Actress Joe Chen goes for immediate appendix surgery after diagnosis
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Taiwanese actress Joe Chen went for surgery in Malaysia after she was diagnosed with appendicitis.
PHOTO: IAM_JOECHEN/INSTAGRAM
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Taiwanese actress Joe Chen was thinking about work even when she was unwell.
The 46-year-old disclosed on Instagram Stories on May 28 that she had diarrhoea and a stomachache over the past few days. When she went to the hospital, she was diagnosed with appendicitis.
The actress decided to undergo an operation the same day to avoid affecting upcoming work commitments.
“The doctor told me not to worry as it was a minimally invasive surgery,” she wrote in Chinese on Instagram Stories.
Chen added that she stayed only one night in hospital after the operation and was recovering well.
Tagging Johor Bahru’s Kempas Medical Centre in her post, she thanked the medical team for its care and the hospital management for sending her a fruit basket.
“I can be discharged from the hospital today, and the doctor says I can eat whatever I want,” wrote the actress. She is known for starring in Taiwanese idol dramas such as The Prince Who Turns Into A Frog (2005) and Fated To Love You (2008).
She is married to Malaysian artist Alan Chen, 36, who is from Johor.
The actress also shared a funny text conversation between her and her mother.
Showing her mother a photo of her appendix after the surgery, Joe Chen explained that the keyhole surgery was done with three small incisions in her abdomen.
Her mother replied that the actress’ appendix resembled chicken and duck intestines.
Chen was in Singapore last week to attend American pop star Lady Gaga’s concert at the National Stadium.
On May 20, the actress posted on social media videos and photos of herself at the event, including one of her pretending to be a monster. Lady Gaga’s fans are affectionately called “Little Monsters”.
Chen was featured in the new June issue of the Chinese edition of Harper’s Bazaar magazine.
She had said in January 2023 that she suffered from sleep apnoea and had gone for an operation to address the condition.
Her agency has not commented on whether it will make any changes to her post-operation work schedule.
