Undiagnosed Illness - Gallbladder Operation

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

Gallbladder Operation

Surgery Finally

I was booked in at 7am, get to the hospital 1 hour early for preparations. Mum and my younger sister Robyn came with me.

Waiting For Surgery

Preparation room, lying on the bed waiting to be called by the nurse for prep. All over and done with pretty quick. Back to bed wait to be called for surgery waiting and waiting, Mum and Robyn had left by this stage, arrived back in three hours only to find me having a nap on the bed, still waiting to be called. You would think I would have been stressed waiting around but I was so calm, able to have a sleep even.

Gallbladder Operation

Finally around 4 pm I was taken in for surgery a few issues came up so I was put on hold but now it's my turn. I awake from surgery, feeling a little tender as to be expected, chat with family and a few other visitors. The general surgeon arrives for a chat on the findings.

I had my gallbladder removed, extremely inflamed but no stones. There were adhesions over the liver bed which were removed.

Surgery Results

While I found the inflamed gallbladder very interesting, also the fact this was not picked up by other doctors/specialist etc, it was only a few hours in recovery but I said to him, I'm still not fixed, perhaps too early after surgery to say this but I still had the same feeling, pain under the left rib, I just knew the gallbladder was not the cause. The surgeon just gave me a cheeky grin and said give it time, you've just came out of surgery, it might take weeks, or perhaps a few months to get back to normal. The past year and a half were so disheartening, I just knew I was still not fixed, this wasn't the correct diagnoses. I recovered well from this surgery, only a tiny scar. As mentioned previously I will post all images, results etc at a later date. I need to get the story written first.

The after operation check up all ok, but I complained I was still suffering the same type of pain and discomfort as I did before surgery, the gallbladder wasn't an issue for me, there was no difference in pain. I agreed I perhaps needed more time to heal so more time relaxing, reading, being a home body, not enjoying life much and no social life. A few months later, I returned to the general surgeon hoping for more follow up tests, operations, something.

Being a general surgeon I understood he couldn't help the way I needed him too. But he seemed to believe everything I said, and agreed my stomach was distended, and could see the odd lump under my left rib. He was terrific, mentioned a Doctor (GP) that would investigate the whole saga, so that was a step forward. In the meanwhile he referred me to have an MRI of my spine.

Time for a New Doctor

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

read my story

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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.....