Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh revealed in a social media post that she had been rushed to hospital for an emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix
TV presenter Ranvir Singh was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix – these are the warning signs people should look out for if they suspect they might have appendicitis, according to health officials.
Ms Singh, 47, known for presenting on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, shared an update on Instagram that included her pre and post surgery. The Instagram story continued with a shocking revelation: “I’m off air – all good – at 1030am I feel this sudden stomach ache. I stay in bed all day. Turns out I had a ruptured appendix and had urgent surgery at midnight on Thursday!
“Woke up 5am on Friday morning, high on anaesthetic and certain I could get into work to host the show as normal [laughing emoji]…
“Pretty nasty few days, the bacteria had spread and infected my blood etc and told to take this week off by @jadeens I’m sore and shuffling around, can’t drive for a week, and no exercise for 4 weeks (! ) so really it’s the boredom that will kill me! Ps. Anyone else have this horrendous shoulder pain afterwards? It’s mad isn’t it!”
Many colleagues and viewers wished Ms Singh a swift recovery following her ordeal. Symptoms of appendicitis typically causes pain in the lower right side of your tummy and need urgent hospital treatment, according to the NHS.
What are appendicitis symptoms?
The NHS said the pain can start in the middle of your tummy, around your belly button, and following a few hours it typically moves to the lower right side of your abdomen and gets worse.
The pain can feel worse when you move, cough or press down on the area. It could also feel slightly better when you pull your knees up to your chest. Other symptoms can include:
- feeling or being sick, or loss of appetite
- a high temperature
- constipation or diarrhoea
- peeing more than usual
- sudden confusion (in older people)
In some circumstances, people might not have the usually pain symptoms and might feel it develops more slowly, or in a different place. This is more likely if you are pregnant, a young child or an older person.
What are appendicitis risks?
If appendicitis is not treated it can result in a burst appendix, which is considered to be a medical emergency. “It spreads bacteria from inside your bowels throughout your abdominal cavity,” said the US-based Cleveland Clinic.
“This infection (peritonitis) can then spread to your bloodstream, which can lead to life-threatening complications (sepsis). Because of this risk, the standard treatment for appendicitis is to remove your appendix (appendectomy). Your appendix isn’t an essential organ, and you won’t miss it.”
What causes appendicitis?
The Cleveland Clinic said the size and location of the appendix can make it easy for it to become clogged and infected. The large intestine is home to many bacteria and it can become trapped in your appendix.
Sometimes appendicitis starts with an infection and a swelling can reduce or close the opening and trap more bacteria inside. Common causes of inflammation, swelling, obstruction and infection of the appendix can include:
- Hardened poop
- Lymphoid hyperplasia
- Colitis
What treatments are available for appendicitis?
The NHS said appendicitis is typically treated with surgery to remove it. If you need surgery, it should be done as soon as possible, although you may need to wait a few hours. The operation takes about an hour.
The steps of an appendix surgery, known as an appendectomy, are:
- You’ll be given a general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep and will not feel any pain.
- The surgeon makes some small cuts in your abdomen (tummy), and uses a thin tube with a camera to see your appendix (keyhole surgery). Sometimes they’ll need to make a larger cut in the lower right side of your abdomen (open surgery).
- The surgeon removes your appendix by cutting where it’s joined to your bowel. If your appendix has burst, the area will be cleaned.
- Your abdomen is closed with stitches, clips or glue.
There are some circumstances where it is possible to treat appendicitis with antibiotics rather than surgery, according to the NHS. This could be recommended if the infection has not spread and the surgery is considered high risk.