After appendectomy, what is important to do?

Appendectomy is often the procedure of choice for curing appendicitis. After that, you need various treatments that must be done after an appendectomy so that it recovers faster. What do you need to pay attention to?

Important things to note after appendectomy

Appendicitis (appendicitis) indicates inflammation of the appendix. This condition shows a typical symptom of abdominal pain that appears on the lower right side.

In addition, some also experience other appendicitis symptoms, such as fever, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.

If not treated promptly, abscesses (pus-filled lumps) can form and the inflamed appendix will rupture.

A ruptured appendix can certainly spread infections that can be life-threatening. That is why, an inflamed and infected appendix needs to be surgically removed immediately.

After an appendectomy, there are several things that you need to pay attention to. Here are among them.

1. Duration of rest after appendectomy

Appendectomy is a minor medical procedure whose effects are not too severe. However, that does not mean you can immediately perform various activities after appendectomy. The fact is, your body still needs time to recover.

Recovery time usually depends on the individual condition and the type of medical procedure chosen. The reason is, there are two procedures that have the same goal, namely removing the inflamed appendix but the recovery time is different.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is usually chosen when the inflamed appendix has not ruptured and has not caused complications.

This type of surgery takes a shorter recovery time than open surgery. The reason is, because laparoscopy does not cause major injuries to the patient so that the patient can recover quickly.

The body's recovery time after appendectomy is approx 1 - 3 weeks. After that, you can return to work, exercise after surgery, and do various daily activities.

Open operation

In severe cases of appendicitis, open surgery will be used as the medical treatment of choice. This type of surgery requires the doctor to make a large incision around the abdomen.

This makes you have to treat the surgical wound while waiting for it to heal first, then you can carry out various normal activities.

Not to mention, this procedure tears the tissue around your stomach so it will take longer for it to 'come back together'.

The recovery time is 4 weeks. After that, usually the stitches from the surgery can be removed and the tissue around the intestine has improved. Meanwhile, the tissue around your stomach takes longer to heal, which is about 6 weeks.

2. Pay attention to the daily diet

After an appendectomy, abstinence is not only limited to activity, but also to food choices. The reason is, your intestine has not fully worked well in digesting food after an appendectomy.

During recovery, especially the first 7-10 days after surgery, you should avoid consuming foods that are high in gas and fat, foods that are too dense, foods high in sugar, and spicy foods.

Foods with high gas and fat such as fried foods, milk, and ice cream can cause fat buildup in the part of the intestine that is removed. These types of foods can also make the stomach feel bloated and uncomfortable.

Foods that are densely textured are also a taboo because they will take longer to digest.

Meanwhile, foods with strong flavors such as spicy foods and foods high in sugar which are also one of the foods that cause appendicitis are not recommended for consumption because they can trigger diarrhea.

Try to eat foods that tend to be bland and have a soft texture. For more details, you can ask for recommendations from your doctor or nutritionist regarding what types of food are good for consumption after appendectomy.

Eat slowly with smaller portions but with more frequent, for example 6-8 times. This method will assist you in switching to a preoperative diet.

3. Adequate rest after appendectomy

As long as you are actively doing activities, use your time wisely to rest. Adequate rest will support the immune system so that the recovery process after appendectomy is faster.

Avoid various activities that can reduce the time you rest, for example, playing on your cellphone or watching movies. You are fine to do these activities, but the duration must still be limited.

You also need to pay attention to sleeping position, because mistakes can actually make appendectomy complications, namely bleeding.

According to the Specialty Surgery Center website, the best sleeping position after appendicitis around the stomach is sleeping on your back. This sleeping position does not put pressure on the surgical wound so that it prevents bleeding.

4. Keep the wound clean

Apart from bleeding, post-appendectomy complications that can occur are infections. So, the treatment you need to do is keep the surgical scar clean.

Usually, before you go home, the doctor will tell you how to properly clean the wound. Follow this method and do it regularly as recommended.

Keep the area of the appendix surgery scar dry. If you are worried that your clothes will rub against them frequently, you can cover them with a gauze bandage. Don't forget to replace it every day.

Make sure not to wear clothes that are button-down and not tight. This type of clothing makes it easy for you to put it on and take it off without putting too much pressure on the scar.

Apart from doing the various treatments above, remember to always be aware of your condition. If the wound bleeds or you start to experience other symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.