Appendix how long does it take to recover

If you have these symptoms and think you have appendicitis, get evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Prompt treatment is essential to avoid rupture. Rupture can occur within 36 hours of the onset of symptoms. The classic symptoms of appendicitis are pain starting around the belly button followed by vomiting.

Several hours later, the pain moves to the lower abdomen on the right side. One study found only about half of the people who get appendicitis have these classic symptoms. The pain is often spread out all over the abdomen in babies and children.

In pregnant and older people, the abdomen may be less tender and pain may be less severe. Once your appendix ruptures, symptoms vary depending on what happens. At first, you may actually feel better for a few hours because the high pressure in your appendix is gone along with your original symptoms. When bacteria leave the intestine and enter the abdominal cavity, the lining on the inside of your abdomen and outside of abdominal organs become inflamed.

This condition is called peritonitis. The symptoms will be similar to those for appendicitis, except:. When this is successful, it forms an abscess.

This is a closed off collection of bacteria and pus. Symptoms of an abscess are also similar to those for appendicitis, except:. When left untreated, the bacteria from a ruptured appendix can get into your bloodstream, causing a serious condition called sepsis. This is inflammation that occurs throughout your entire body. Some of the symptoms of sepsis are:.

The treatment for a ruptured appendix is removal of your appendix through surgery. Peritonitis is treated by cleaning the abdominal cavity during surgery to remove bacteria. You may need to use antibiotics for several weeks to be sure the infection is gone. Often, your appendix will be removed immediately. This is done by inserting a tube into the abscess and letting the fluid-containing bacteria and pus drain out.

This can take several weeks, so you might be sent home with the drain in place as well as antibiotics. When the abscess is drained and the infection and inflammation are controlled, your doctor will perform the surgery. The first several doses will be given through your veins at the hospital. You typically take antibiotics for up to two to four weeks, depending on how bad the peritonitis or abscess was.

Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Problems associated with appendicitis Medical issues to consider Appendectomy procedure Immediately after appendectomy Medical treatment for peritonitis Complications of appendectomy Taking care of yourself at home after appendectomy Long-term outlook after appendectomy Where to get help Things to remember.

Problems associated with appendicitis Appendicitis occurs when the appendix is blocked and becomes infected due to an invasion of intestinal bacteria. There is no single cause, but appendicitis may be due to: A bowel adhesion Swelling of the lymphatic tissue of the appendix due to a viral infection A foreign body A faecalith a small, hard mass of faeces , which causes blockage, inflammation and infection.

Medical issues to consider Once in hospital, your temperature, pulse, breathing pattern and blood pressure will be charted. Appendectomy procedure The two main surgical techniques include open and laparoscopic appendectomy.

These involve: Open appendectomy — an incision is made through the skin, the underlying tissue and the abdominal wall in order to access the appendix. A gas is gently pumped into the abdominal cavity to separate the abdominal wall from the organs.

This makes it easier to examine the appendix and internal organs. Immediately after appendectomy After the operation, you can expect: Nurses will regularly record your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration. Nurses will observe your wound and level of pain, and give you painkillers as ordered by your doctor. If there are no complications, you can get out of bed quite soon after the operation. Early movement is desirable, but caution is needed for climbing stairs so as not to strain the abdominal muscles.

You should be able to eat about 24 hours or so after the operation. You should be able to leave hospital two to three days after an uncomplicated appendectomy.

If you have external sutures stitches , you usually have them removed after one week or so. Sometimes, surgeons use dissolvable sutures. Medical treatment for peritonitis If your appendix ruptures and you develop peritonitis, you will have antibiotics prescribed. Complications of appendectomy All surgery carries some degree of risk.

Taking care of yourself at home after appendectomy Be guided by your doctor, but general suggestions include: Follow the dietary advice you are given. You may like to use a mild laxative for the first few days. Drink plenty of water every day to help prevent constipation. Make sure you have adequate rest. A fast lifestyle, with inadequate diet, will slow your recovery. Avoid lifting heavy objects and stair climbing, so that you don't strain your abdominal muscles.

After a few days, slowly resume your normal activities. Include regular, gentle exercise. Long-term outlook after appendectomy The appendix appears to be a redundant organ, since the human body manages quite well without it. Where to get help Your doctor Emergency department of your nearest hospital In an emergency, always call triple zero Things to remember Appendectomy is surgery to remove the appendix, which is usually found in the right lower side of the abdomen.

If it does become infected, a doctor will usually recommend removal of the appendix by appendectomy. When the appendix becomes infected, it can cause a painful condition called appendicitis.

Doctors consider appendicitis to be a medical emergency because the appendix can burst, or rupture, allowing the infectious contents to enter the abdominal cavity. Removing the appendix before it ruptures is vital to prevent complications. Surgery to remove the appendix is called appendectomy. Appendicitis causes abdominal pain, usually in the region of the bellybutton.

The pain may also radiate to the lower right section of the abdomen. Additional signs and symptoms that indicate appendicitis include:. If the appendix bursts, it is likely that the individual will also have a high fever and severe pain in the abdominal area.

Surgery is the most common treatment for appendicitis. While a person may take antibiotics to reduce the incidence of infection, doctors will usually recommend that healthy people have an appendectomy to avoid the appendix rupturing at a later date. An appendectomy is a common surgical procedure that doctors can usually perform using keyhole surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery. This procedure is less invasive than open surgery. Surgeons usually perform an appendectomy under general anesthesia.

As a result, the person will be completely asleep and unaware that the surgery is taking place. Sometimes, if the surgeon cannot see the appendix well enough or the individual has other health-related issues, it is not possible to complete the surgery using a laparoscope. In these cases, it will be necessary for the surgeon to perform an open appendectomy, which involves making a larger incision.

An appendectomy is often an emergency procedure, so there is usually little time to prepare for the surgery. After surgery, recovery time varies depending on the severity of the infection and whether or not the appendix ruptured.

According to the American College of Surgeons , if the appendix did not rupture, a person may usually go home after 1 or 2 days in the hospital. A person will need to stay for longer at the hospital if their appendix has ruptured. Here, they will receive powerful antibiotics and remain under observation for any signs of complications. People should avoid driving, drinking alcohol, and operating machinery for up to 2 days after surgery.

They should also refrain from making important decisions because the anesthetic can make it difficult to think clearly for a couple of days. A doctor will talk to the individual about activity restrictions and expected recovery time.

Activity restrictions will typically apply for up to 14 days after the appendectomy. Most children can return to school within 1 week of the surgery if their appendix did not rupture and within 2 weeks if it did.