Has anyone had a non-emergency appendectomy?

[Tap]

DD13 has horrible abdominal pain. She has seen 2 GI specialists and they agree that it is functional abdominal disorder. Her pain is bad enough, that it causes her pseudo-seizures. The doctors expect her pain to continue for several years and possibly a lifetime. This isn't a short term problem. She has to go to the ER for heavy pain med treatment due to breathing suppression. I can give her somewhat high doses at home, but if those aren't working she goes to the ER for more meds. I would guess she has been to the ER 8 times in 18 months. 

In 18 months, her appendix has been viewed 3 time under CT scan and she has had 5 ultrasounds. It has been seen as 'borderline enlarged' on the CT scans. She has had probably 8-10 X-rays (of the abdomen and other extremities for various reasons).  We have to take her to the ER when the pain is severe enough, but when she is there, they insist on doing imagining to make sure that it isn't her appendix "this time". Her pain is lower right quadrant, so it presents like appendix pain. I understand why....but understanding it, doesn't change her radiation exposure. 

Her new GI specialist is recommending having her appendix removed. Just in case it is the cause of her pain and to eliminate the unnecessary radiation every time she goes in to the ER. If the appendix isn't there, it doesn't need to be imaged. 🙂 LOL 

WWYD? She put the referral into the surgeon, and we will listen to what he has to say as well. I was just curious if anyone here has had this done as a preventative procedure. 

[Twigs]

I had my appendix removed when I had my gall bladder (I did have gall stones) removed, back in the 80s. I was not having the problems you are describing, the surgeon just routinely removed the appendix along with gall bladder. It is nice to know that I will not ever have to have an emergency appendectomy.

[maize]

My sister's appendix was removed when she was a toddler--she had a tumor on one of her kidneys and when they went in to remove the kidney they took the appendix out along with it just because they were already doing surgery. I doubt doctors still do that but at least she knows she can never have appendicitis.

[Ottakee]

I would be apt to go for that.   Have they also ruled out gall bladder?

[KungFuPanda]

1 hour ago, Margaret in CO said:

I went it for a huge ovarian cyst, only turned out that's not what the problem was. It was an infected Fallopian tube. Anyway, they took out the appendix at the same time. In the "small world" motif, the family I just got a violin, autoharp, Celtic harp, a carful of camping equipment, AND 12 tubs of books from was the surgeon!

You are just the homeschool supply cartel out there. 😂 Can curricula be laundered? I think you’re up to something. 

[ktgrok]

I'd be open to that, but I'd want them to be doing an exploratory laparotomy at the same time, to rule out OTHER causes. Including endometriosis. Has that been ruled out? My understanding is the only way to totally rule it out is via surgery. But that level of pain would make sense for endometriosis, or ovarian cysts, etc. (cysts can be seen on ultrasound usually, but endometriosis isn't always visible with imaging). 

Has she ever had any other abdominal surgery, that could have caused adhesions or an internal hernia, etc?

This says that GI issues are a common symptom of endometriosis. https://www.lagyndr.com/endometriosis/endometriosis-and-gastrointestinal-symptoms/#:~:text=Bloating is the most common,symptoms in women with endometriosis.

Edited June 4, 2020 by Ktgrok

[Tap]

On 6/4/2020 at 5:52 AM, Ktgrok said:

I'd be open to that, but I'd want them to be doing an exploratory laparotomy at the same time, to rule out OTHER causes. Including endometriosis. Has that been ruled out? My understanding is the only way to totally rule it out is via surgery. But that level of pain would make sense for endometriosis, or ovarian cysts, etc. (cysts can be seen on ultrasound usually, but endometriosis isn't always visible with imaging). 

Has she ever had any other abdominal surgery, that could have caused adhesions or an internal hernia, etc?

This says that GI issues are a common symptom of endometriosis. https://www.lagyndr.com/endometriosis/endometriosis-and-gastrointestinal-symptoms/#:~:text=Bloating is the most common,symptoms in women with endometriosis.

It is funny you mention that. I have her an appointment scheduled already with a OB/GYN in 2 weeks to get evaluated for endometriosis. I have mentioned it do a few ER doctors to ask if they thought it was a possibility, and they say it is unlikely or they just shrug with an "I don't know" look.  I don't think there is a family history of it, but I don't know her full history (dd13 is biologically my great-niece). I put her on BCP when she first got her period, so I don't really know if she has a regular cycle or not. I have no personal experience with endo, but have some patients who have debilitating pain from it, so I wanted to make sure that wasn't the cause. Some small cysts have shown up on her ultrasounds, but just the ones that are related to normal menstruation, nothing notable. 

[Carrie12345]

Not me (full emergency laparotomy), but my cousin had his removed without acute appendicitis. Not sure whether that makes his obtuse or ugly. 😂 

Simple laparoscopic surgery and he was happy with it. But they were sure that was his problem.