Undiagnosed Illness

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

Herbalist

New line of treatment

The Herbalist is such a lovely man, I'm impressed straight away with the compassion he shows. Iridology check, inflammation and congestion, and lymph problems showed up. I was prescribed some herbs, and a few treatments of bowen therapy which I thoroughly enjoyed. The herbs helped to some degree, but after all the doctors/specialist I had seen funds were extremely low and I couldn't afford to continue with the treatment.

Pain and Suffering

Pain, frustration, annoyed, not sleeping, not living life, work suffering. More months had passed, family and my fianc�e were such great support.

It was roughly 3am, the pain just under my left rib felt like it was going to explode, I remember getting out of bed and pacing the lounge room floor for some time, the pain killers I had did nothing, I had a shower, praying the warmth would help, I think my body went into shock, the pain was unbearable, I was white as a ghost so my fianc�e took me to emergency once again.

Emergency

I'd relayed the whole story to the Doctor on duty, he couldn't work it out, perhaps my ovaries again, but you wouldn't think the pain would be so high up. I demanded he refer me to a General Surgeon, I wanted to be cut open and explored, I didn't care, just cut me open and take a better look inside. I was given some medication from emergency, I don't recall what it was but when I got home I slept most the day, so it was very effective. The General Surgeon took some time to get into. Time frame roughly 2 months, there was nothing I could do in the meanwhile but put up with the pain, most days the pain was 7 out of 10 on occasion it hit way above the 10 barrier, but what else could I do, Another doctor?

Infrared Imaging Mum noticed a sign on the local chiropractic centre Infrared Imaging, which read are you having trouble getting a diagnosis. After doing some research on infrared imaging I decided what the heck. The results showed lots of inflammation, they asked if I had my appendix checked, which I already had taken out many months ago, this area showed lots of inflammation. The area under my left rib was the worse, extremely inflammed. I couldn't find a doctor/specialist who was that interested in them, they read the report and images but that was as far as it went.

So although the infrared image people were convinced something underlining was going on, having this done was a waste of money (nothing against infrared) was very interesting, and I experienced pain in the areas which showed inflammation, but no good if you have no one to follow up with the results.

Time for General Surgeon Appointment

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

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.