January 4, 2010
I read the long article about appendicitis, but you give no recommendation. [“Appendicitis ache tricks you, shifts before pain settles in,” page B2, September 2009.] I’m surprised you would write an entire article without concluding with the advice to have an appendectomy. 1. Preventive appendectomies are simply painless for body, soul and even one’s wallet. They will free anyone from appendicitis problems forever and leave crew free to sail wherever the owners want them to.In the case of having to evacuate into a liferaft, it will also be one less worry to manage.2. The risk is near zero.3. For women, the scar may be about one inch with a good surgeon. Please pass this message along in the next issue of The Triton. Many thanks for those whose livelihood depends on one of these real hazards.
Frits GroenCannes
Comments
Appendicitis
If you are a professional mariner and have your appendix with you, get it removed.
I had an accute appendicitis attack in a remote part of Australia while Captain of Dorothea.
Helicopter had to come get me, landed on the beach at first light. My appendix was a few hours from rupturing.
If the medical problem were to have taken place a few days earlier, we were beyond the reach of a helicopter and i would be dead from a ruptured appendix. I was lucky.
It is easy to have removed and prevents a life threatening illness at sea.