Recovery from appendicitis | a ballerina vlog

[@rubenwiethuchter3901]

Well done Jeannette! You might as well be one of the few Dancers/Athlets that can step on the break when it's time for that. And that gives you later on the better recovery ;-) Good work!

[@jeanettekakareka]

Thanks Ruben!!! Patience, ugh

[@jennifermcintyre1556]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I had Stomach pain for a couple of days, felt sleepy Monday morning and noticed that the pain was in the lower right abdominal region that evening. Called doctor out of hours, who suspected appendicitis and sent me to hospital emergency dept. More testing, laproscopic surgery the following morning, also with the inflated CO2 to give them room to operate. Was eating the same day, up and walking too. It’s quite sore at the site of one of the incisions, especially now that my period has just begun, but physio gave me advice for coughing, moving, breathing exercises and the blow-into device. I’ve been lucky to have received good treatment immediately and will take your advice for recovery ❤

[@jeanettekakareka]

Wow that's great you got such quick care! To be able to be up walking same day sounds crazy to me, but the nurses who came in expected the same to be honest... I think if you had a quick treatment and uncomplicated surgery I suspect it's normal. 🙈 The soreness is definitely normal, and I'm sure it doesn't help to get symptoms of your period immediately. But I'm otherwise happy for you and I hope your road to recovery continues to improve! 💞

[@clmntlbrn]

Hello Jeanette, I feel for both operations: with the preparation and recovery each time, it takes will and determination😅. Good recovery to you (and otherwise an excellent video always natural and true😊) Have a good evening🌙

[@jeanettekakareka]

Thank you!! Step by step! And you have a nice weekend :-)

[@seresampaolo]

Thank you for your video! I just got surgery and my situation pre and post surgery was so similar to yours. Hearing about it and knowing you're all good now makes me feel way better - thanks for sharing!

[@jeanettekakareka]

No worries!! I hope you'll feel well soon ☺🙏

[@briggite2203]

I got my surgery done 3 days ago... I feel kinda sad about not being able to go to the gym, I don't have pain whatsoever so that's good, I've been able to walk too, your video helped me to feel better thanks👥

[@briggite2203]

laughing really hurts tho

[@jeanettekakareka]

I'm sorry you had surgery! Everyone is individual, so as I said, I was in the hospital for 4 nights and couldn't walk upright. That's not to say what I experienced is normal or abnormal. But just so that you know there's a range of recovery time, I think that helps mentally. 😊I'm sooo glad you're not in pain and hope you'll be back fully whenever the time is right!

[@jeanettekakareka]

@@briggite2203 also yeah I couldn't laugh for a while either!!

[@Sourdoughgirl]

It's important to ask your doctor questions especially if you feel things don't add up. I went into ER after 5 hours of severe stomach pain. The ER doctor decided either I had bowls blockage or viral infection. He gave me pain meds and 4L of fluid laxative with an order to finish it at home within the next 24 hours. Even the pain was not as severe at that point but I didn't feel comfortable with his diagnoses and the fact that I could feel the pain was building up again. After being nagged for a few minutes he touched my stomach again and this time I felt pain in my lower right abdomen. He finally agreed to send me in for CT scan. In an hour a surgeon showed up in front of my bed saying they needed to find the first available OR to take my appendix out. Long story short, the surgery was successful and I'm now home recovering. It has been 3 days, it sucks that I can't any do exercise but I don't want to risk hernia so I have to be a good patient this time.

[@jeanettekakareka]

Oh my goodness that is insane how badly you were misdiagnosed! I'm so sorry it was like that. I'm glad you're on the other side now, just take care on the recovery. It's probably a good sign it's day 3 and you're home already! As you can see from the video, it took me time after surgery before exercising and dancing so that I was truly healed internally. All the best ❤️

[@katevanderleest7523]

Hi Jeanette, thank you for this video. I am on day four post-op and like you I am a dancer (although I'm more so in the musical theatre world). I go in for my first post-op appointment with my surgeon tomorrow, and this video helped prepare me for what upcoming weeks may look like as well as gave me ideas to incorporate movement gradually. So helpful, thank you!❤ Also I love yoga with adriene too!!! The best.

[@jeanettekakareka]

Aw take care!! I hope you feel better soon and the advice maybe helps❤‍🩹

[@judylish]

Hi there! I am a retired professional ballet dancer, like 2002 retired😄but I am still super active as a group fitness instructor and of course a ballet teacher. I so appreciated this video!!! So much of what you said resonated with me and gave me some great insights and perspective. I am almost a week out from my appendectomy and headed to my first post op appointment next week. Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience. I am so ready to feel better, but will try to be patient 😊

[@swampwitchchic]

Wow you are so strong! I aspire to dance like you in the future and I hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly:)

[@jeanettekakareka]

Thank you so much for being so nice! Hope you'll be back for future videos. :-)

[@swampwitchchic]

@@jeanettekakareka I definitely will!

[@meghankelley9994]

This was very interesting to watch especially as a dancer myself. Sending love ❤️

[@jeanettekakareka]

Thank you! It's important to learn to care of yourself :-)

[@jessicagaletti8009]

This was such an inspiring and helpful video, thank you for sharing this! I myself am now in my first week of post surgery, and am not allowed to do any sports or ballet for another 2 weeks which feels horrible 😫 but this video really helped me lift my mood up and inspire me. Wishing you a continuous speedy recovery and all the best 😊

[@jeanettekakareka]

Oh no I am so sorry! I 100% suggest listening to your body over any advice, because in my experience it can be very vague or contradicting. Take care!!! I actually did very little but go for walks the first 3 weeks. I'm at 9 weeks now and finally getting pointe shoes on and doing most of centre with some changes. 😅Let me know if you need any more answers!

[@jeanettekakareka]

Comment and lemme know if any of you have had a similar experience! 😊 EDIT as of June 2022: I also want to update the video to say that I've spoken to another medical professional who was once specialized in surgeries like this. She explained more clearly that since my appendix was struggling and inflamed for so long, it can be quite difficult to get bleeding under control as they had to remove and affect more than just the appendix. So the second surgery in her opinion (and I trust her) is not all together impossible to prevent.

[@chinemelumj5349]

Got my surgery done just 5 days ago, been having pain since 5 months now and was dismissed by doctors, they also blamed it on my diet. I didn't give up till I found a doctor who took my pain seriously. I'm fine now and back to normal. The pain is horrible

[@chinemelumj5349]

Also had surgery the same day😂😭!, I wasn't allowed to go as well. Everything happened so fast, omg. Even the corona test as well, haha.

[@jeanettekakareka]

I'm so sorry! The first week or so is hard. I hope you'll be feeling all better soon but I'm glad that you finally got the surgery you needed. Take care ❤️

[@ChinnaThambiBlitTL]

Inspired well!!!

[@spamsnitch]

hello, what is your diet after surgery?

[@karolinlondono5456]

thank you very much! very helpful video

[@jeanettekakareka]

I'm so glad 🙏🙏

[@boopalant55]

Hi, I am a boy and two years ago when I was 15 years old, I had single incision laproscopic surgery through umbilicus/belly button for removal of appendix organ. I had severe pain for nearly 2 weeks, but after complete recovery I feel good, but when I wear tight pants I have pain on the operated region. I have visited the doctor who has done the surgery, but she used to examine and say it is normal after surgery. Do you have the same pain?

[@jeanettekakareka]

I'm so sorry about that! I'm just 3 months post-op but yeah I still feel uncomfortable in those specific areas under pressue. If you haven't already, I would try massageing the scar tissues very gently. If you don't know how you could probably find it on KZbin or go to a professional physio therapist. Breaking up the scar tissue might help! Good luck 😊

[@boopalant55]

@@jeanettekakareka oh thank you for the information. I will try to get it done. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[@ShelyMB]

I went to my primary doctor that i have seen for years. was sent to the hospital right away and they did a few test there. was sent home with antibiotics for a UTI that I never had. my doctor got so pist. 2 days after leaving the hospital the pain the pain just got worse. i went back and spent 6 days with them giving me pain meds and telling me that my stomach and appendix is inflammed but not to the point that i needed my appendix removed. my primary did dont enjoy their diagnois but can no longer care for my condition since their office no longer takes my insurance. my new doctor is much better bedside manners-wise than my old one for sure.

[@jeanettekakareka]

I'm so sorry you got tossed around by the system as well. I hope you're doing much better now! 💓

[@ShelyMB]

@@jeanettekakareka wow thanks for the positive vibes. i have to stick to pain management pills until i set up an appointment with my new doctor in February. I have bad days mostly, but my job is really interested in me doing better and so understanding when I have to clock out early or miss a day.

[@junep.9204]

Thank you for this. One of my concerns is not being able to work out and losing muscle tone and strength... do you feel like you have all of your strength and flexibility back? I hope so. I just had surgery two days ago... was alone at the hospital after 12 hours on morphine and delaudin, and made the horrible mistake of refusing surgery when they determined it was my appendix. By the time I decided I had to wait another 24 hours in pain. I work out usually 6 days a week and already I feel weak and upset I can't do more...

[@jeanettekakareka]

I always knew logically that if injury or illness occurs you need to put your body first and tread carefully. But the hardest part is not knowing how hard or when to push yourself, because of course at some point the body needs it. But, until the real pain ends you can't strengthen and workout at all--that's my advice. For me of course everything went back to normal in the months following--but months, not weeks or days. Ballet has certainly taught me that "being in shape" goes up and down, we can't always be at our peak, but we can always get it back! If patience is something thats hard for you, it may be a challenge, but you absolutely need to give your body the proper space to heal or else you'll be "limping" for much much longer. I hope you can find a good support system you can trust to help your healing! ❤️🙏

[@junep.9204]

@@jeanettekakareka Dear Jeannette, thank you so much for your reply - I've been down about the pain and bloating since my surgery 5 days ago... trying to be positive but hard to feel weak. It helps to know that even a world class athlete had challenges and it wasnt an immediate recovery. You and your hubby are the epitome of a beautiful dancer couple, graceful on and off the stage. Your Giselle is exquisite. All best wishes.

[@chrismatthew7224]

I am 2 weeks post-opp for my appendix being removed. I’m athletic however I’m worried about lifting weights again so soon…

[@jeanettekakareka]

I just wouldn't do it until you feel fully capable. In the end, what does it hurt to wait? Everyone recovers at different rates and it's better not to over-push. It can set you back further or leave you feeling even more afraid. In the very beginning--something like 2 weeks!--I momentarily forgot to take care and I moved naturally to readjust on the sofa... it sent searing pain to the stitches and I genuinely believed I'd reopened them! In the end, it was all fine but it scared me so badly I think it slowed me down for a while and I still subconsciously avoid the pain even now. First priority is to take care of yourself, you can get back to athletic goals when you're fully ready 🙏💪

[@bkv]

Nice vlog ...

[@jeffklein9248]

Hi. Did you get bloating and cramping as a symptom?

[@jeanettekakareka]

You mean before the surgery or after? Because before, yes, I'd say there was extra bloating. I wouldn't describe the discomfort as cramping, but maybe someone else would.

[@ANNU-n2m]

Did you get a ct to find out?

[@jeanettekakareka]

Nothing so difficult, just an ultrasound was enough to see inflammation! But when they surgeon actually went in is when they saw the full extent of it. I also want to update the video to say that I've spoken to another medical professional who was once specialized in surgeries like this. She explained more clearly that since my appendix was struggling and inflamed for so long, it can be quite difficult to get bleeding under control as they had to remove and affect more than just the appendix. So the second surgery in her opinion (and I trust her) is not all together impossible to prevent.

[@a.phillips6892]

You poor thing. What a horrible ordeal you went through! 6 hours of surgery😨😩🥴 And BY YOURSELF😢 That must’ve been so scary. I don’t think many people realize how serious an appendicitis is. I was almost in tears hearing this because I had a similar situation that was a kidney stone that was mis diagnosed and ended in surgery as well. I agree totally that dancers are so used to pain that they often put off or discount pain as something that will resolve. I had a much less traumatic sugery/recovery. So thankful you came through this and are back dancing!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jeanettekakareka]

Wow apparently I have an entire laundry list of comments I never saw 😢 yeah it was not fun! I'm also so sorry about your mis diagnosis. This is why it's important we learn from experiences and advocate for ourselves better in the future!

[@a.phillips6892]

@@jeanettekakareka Yes, definitely!💓

[@dineomahao]

💯🚓🚒🇿🇦