Nick Swardson revealed that a painful stomach issue turned out to be far more serious than he first thought, after he was taken to hospital and learned it was not just a “super fart.”
The comedian shared the update from his hospital bed in an Instagram video, staying characteristically upbeat while explaining what had happened.
“Hi everybody! It’s Nick Swardson, with more life advice,” he said via an Instagram video.
He went on to say that anyone dealing with a sharp pain in their abdomen should not automatically assume it is gas or food poisoning, which is what he initially believed.
“It could actually be your appendix, which is what I’m going into surgery for right now.”
Swardson said the health scare happened while he was in the middle of filming something in March 2024, though he did not reveal what project he was working on at the time. He told fans he would share more details later, while still finding room for a joke.
“Shortly, I’m getting David Spade removed from my phone,” he later joked.
Spade fired back in the comments with his own crack.
“This is what happens when Howie gets out of the closet,” Spade responded in the comments.
Fans and fellow celebrities quickly filled the comments with messages of support and hopes for a quick recovery.
“Love you pal! Wishing a speedy recovery. Good thing you got it checked out!” one comment read.
Another said: “I will never mistake my diverticulitis for appendix pain again! Get well soon Superfart!”
After surgery, Swardson confirmed that his appendix had been removed and shared the good news that it had not ruptured.
“Anyone want my appendix?” he wrote. “Luckily it didn’t burst.”
Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of sudden abdominal pain that requires emergency surgery. It often begins with pain that can worsen over time, and doctors say the standard treatment is usually an appendectomy, or surgical removal of the appendix.
A burst appendix, also known as a perforated appendix, can be especially dangerous because infection can spread into the abdomen and trigger a serious complication such as peritonitis. That is why doctors urge people with worsening abdominal pain, nausea or loss of appetite to seek urgent medical care rather than waiting to see if it passes.
The appendix is a small pouch attached to the colon, and appendicitis usually happens when it becomes blocked and inflamed. Symptoms can include pain that starts around the belly button and moves to the lower right side, fever, nausea, vomiting and a loss of appetite.
Medical experts say that if the pain becomes severe or keeps getting worse, it should be treated as a potential emergency.