| Medical History |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome IBS is a syndrome, meaning a group of symptoms.
The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort often reported as cramping, bloating,
gas, diarrhea, and or constipation. IBS affects the colon, or large bowel, which is the part of the digestive
tract that stores stool. IBS is not a disease. It’s a functional disorder,
meaning that the bowel doesn’t work, or function, correctly.
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Endometriosis
Endometriosis Symptoms
Endometriosis is a common medical condition characterized by growth beyond or outside the uterus of tissue resembling endometrium,
the tissue that normally lines the uterus.
In endometriosis, the endometrium (from endo, inside, and metra, womb ) is found to be growing outside the uterus, most commonly in the pelvis.
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Costochondritis
Also called Tietze's Syndrome
Costochondritis is a form of inflammation of the
cartilage where ribs attach to the breastbone.
Pain caused by Costochondritis may
mimic that of a heart attack or other heart condition. |
Adenomyosis
Endometriosis of the Uterus
Adenomyosis is the growth of uterine tissue from one particular layer of the
uterus (the endometrial glands) into the wrong layer (the muscle layer, called
the myometrium). It is a benign condition, but it can enlarge the uterus
presenting as a growth. |
Neuropathic Pain
Neuralgia
Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic pain state that usually is
accompanied by tissue injury. With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers
themselves may be damaged, dysfunctional or injured. These damaged nerve fibers
send incorrect signals to other pain centers. The impact of nerve fiber injury
includes a change in nerve function both at the site of injury and areas around
the injury. Symptoms may include shooting and burning pain, tingling and numbness or electrical pain. |
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction
(SOD)
Sphincter of oddi is situated in the upper intestine, or duodenum, at the site where the pancreatic and bile ducts enter. Normally, this sphincter
functions as a one-way valve to allow bile and pancreatic secretions to
enter the bowel, while preventing the contents of the bowel from
backing up into these ducts.
When the sphincter
malfunctions, it becomes overly tight and does not allow adequate
drainage of the pancreatic and bile ducts. The result is a pressure
build-up in the ducts, leading to recurrent episodes of pancreatitis or
biliary pain mimicking gallstone disease. |
Splenic Flexure Syndrome
Muscle Spasms of the Colon
Splenic flexure syndrome refers to the trapping of gas at the splenic flexure causing distension and bloating.
Pain can be felt up under the left ribs. When the pain is really bad, it can enter the left armpit. |
Anal Sphincter Dysfunction
Significant Cause of Constipation
Anal Sphincter Dysfunction can result from nerve damage as well as from lacerations of the sphincter.
Tears are an important risk factor for long-term anal sphincter dysfunction.
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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Predominantly Affecting Females
Pelvic floor dysfunction,
or obstructed defecation, results when the external anal sphincter
and/or puborectalis muscles do not relax appropriately when defecation
is initiated. People with pelvic floor dysfunction strain excessively in a feeble attempt to eliminate stool from the rectum. |
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Living With an Undiagnosed Illness
My Personal story of living with an undiagnosed
illness.
I decided to
start my own website because I needed to express my
anger, frustration and suffering.
I know there are lots of people going through similar health problems.
I searched the internet over the years and most of
the time people writing about their mystery diagnosis only wrote once or twice, so it was
rather frustrating not knowing what happened. Did they finally receive a
diagnosis?.
I've gone from being diagnosed with one condition, then another specialist un-diagnosing it.
My general surgeon asking why my Gynecologist didn't follow up with the adhesions found during my first Laparoscopy,
explaining they usually only form after surgeries, not common for someone who had never been operated on.
Endometriosis was discovered during my first Laparoscopy, 12 months later, more tests performed,
including a Sigmoidscopy and my new Gynecologist states I most likely have Endometriosis in the bowel.
So a joint operation was organised with the Gynecologist and a General Surgeon for bowel re-section and to check the state
of Endometriosis through my pelvis.
I wake
from surgery with nothing touched, my pelvis and bowel are crystal clear no sign of Endometriosis at all.
A very expensive and unnecessary surgery
I've been referred to one specialist after another. Diagnosed with Costochondritis,
Splenic Flexure Syndrome, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction,
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Neuropathic Pain and more recently Fibromyalgia.
I understand and have researched what Costochondritis,
Splenic Flexure Syndrome, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Endometriosis and Fibromyalgia involve,
the pain, the symptoms and treatments. I truly believe and physically feel there is something else going on with my health.
I keep developing more health problems, which I've posted on the forum.
I've been misdiagnosed I'm positive of that. Most are diagnosed to shut me up in the hope I will go away and stop
harassing the medical profession.
I never recovery, symptoms remain the same despite trying recommended treatments and medications for each condition,
which include lifestyle changes, diet, exercise etc.
My current Doctor is very supportive, I'm extremely lucky I've finally found one who hasn't kicked me out the door !.
He listens and is happy to hear my theories
after research efforts online each month.
You can read updates on the forum. I try to post often, it's a form of therapy for me.!
Mystery diagnosis patients. Where those who suffer, or have suffered share their stories of living with an undiagnosed illness.
If you have any suggestion's or comments I would love to hear from you
I've recently uploaded some pictures on the undiagnosed forum I thought might help my undiagnosed story.
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| Medical Procedures |
Colonic Transit Study
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CT Scan /Abdominal / Pelvis
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MRI / Chest / Spine
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X-Ray Lungs
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Colonoscopy
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Gastroscopy
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Sigmoidscopy
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Bone Scan
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Hida Scan
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Barium Meal
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Laparoscopy x 3
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Abdominal Ultrasound
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Pelvic Ultrasound
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Abdominal Wall Ultrasound
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Infrared Imaging
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Cholecystectomy
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Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
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This website is therapeutic..
A place for me to vent and express my feelings.
When problems bother you in real life your always advised to talk about it but with an undiagnosed illness your often told
just live with it and carry on with your life. Easier said then done.
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I Resigned From Work
The pain has now ruined my career. I resigned from work on the 13th June 2008.
I'm trying to remain strong and focus on the positives, but they are few and far between.
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Undiagnosed Forum
Thank you to all members of the forum for your continued support, encouragement and guidance.
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Mystery Diagnosis
Just over 4 years now and Im still undiagnosed. I'm extremely exhausted.
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