soon.

Sounds like you might have got sepsis from when it burst.. Have you checked your discharge notes? Hence the longer recovery and being a bit uncomfortable for a longer period?

That’s shit. I’m three weeks today. Been back in work and back on the turbo zone 2.

It completely messed up my digestive system though.  Mixture of post op constipation then diarrhea because of the antibiotics. Mostly back to normal now. Probiotics, kefir, kombucha and kimchi may have helped? Also made a real effort to sleep a lot more than usual. And focussed on diet to improve digestive health.

I was as fit as I’d ever been when I had surgery though. Was targeting a V40 podium at the nationals hill climbs.

Gentle thirty minute walks daily helped too. Body is designed to walk so works better if you do some.

It might be worth giving someone a call?

Good luck and be patient l. You’ll get there and a few weeks is nothing over the long term.

My mothe inlaw had her gallbladder removed in her seventies, she does have to watch what she’s eating but seems fine without it.

It’s quite scary the bits of your body that you don’t actually need, Vestigial Organs is a new term for me.

I’d rather keep them all unless they become all infected and rotten like my appendix back in 1993.

Edit: I was in hospital for a week but I don’t think this is the norm anymore. I was in more pain after the op than before. My first post op pee was both angony and joy as I hadn’t peed for what felt like days. When my brother had his appendix out, I kindly passed on my (undiagnosed) chicken pox. Got him a private room with a view.

What Are Vestigial Organs? 7 Body Parts We Don’t Need

Maybe they should make a new version of Operation but only include the Vestigial parts.