Were appendectomies common when we were little?

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AshDogBucket@reddit

Appendix and tonsils - i think even as a kid i was aware that it was more common for previous generations to have them out, but it seemed like 25-30% of people i knew were having them out.

Many of the books i read were just slightly before my time (BSC, SVH, etc) and I think they made me aware that things in my time were not EXACTLY like they used to be.

Is it a lot more rare these days to need appendectomy/tonsilectomy?

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Ill-Percentage-3276@reddit

I wanted to have my tonsils out sooo bad when I was lite, since it was always portrayed as being something that led to you being given all the ice cream you want after.

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I don’t really remember it, but apparently I used to get tonsilitis a lot. Mum was begging our GP to give me a referral to get them out, but despite me getting it again as soon as I’d stop antibiotics, it took ages for them to agree. Then when they finally did, the tonsilitis went away.

I do know they really don’t like doing tonsilectomies on adults, particularly those in their 20s. Apparently, it’s a lot harder to heal and recover from, and there’s a huge haemorrhage risk. I knew someone back when I was in the RAAF who had a tonsilectomy because he had tonsilitis continuously for about 6 months, and it made him undeployable. He told me he had issues with haemorrhaging afterwards, and overall that the recovery process was brutal. My SIL’s husband had to have his tonsils removed as well and reported much the same thing.

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inabighat@reddit

Ya had my mine out at 9 years old. Before laparoscopic surgery so I have a legit 6" scar from it. Emergency surgery. My mom still cries about it to this day haha.

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LAffaire-est-Ketchup@reddit

Wow!! That had to be scare for you and your mum.

I had my appendectomy during endometriosis excision surgery at 42, and I lucked out that it was a robotic laparoscopic surgery; so not only are my scars small, I have video of it.

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Boring-Gas-8903@reddit

I also had endometriosis excision surgery at 42, but curious why they removed your appendix?

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dkonigs@reddit

It is kinda amazing how laparoscopy has turned so many things from major surgery to what are now basically outpatient procedures.

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Embarrassed_Key_4539@reddit

Mine exploded in college, I just thought it was stress from finals. Almost killed me but after a week in the hospital I bounced back ok.

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remedialhandwriting@reddit

Same! 5 nights in the hospital but still laparoscopic thank goodness

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SignificantApricot69@reddit

Mine also exploded in college but then I had to wait 3 months to get it removed. It was during finals and I avoided seeking medical treatment because I feared flunking. Ended up getting Incompletes I think and medically withdrawing and readmitted the next Fall.

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ketamineburner@reddit

I was 19 when mine was removed.

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Spartan04@reddit

I only knew one person that had theirs out at that age. His actually ruptured though so he was in the hospital for a bit, thankfully made a full recovery.

I do know having your tonsils removed was more common back then than it is now. Nowadays I think it’s more common to use medical treatment first and not immediately jump to surgery.

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James_H_M@reddit

I never knew a kid who had an appendicitis, however, I am dreading getting shingles before hitting 50 when I can get the vaccine without a prior-authorization. I had chickenpox as a kid and knowing it's just nesting in my cells like a ticking time bomb. I just wish I could take it and be protected.

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probablyatargaryen@reddit

Everyone I’ve known to have shingles has been under 50. Which makes some sense because it’s my cohort, but I don’t see why they can’t offer the jab younger. It could save so much misery

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ShootinTheBreez@reddit

I got the jab in my 30’s. My aunt had shingles at 40, and my youngest brother got it at 23 the same year I got the shot. When I went in for my annual with my GP, I told her I wanted the vax because my younger brother had just had the disease that year, and she said fine. It is an extra step (prescription), but it’s honesty not that hard to get it if people want it.

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CubicleHermit@reddit

Pretty sure if you don't mine paying the not-insubstantial cost (google suggests 400-600 total for both doses) you can probably get a doctor to order it for you - it's just not going to be covered by insurance.

The shot itself is pretty miserable, but at least it's a pretty predictable sort of miserable.

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IvenaDarcy@reddit

This sounds horrible. I never got chicken pox so feel safe but then laughed with someone tonight cause he said well you know chicken pox might kill you as an adult? So I’m like damn that’s gonna be a bullshit way for me to die. Someone else said made I can get a vaccine for chicken pox? I don’t know I’ll just hope for best lol it all sounds horrible honestly

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James_H_M@reddit

let me look in the seat cushions for that spare change.

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veglove@reddit

Just recovering from my first bout of Shingles here. I may have just been lucky to have a mild case, it's still itchy but not as painful as I've heard it described. I got some antivirals prescribed at the start to lessen the symptoms.

I'm processing grief for both my father and my ex husband, I'm assuming that's what brought it on.

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EastTXJosh@reddit

I got shingles when I sat for the bar exam. It made an already unpleasant situation that much worse, but I still passed.

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James_H_M@reddit

So stressed brought it out? I saw that as a trigger. I hope you have made to yourself a successful law career for you suffered for sure for your success, literally.

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usernames_suck_ok@reddit

Totally agree.

I never had surgery as a kid, and my mother started getting shingles before she turned 50 and has had it more than once...which concerns me. Trying to make it 5 more years.

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James_H_M@reddit

Ok, I did not know shingles could be recurring before today. New terror unlocked? FUCK!!

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jackfaire@reddit

Every single time my stomach hurt I was worried it was appendicitis.

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Asleep_Onion@reddit

Appendix? No I never heard that or had that fear.

Tonsils, though, I always felt like that was something almost everyone had to get removed, like wisdom teeth.

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diypizza@reddit

Yes, a lot of my classmates had appendectomies.

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LAffaire-est-Ketchup@reddit

Madeline did give that impression…

But to be fair, I actually have had an appendectomy.

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legsjohnson@reddit

I blame Madeline.

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Just_Me_79@reddit

I LOVE that this is the first comment, it was my Immediate thought! “nurse!” He said, “It’s an appendix!”

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Just_Me_79@reddit

I definitely expected to have my appendix & tonsils out, and tubes in my ears!

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PeaOui1@reddit

I have feared it almost every day since I was 6. It finally happened about a year ago. Amazing to have the fear gone but it was really really painful. I also blame Madeline and i think it was featured in some TV shows. My best friend has hers out in Jr High and my neighbor had hers out as well. The surgeon told me he does two a day on average.

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Ok_Egg_2665@reddit

My mom, aunt and uncle all had one when I was a kid. To no one’s surprise I also needed one in my early thirties.

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AdelleDeWitt@reddit

My great-grandmother died of appendicitis, so it was a thing that I was aware of as a kid. My appendix tried to explode when I was 18, but I feel like most of my awareness of appendectomies came from Madeline.

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Sparkle8022@reddit

I knew a few kids who did in school, but even fewer as an adult... then I had to have mine out in my 30s.

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OskeyBug@reddit

Seemed like every sitcom had an appendectomy episode.

I'm not sure if I know anyone who has had one.

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Weird_Squirrel_8382@reddit

I feel like I heard about it so much from cartoons, as well ass tonsillectomies. I had a few classmates get their tonsils out, but only knew one person ever to need their appendix out. When I was 20 I thought I'd finally join the club, but it was gallstones.

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mystiqueallie@reddit

My husband is one of the few people I know who have had an appendectomy. No one in my family has had theirs removed.

Gallbladders on the other hand, I know about 15 people who have had theirs removed in the last 20ish years.

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IvenaDarcy@reddit

Damn will evolution just get rid of these two organs if they are just ticking time bombs? lol altho I think gallbladder does serve a real purpose cause when removed certain foods become an issue :(

But never hear anyone before or after changes once appendix is removed so it’s only purpose is to keep us worried it might explode? Horrible lol

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SaquonB26@reddit

My grandfather had one

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abbiemood@reddit

I was more worried about spontaneously combusting for some reason lol

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Quarrels-ofKoi@reddit

My ex had his removed when he was in his early 20s

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DizzyIzzy801@reddit

I suspect that for our movie/book/TV generation, appendectomies were the go-to Plot B for a drama series. Female lead needs to show she's not cold-hearted? Well, let's give her a scene crying over little Timmy's hospital bed. Timmy was in such danger but will be just fine after his appendectomy, so we can ignore this in next week's episode!

I've known two people who had their appendix out, one in the 1980s, and one in the 2000s when they started doing it with arthroscopes (sp?). We've discussed this theory. The TV theory works because it used to be a terrifying and suddenly needed surgery, full of dangerous potential. 1980s guy has a big scar and was in danger of infection and according to his childhood memory was in the hospital "forever." 2000s gal was a teen but back at home the next day, at school less than a week later, and now has a scar the size of some freckles. So now it's a lot less intimidating, less effective for a plotline?

I have no examples of actual show episodes or books here, but it has that "truthiness" feel to it. I dunno, maybe it was a cliffhanger on Dallas.

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Quarrels-ofKoi@reddit

Roseanne. Darlene was fighting with Roseanne who wanted to go to her softball game, but Darlene didn't want her to go. Darlene left the house and later Roseanne got the call. Becky had to miss her sleepover because she had to watch DJ. Roseanne was in fact at the hospital, crying over little Darlene's bedside..not crying but emotional enough

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cellrdoor2@reddit

I 100% thought it was a common thing. To the point that when I was pregnant with my first and they told me that I’d have to have my appendix out because of the crazy amount of abdominal pain I was having, I just went with it. They didn’t want to do a CT because of where I was in the pregnancy and the ultrasound didn’t show anything. Now I wish I had questioned more because my appendix wasn’t bad. It was just a kidney stone and I swear my GI problems date from that surgery. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess, there wasn’t really any way to know and I’m sure they were afraid a pregnant woman was going to drop dead of appendicitis right there at the hospital.

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