EMERGENCY APPENDECTOMY

Well....... it all started Friday August 4th while at work about 1:30 pm. I was having severe right lower quadrent pain so bad I cried. (embarrassing) My co-worker graciously wheeled me down to the E.R. where I waited over 2 hours before being treated. Once taken back the Resident M.D. and Surgeon decided I need emergency appendix surgery. It was a matter of what seemed minutes and I was in the O.R. for surgery. I remember being strapped to a table and the room was extremely cold. I was told to breathe in this mask and then........poof...... the lights went out. The operating team intubated me (breathing tube in) and shave my belly which is NOT a pretty site and then cut three incisions to take out my appendix successfully. I had a little trouble toward the end of surgery as my asthma kicked in and my lungs tightned up while I was still intubated. They gave me a couple breathing treatments and I recovered well and was able to be extubated.(breathing tube out) I was then whisked to PACU to recover and I had another asthma attack. I was fighting with the nurses and pulling everything off. The nurses tied me down and did a wonderful job treating me and getting my breathing under control. After recovering I was sent to my room E208 where my wife and mother were waiting for my arrival. I was glad to see them both and ready to go home.......... wishful thinking ! I ended up staying the night and had alot of pain meds and fought to try and learn the function of going the bathroom again (#1). I remember waking up in the wee hours of the morning and watching the replay of the Tigers beating those Clevland Indians 7-6 *Wahooooo!!* I spent all day at the hospital on Saturday with my wife by my side. My pastor came to visit at noon and his wife and son(stephen) visited awhile later. I finally convinced the hopsital to release me at about 11p.m. Saturday night. I came home and went directly to bed. I woke up in severe pain but, was able to get that under control and maintain control thanks to my wife keeping a timely schedule with my medications. My wife has been my crutch all along the way and I appreciate being married to her. Each and everyday with Tamara is sweetier and sweetier. What a "GEM" she is!!! I also need to say a big "THANKS" to my parents for picking up Bryce and keeping him over night on such short notice. I know they already have their hands full yet, they stepped up to the plate and pinched hit under quick circumstances. I also thank everyone for coveting their prayers during this time. I have been told I will be out of work for 4-6weeks (not what I wanted to hear). So we will see what we can do to convince the Doctor to knock that time down tremendously.(wishful thinking again.) As for now I will be taking it easy and resting for a fast and speedy recovery. Praise God for being with me all along the way. He is my great physician and will always meet my every need. With out God my life would be vain.

To The Praise Of His Glory~

Brian Cooper

Appendix Information:


Your appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that projects out from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen. The small structure has no known purpose, but that doesn't mean it can't cause problems. Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus.

The main symptom of appendicitis is pain that typically begins around the navel and then shifts to the lower right abdomen. The pain of appendicitis usually increases over a period of six to 12 hours, and eventually may become very severe.

Anyone can develop appendicitis, but it most often strikes people between the ages of 10 and 30. Appendicitis is one of the most common reasons for emergency abdominal surgery in children.

The standard treatment for appendicitis is surgical removal of the appendix. In many cases the surgery is straightforward, and you recover quickly. But if your appendix has ruptured, the surgery may be more complicated and you'll take longer to heal. A ruptured appendix that's not promptly treated can lead to serious complications such as infection. In rare instances appendicitis that results in a ruptured appendix can be fatal.