Experiencing Cold Symptoms Following an Appendectomy: What Should I Do?
At 19 years of age, I recently underwent an appendectomy on the 22nd, and overall, my recovery has been decent. I’m not experiencing severe abdominal pain, nor do I have any unusual discoloration or discharge from my surgical sites, considering it was a laparoscopic procedure. However, on the 29th, I began to feel extremely drained and sluggish, as if my energy had vanished. Additionally, I've been experiencing some nausea, making it challenging to eat without feeling unwell afterward. I had previously visited the emergency room on the 26th due to discomfort caused by trapped air from the surgery, which I was told wasn't a significant concern. Now, I'm feeling anxious and contemplating whether I should return to the ER or consult with my primary care physician to rule out any underlying issues. I have an upcoming appointment scheduled for August 4th, and I'm uncertain whether to wait it out or monitor my symptoms more closely. I do tend to worry about my health, but I have been following all the necessary precautions, such as staying hydrated and avoiding heavy lifting. Despite this, I still feel off. I have anti-nausea medication on hand, though I haven’t yet used it, and I only took Tylenol for a couple of days post-surgery since my pain was manageable. While I haven’t developed a fever, I sometimes feel fluctuations in temperature. I've been regularly checking and my readings have consistently stayed below 100°F, averaging around 99.7°F. I'm just seeking advice on how to proceed given these symptoms.
Answers (1)
7/31/2025, 12:40:42 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're currently experiencing some concerning but not uncommon symptoms following your appendectomy while managing your recovery. Given your energy drain, nausea, and fluctuating temperatures, it's important to monitor your symptoms closely while also taking steps to support your recovery.
Explanation:
After surgery, especially a procedure like an appendectomy, it's normal to feel some fatigue and minor gastrointestinal issues as your body adjusts and heals. While you don’t have severe symptoms or significant signs of infection, persistent fatigue and nausea deserve careful attention. Feeling anxious about these changes is understandable, especially if you're recovery-focused.
Next Steps:
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep a close eye on your energy levels and nausea. Write down when the symptoms occur and their severity. This will help you track patterns and may be useful when discussing with a healthcare provider.
-
Hydration and Nutrition: Continue to prioritize staying hydrated which is crucial for recovery. Try to eat small, light meals more frequently throughout the day instead of larger meals. Foods like broth, toast, bananas, and applesauce (often referred to as the BRAT diet) can be gentle on the stomach.
-
Anti-Nausea Medication: If nausea persists and makes it difficult to eat, consider using the anti-nausea medication you have on hand. Follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or the medication packaging.
-
Rest: Ensure you're allowing your body adequate rest. Try to balance any light activity with plenty of downtime to help your energy levels.
-
Monitor Temperature: Continue to check your temperature regularly. If it rises to 100.4°F (38°C) or above, or if you start experiencing new symptoms like increased abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, or any other concerning changes, seek medical advice promptly.
-
Be Prepared for Your Appointment: As your scheduled appointment on August 4th approaches, gather your symptom diary and be prepared to discuss all your concerns. This will help your primary care physician make an informed assessment.
If your symptoms worsen or you feel increasingly concerned, don’t hesitate to return to the ER or seek medical advice sooner. Your health and comfort are the most important factors, and expressing these worries to a healthcare provider can provide reassurance or necessary intervention.
Related Questions
Assessing My Health Concerns: How Anxious Should I Be?
I’m a 32-year-old woman, weighing 124 pounds and standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall. For over a year, I have been experiencing bright red rectal bleeding. Initially, I attributed this issue to hemorrhoids that developed during my pregnancy two years ago. The bleeding occurs with most of my bowel movements, sometimes happens without one, and on a few occasions, has been enough to stain the toilet bowl significantly. The color of the blood is typically darker than what I observe during a hemorrhoid flare-up. There is a notable family history of bowel cancer on both sides; one family member was diagnosed at age 45, and another at 60. In the past six months, I have encountered several episodes of severe abdominal pain—3 to 4 instances—intense enough to consider a trip to the emergency room. However, the pain usually subsides within about an hour. It’s unusual for me to experience such acute pain, given my high tolerance for discomfort; for example, I once played rugby shortly after dislocating and fracturing my finger. Recently, I mustered the courage to consult with my doctor, who recommended a FIT test, which returned a positive result (30.1). Additionally, I underwent a complete blood test, and aside from having low ferritin levels (7 µg/L), all other results were normal. I have since been referred for a colonoscopy on a two-week waiting list to rule out any possible bowel cancer. Given these circumstances, how concerned should I be? Thank you for your input.
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
INTENSE Spine Discomfort, Breathing Difficulties, Muscle Twitches, and Sweating
To elaborate on the situation mentioned in the title, I’ve been experiencing unusual muscle twitches and spasms for the past few days, along with some discomfort in my back. However, today, I felt an unexpected sharp pain shoot through my spine, which has left my legs feeling numb and made it impossible for me to sit up straight. Additionally, I’ve been dealing with cold sweats for the last hour and struggling to breathe properly. Perhaps I’m just overanalyzing things and it’s a common occurrence, but the intensity of the pain is overwhelming—it's truly unbearable. I’m shaking quite a bit, and unfortunately, my parents aren’t responding to my attempts to reach them for help. I have a history of a chronic heart condition and arthritis, yet I’ve never experienced pain this severe, especially in my spine. For context, I am nearly 15 years old and female. My current medications include pain relievers, anxiety medication, beta blockers, and some vitamins, though those specifics may not be particularly relevant. I don’t smoke; however, I have tried vaping a few times, which might not matter much, but I thought it was worth mentioning as it was requested.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.