Undiagnosed Illness - Laparoscopy

My Medical Conditions

Excruciating Pain
Sphincter of Oddi
Found during a Hida Scan. 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.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Bad Stomach
Most people have Irritable Bowel Syndrome !

Endometriosis
Endometriosis Symptoms
2 Surgeries so far on my Endometriosis. Last surgery showed Endo has completely gone. Gyno said my Pelvis was crystal clear.

Costochondritis
Very Painful
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
Benign Condition
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.

Splenic Flexure Syndrome
Very Painful
Splenic flexure syndrome refers to the trapping of gas at the splenic flexure causing distension and bloating.

Anal Sphincter Dysfunction
Constipation
I suffer extreme bouts of Constipation. Daily doses of Movicol and Normacol.

Neuropathic Pain
Damaged Nerves
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.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Cause of Constipation
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.

Undiagnosed Illness

Laparoscopy

After the long wait I was excited but a little scared too, it was my first operation ever.

Because of my symptoms I still thought perhaps I was pregnant, just wasn't showing on the ultrasound, and when your ill and can't find out why, I think from my research most people get online searching for answers.

I read alot of stories about women who were pregnant although no trace of it found on tests, so a little bit inside of me thought, maybe, just maybe I am, this operation will definitely pick it up .

Laparoscopy Prep

I was booked in at 7am so up extremely early to travel 2 hours to Sydney. Feeling rather ill from the fasting and bowel prep ( what an awful experience that is) the illness you feel from not eating and the toilet issues I would describe as somewhat similar to being hang over.

Funny Moments

It was rather funny looking back........

When I awoke from the operation, mum and my fiancée sitting in my room, I was still feeling groggy I didn't hear it but the nurse came in and said to mum "Oh just wait a moment and I will get the Mid Wife lol. Mum almost fell off the chair, and I can just imagine the look on my fiancée's face. The nurse had the wrong patient sheet, it was the patient in the next room.

Laparoscopy Results

I'd had a Burst Appendix

That was bound in adhesions, apparently very unpleasant, he removed it all. Also Endometriosis which was lasered, and some more adhesions around my bowel, from my research and from what Docotrs have told me adhesions usually only form after you've had an operation.

I was discharged after two days, the recover was not too bad, the only complaint was the gas pain, from the dioxide used to pump the stomach. Now that's painful.

The Suffering Continues

Having suffered for so long, so many tests and emergency visits I was shocked the Burst Appendix had not been picked up. I didn't know alot about this body part before hand but was told I could have died. The Adhesions masked the problem on ultrasound (or the sonographers were not very good sonographers) because it baffles me how this was not picked up. More anger and frustration, I still had the chronic pain under the Left Rib Cage perhaps my body just needed time to recover and all would be well.

The Story Continues ....... If you would like to continue reading:

read my story

I hope you visit my Undiagnosed Illness Forum If you have any suggestion's or comments I would love to hear from you.

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Medical Tests So Far

I've had some of these procedures more then once

Ultrasound

CT Scan

MRI

X-Ray

Colonoscopy

Gastroscopy

Sigmoidscopy

Hida Scan

Barium Meal

Laparoscopy

Ultrasound

I know alot of people can relate. I hope you all have close families because they really do make a difference.

Exhausted From Pain

It's been 3 years and 4 months, and yep still undiagnosed. I'm extremely exhausted.

Exhausted

Journal

This website is meant to be therapeutic.. A place for me to vent and express my feelings. Somedays I find it frustrating because it brings back memories when doctor's gave up, saying it was all in my head, nothing wrong with me, yet I pushed on with different doctor's and GUESS WHAT ? they found more medical conditions!

Pain....Pain...Pain....Pain.....