In the hospital..........horray!

onewhippedpuppy · 02-12-2009, 10:08 AM

In 28 years, I've never spent more than a few hours in the hospital, mostly stitches during ER visits. But last night I had the joy of having my appendix removed. Much like we do with our cars, "while you're in there" they also found a hernia to repair. Thank God for good pain meds.

kstar · 02-12-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

In 28 years, I've never spent more than a few hours in the hospital, mostly stitches during ER visits. But last night I had the joy of having my appendix removed. Much like we do with our cars, "while you're in there" they also found a hernia to repair. Thank God for good pain meds.

Take care of yourself and I wish you a speedy recovery!

Jim Richards · 02-12-2009, 10:13 AM

Did you get any performance upgrades while you were in there? Carbon fiber implants? Anything?

Get well soon.

Seahawk · 02-12-2009, 10:18 AM

Matt!

All the best, my friend. Once you recover you do know your family needs a trip to DC to see the sights...

MichiganMat · MichiganMat's Garage

Found myself in the ER just Sunday after having avoided hospital time for a decade. Infected tonsil, went in for surgery on Monday.

bivenator · 02-12-2009, 10:26 AM

It is a suprise when you end up in the hospital. Its like, WTF I thought this only happened to other people. Glad they got you fixed up and hope you have a smooth recovery.

pwd72s · 02-12-2009, 10:26 AM

Glad it was "only" appendix. Back in '85, I thought that was my problem. Woke up to discover I'd burst a diverticuli...won't go into the details of the two surgeries, but it sure ruined that summer for me.

Hugh R · 02-12-2009, 10:28 AM

Sounds like everything went well. Hope for smooth recovery!

MichiganMat · MichiganMat's Garage

All I could think of was

1. Thank God for health insurance

and

2. Doctors are amazing people. The kind of things they had to do to me, which were minimal at best, were things I could probably never do to another human being, regardless of training. Injections, cuts, etc... no way dude, no way.

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

Matt, just think you will be a couple of ounces lighter! Speedy recovery.

MOMO3.2 · 02-12-2009, 10:41 AM

Wow Matt!

Good thing they diagnosed and removed before it burst.

Speedy recovery to you.

Mike

Heel n Toe · 02-12-2009, 10:47 AM

I hope you feel like a new man soon, Matt... best wishes for a speedy recovery and have fun flirting with the nurses.

I always wondered about what the appendix was all about... and now, through the wizardry of Google...
__________
Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut.

For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous. Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them routinely. People live fine without them.

The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria than human cells in the typical body. Most of it is good and helps digest food.

The appendix “acts as a good safe house for bacteria,” said Duke surgery professor Bill Parker, a study co-author. The location of the appendix — just below the normal one-way flow of food and germs in the large intestine in a sort of gut cul-de-sac — helps support the theory, he said.

Also, the worm-shaped organ outgrowth acts like a bacteria factory, cultivating the good germs, Parker said.
__________
Hey, hey, hey... looks like fish bait to me!

phoenix_iii · 02-12-2009, 10:47 AM

Should have had them pull a kidney... *weight reduction* You'd corner better.

Rot 911 · 02-12-2009, 10:50 AM

Using the ole "They can't lay me off if I am in the hospital trick" eh Matt?

IROC · IROC's Garage

I had my appendix removed about 3 years ago (at about 41 yrs old). It actually was pretty uneventful. Did they remove it laparoscopically? That was the way mine was done and I essentially have no scars. I was discharged from the hospital about 12 hrs after the surgery. No biggie...

I hope you're goes as well!!

onewhippedpuppy · 02-12-2009, 10:53 AM

That's actually the first real explanation of what the appendix does. Even webmd didn't have an answer. Next week I'm having them remove a kidney and a lung, who needs redundancy?

onewhippedpuppy · 02-12-2009, 10:59 AM

Mine was laproscopic. The hernia was worse, as I have 4 large incisions around my belly button. I can't even feel the appendix, but my belly hurts like hell. Funny, as I didn't even know I had a hernia.

Paul, I'd love to visit. Too bad I'll start burning vacation time next week.

Kurt, I know this place better than that. Now is when I expect the cheap shots.

Thanks for the kind words all. I just wanted to share my joy.

rammstein · 02-12-2009, 11:53 AM

Did you get your timing belt replaced?

Heel n Toe · 02-12-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rammstein

Did you get your timing belt replaced?

Most surgeons recommend waiting six months after an appendectomy before going back in to do the timing belt. It has something to do with the belt tensioner as it relates to flatulence, but I forget the details.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Been there done both - just not in the same visit. Unless you're hooked into some HEAVY drugs staying in the hospital blows so I hope you get outta there fast and get rest at home. There are 4 major hospitals in my general area and over the last 14 years have been admitted to them all...some more than once. Sucks to be a clumsy older guy with bad genes.