Undiagnosed Illness - Laparoscopy

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.

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.

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. Sphincter of oddi

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.

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.

Mystery Diagnosis

Living With an 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, crazy thoughts run through your head !. You just need answers

I read a few 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. But why if I am pregnant is it causing so much pain ? ? ?

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 at the time........

When I woke from the operation, mum and my fianc�e 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 fianc�e'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

My apendix was bound in adhesions, apparently very unpleasant, so they were removed. Endometriosis was found and lasered, and some more adhesions around my bowel, from my research and from what my General Surgeon 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.

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. 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: Gynecologist

Medical Procedures

Colonic Transit Study

CT Scan /Abdominal / Pelvis

MRI / Chest / Spine

X-Ray Lungs

Colonoscopy

Gastroscopy

Sigmoidscopy

Bone Scan

Hida Scan

Barium Meal

Laparoscopy x 3

Abdominal Ultrasound

Pelvic Ultrasound

Abdominal Wall Ultrasound

Infrared Imaging

Cholecystectomy

Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)

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.

Undiagnosed Forum

Thank you to all members of the forum for your continued support, encouragement and guidance.

Mystery Diagnosis

Just over 5 years now and Im still undiagnosed. I'm extremely exhausted.