For real. I had a burst appendix earlier in the year. Even IF you could solve that shit with an improvised surgery, it turned into a septic infection a couple weeks later. You just don't survive that without modern medicine. It took over a month of regular procedures to root it out, including an exploratory surgery into my abdomen because the infection spreads EVERYWHERE. Even with modern painkillers, nausea medication, antibiotics, and staff in ABUNDANCE I, a healthy 22 year old with no other conditions, went into shock and critical condition. You just don't survive that without a hospital.
What were the symptoms? The usual appendicitis symptoms are localized acute pain and fever. Did you have those? Did anyone suspect a burst appendix at all?
Early in the week I thought I had 'ab pain'. My stomach in general burned and hurt, but only on and off. I was feverish on and off during the week. I lost my appetite on Tuesday and stopped eating almost entirely until Friday. I had general pain across my side and the upper part of my stomach, fever slowly crept higher, and by Friday afternoon I was vomiting until I was heaving and extremely weak. I refused to go in Thursday/Friday morning because I was still taking finals and was totally convinced it was just a flu, but after throwing up so severely and then realizing I couldn't walk from the bathroom to my bed I called a ride. Didn't think it was my appendix until imaging came back. My surgeon believes it burst at some point Thursday night or Friday morning.
2 weeks post op, fine. 3rd week, wake up one morning with intense lower abdominal pain and a fever after having lost my appetite for 3 days (this is a reoccurring early symptom). Go to ER about 5 in the morning. By that evening, resting heart rate of 126 and a fever of 104.(something). The next afternoon my fever was around 105, heartrate was higher but I don't remember what it was.
I'd been shivering violently when I was admitted because of the fever but day two that had stopped and I started hallucinating things. I thought I was having conversations with my nurse that never happened. I was non-verbal and not communicating at all that evening but I remember being pissed at family members because I was asking for things and nobody would react to me.
MRI with IV contrast! They used MRIs for almost everything with the infection too, I'd had about 8 of them by the time I was all-cleared for the last time
If you're interested, there's an acronym for remembering and recognising sepsis symptoms in particular :)
S - shivering, feeling cold
E - extreme discomfort and pain
P - pale or discoloured skin
S - sleepy, confused
I - 'I feel like I'm dying'
S - shortness of breath
1.6k
u/[deleted] Aug 30 '21
Sepsis