"Treatment for ruptured appendix"

I was on a work trip abroad, and I got severe abdominal pain one night. I was struggling to walk and couldn’t find any comfort sitting in any position. I called the emergency doctor in this country and they got me an appointment. The doctor in this appointment suspected appendicitis and he got me admitted to a nearby local hospital. When I had been transferred and admitted, the hospital determined that I wasn’t bad enough to stay so the doctor sent me home on a flight. Thankfully by the time my appendix ruptured I was safely at home and I was rushed to A&E.

Unfortunately Causeway A&E was extremely busy and after my mum brought my condition to the nurse’s attention, I was cared for. I had become unconscious and it was the worst pain I had ever felt in my life. I didn’t know how I was ever going to recover from it.

Thankfully I was operated on that day by Mr Davey. I could not thank him enough. All the surgeons, doctors and nurses I met really are the heroes of society and it is unbelievable what their skills can do to save your very own life when you need it.

After I had my operation I was still in a lot of pain but I was smiling as I felt such a relief. My post operation care was in Surgical 2. I had a few complications as my ruptured appendix had left me only a few hours from death. The wound got infected, my bowels had an ileus and my infection levels were high for a week post operation. I spent 10 days in hospital. 

I must mention the incredible nurses in Surgical 2, especially Tracy, Jessica and Jacinta. The nurses are under so much pressure and have such a high workload, especially with paperwork. They never forgot a single medication dose, they really cared for me which is exactly what you need when you are at the lowest point in your life. They really are amazing people with incredible resilience and help their patients get through whatever complication is thrown at them. I must also mention the sister of the ward who put the care of her patients first and is so highly respected by everyone in the ward due to what an excellent job she does.

After Hospital I was cared for by some incredible district nurses who dressed my wound daily due to it being infected. They saw to every need and answered all my concerns.

Where would we be without the NHS.