What The New Daily Show Host Can Teach Us About Appendicitis

Sources: The Mayo Clinic; Saint Vincent.org

Salon.com: One minute Trevor Noah has an exploding appendix, the next he’s being sliced open, and then he’s back on (the next) evening’s Daily Show.

“I don’t know if ’emergency room’ is the right term, because they make you wait,” Noah said. “I feel like there should be two rooms — a room for emergencies and a room for people who can fill out forms.” Noah said he kept trying to explain to the nurse that he was “dying” while “keeling over, trembling from the pain…”

The nurse responded, “You can’t faint here,” (and) wanted to know if he had health insurance… But Noah was in luck — the nurse recognized him from the Daily Show billboards all over New York City…

But seriously, folks, as long as appendicitis is currently in the (fake) news; here’s what you ought to know about it:

The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that projects from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen. A blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection is the likely cause of appendicitis.

Although anyone can develop appendicitis, most often it occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30 (Noah is nearly 32). If not treated promptly, the appendix can rupture, causing life-threatening peritonitis.

Signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include:

  • Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen
  • Sudden pain that begins around your navel and often shifts to your lower right abdomen
  • Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Abdominal bloating

If appendicitis is suspected, call for an ambulance immediately. Do your best to stay calm, lie down and apply a covered hot water bottle if possible. Do not attempt or allow walking, talking, eating, or drinking — and especially, avoid laxatives.

Salon.com: Comedy Central…told (Noah) he could take all the time he needed to recover…(Fans) assum(ed) the network forced him to (return to work). Noah swore that he wanted to come back as soon as he could, stitches and all…

The “traditional” way of removing the appendix is via a major incision. If the appendix has not ruptured, the laparoscopic method has become more common: it involves just three much smaller incisions, resulting in a much faster recovery time. Noah returned to work the next day — though he did tweet, “Thank you for your love and support. The Daily Show is back on today…but I can’t stand up.”

Featured Video: COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Awareness
Fifth New Jersey Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens in Cranbury