While speaking at TheNextWeb in the Netherlands on my birthday, Thursday, April 3rd, I realized something was wrong. For some reason, I just could not fall asleep the night before and my heart was racing. The next morning, Friday, after just a couple hours of rest, I awoke to a shooting pain in my abdomen. Friday was a quiet day for me, and, by Saturday, the pain had worsened. It was "tough-decision-time:" do I go back to the United States or go to a hospital in the Netherlands? Here is an email that I sent from the Schiphol airport for a friend to pick me up at Newark:
I am on Continental Flight 71, originally slated to land at 4:00 PM in Newark. However, I am experiencing a 3+ hour delay, so I may get in anywhere between 6 and 7 PM – you can check status below:
When I get into town, I will call you on your cell, but I probably need to go to the hospital Emergency Room right away in response to abdominal pain: New York-Presbyterian Hospital - 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065 (212) 305-3101. If I cannot get in touch when I land, I will take a cab there.
As of Friday morning, I have been experiencing abdominal pain on my right side between my hip and belly button, which are likely symptoms of appendicitis. Unfortunately, the recommended solution is laparoscopic surgery before the appendix ruptures.
I have 4 hours before the flight takes off and 8 hours in the air. The pain will have started less than 48 hours earlier, so I should be OK, though, if it is Appendicitis, the Appendix normally ruptures between 36 and 72 hours. So, if I get any worse symptoms, I will cancel my flight and go to the hospital in Amsterdam.
On Saturday, April 5th, two days after my birthday at 10:00 PM EST, I had my appendix removed in a top New York City hospital. It was appendicitis. My father’s doctor, stunned by the thought that someone would fly 8 hours with appendicitis, came to visit me in the hospital and said: "I just wanted to meet the guy who flew with a correct self-diagnosis of appendicitis."
I walked out of the hospital on Sunday, April 6th, at noon EST, just 13 hours after the surgery was completed. I am mobile and attended one meeting and a poker game on Monday, less than 48 hours after the surgery. Don’t get me wrong, the pain is intense, so I will be taking it easy today and tomorrow… Pretty crazy stuff.
OMG, you are crazy, why not go to a hospital in Amsterdam? We do have very good medical facilities
Thnx for your presentation on the Next Web and advice on the after party!
Sorry to hear that. You seemed fine Friday when we partied like wild animals in Odeon club. Hope you’ll be back soon.
Get well soon. All the best!
I’m glad you are over this. The flight isn’t a good thing when you suffer from appendicitis. I’m amazed you managed the flight.
Happy birthday by the way :)!
You looked fine when we talked at the Next Web after party. I’m glad you figured out what it was, because appendicitis can be dangerous if untreated.
Hope you get well soon.
Adeo,
You are nuts! Glad that everything worked out. Feel better. If you need anything, drop me a line.
Keith
Congratulations on surviving! Apendicitis is no joke either. This makes my own incredibly-painful toothache [severly infected jaw], also on my Birthday; Thursday 10 April, pale in comparrison.
I my case the pain almost made me want to die, in your case you could have…
Nederlander hospitals are among the finest in the world. Not sure what you were thinking, but personal experience tells me the pain over-rode you higher cognative functions.
Adeo…
Entrepreneur, Environmentalist, and Founding Member of TheFunded.com
AND MEDICAL PIONEER!!!!
Only YOU would post a story like this…LOL! Hi Adeo…and Happy Belated Birthday! Glad to hear you survived appendicitis, enjoyed a poker game, and still kept the entreprenuerial hustle going! Good for you. Best to Cyndi… hugs to Kali.