{"id":50878,"date":"2022-04-21T09:30:55","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T13:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=50878"},"modified":"2022-04-18T15:11:08","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T19:11:08","slug":"appendectomy-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/appendectomy-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Your guide to appendectomy recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Types of appendectomies<\/a> | Is appendicitis serious?<\/a> | Prevalence of appendicitis<\/a> | Appendectomy recovery time<\/a> | Lifestyle changes<\/a> | Diet<\/a> | Preventing infection<\/a> | Medications<\/a> | Pain after appendectomy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix, a small tube that attaches to your large intestine and sits in the lower right portion of your belly. You may need to have your appendix removed if you have symptoms of <\/span>appendicitis<\/span><\/a> (an inflammation or infection of the wall of the appendix caused by bacteria, viruses, or an intestinal blockage). The main symptom is abdominal pain, which usually occurs in the right lower abdomen, but can also start around the belly button and then travel\u00a0 to your lower right abdomen. You might also have fever, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, or even constipation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of appendectomies<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are two types of surgery for appendicitis\u2014<\/span>open<\/span><\/i> appendectomy, in which a several-inch incision is made in the abdomen to remove the appendix, or <\/span>laparoscopic<\/span><\/i> appendectomy, in which the appendix is removed using thin, lighted instruments inserted into the belly through small incisions. With both surgeries, you\u2019ll receive general anesthesia, but which surgical procedure your provider chooses will depend on a number of factors, such as your surgeon\u2019s experience, whether you have had abdominal surgery before, and your preference. In general, the laparoscopic approach is preferred as it has a faster recovery and less pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is appendicitis serious?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Appendicitis is usually a medical emergency and, as such, an appendectomy is often emergency surgery. If an infected appendix bursts (also referred to as a perforated or ruptured appendix), <\/span>the infection can spread to other parts of the body<\/span><\/a>. When the infection spreads within the inside of the abdomen and irritates the lining of the abdominal wall, for example, it can cause a life-threatening condition called <\/span>peritonitis<\/span><\/a>. If the infection gets into the bloodstream, a potentially deadly infection called <\/span>sepsis<\/span><\/a> can occur. An appendix can <\/span>burst within 48-72 hours of first showing signs,<\/span><\/a> so it\u2019s important you don\u2019t delay seeking medical treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

How common is appendicitis?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Overall, about 1 in 1,000 people per year in this country experience appendicitis, and it\u2019s most common in young people between 10 and 30 years of age. It is not known why some people get appendicitis while others do not. It\u2019s also not entirely clear what function the appendix serves (some experts say it might <\/span>house healthy gut bacteria<\/span><\/a>); however, a person can live a healthy life without one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Appendectomy recovery time<\/span><\/h2>\n

How quickly you recover from an appendectomy depends on whether you have an open or laparoscopic procedure. Other factors include your health before the procedure, your age, and whether or not your appendix has ruptured.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most people <\/span>leave the hospital within a day or two<\/span><\/a>, and, in fact, many people who have an uncomplicated laparoscopic appendectomy can leave the hospital the same day as their procedure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to pain, though, those who experience an open appendectomy typically report a harder recovery than those who undergo laparoscopic surgery. \u201cThis is because an open appendectomy involves cutting the skin and fascia [connective tissue in the abdominal wall] and splitting abdominal muscles,\u201d explains <\/span>Rana Pullatt, MD<\/span><\/a>, a professor of surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina. \u201cYou might have a good bit of pain for about a week. A laparoscopic appendectomy, on the other hand, involves using mainly puncture holes. You might have some pain [around holes] for about 24 hours and some shoulder pain from the gas we use.\u201d This is because the carbon dioxide gas used to distend your abdomen can irritate nerves traveling from your diaphragm to your neck and shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

And as <\/span>Joanna Grudziak, MD<\/span><\/a>, a general surgeon with University of Utah Health, notes, people undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy may feel better after surgery than before, because the inflamed appendix is removed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifestyle adjustments<\/span><\/h2>\n

Everyone is different when it comes to their recovery period. In general, though, hospital stays range from a few hours (many laparoscopic patients are released the same day of their procedure) to a few days (for open surgery). Overall recovery takes about <\/span>one to three weeks<\/span><\/a> for a laparoscopic appendectomy (<\/span>average recovery time is 13 days<\/span><\/a>) and about two to four weeks\u2014sometimes up to six weeks for an open appendectomy, says Dr. Grudziak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After you\u2019ve been discharged from the hospital, you can help speed your healing process along by following some of these tips:<\/span><\/p>\n