Undiagnosed Illness - Hospital Emergency Visits

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

I continue to suffer, and my stomach continues to grow. My career suffers, I started taking a few sickies here and there. I'm sure my co-workers on occasions thought I was faking it (if only people knew how much pain I was going through). My boss at that time (she has now retired)was and is to this day a true gem, very understanding, I have never in my life had such a magnificent boss, and although she is no longer my boss I try to keep in contact. (I feel guilty about not seeing her so much now) it's just so hard to function in life when so much pain stops you from having a life.

First Hostipal Emergency Visit

It was roughly 2am the first time I decided enough's enough, the Doctor and Gastroenterologist couldn't help (confused myself about what it was) I couldn't handle this pain anymore.................

Undiagnosed Illness Continues We arrive at emergency and I was seen to quickly, they thought maybe my appendix, but my pain was left sided, and according to the doctor appendix pain is right sided (I have since found out that not all appendix pain is right sided.

The Doctor on duty mentioned my ovaries, they should to be checked more thoroughly, I gave him the story of my first Doctor and Gastroenterologist visits. Emergency sent me home with 4 Mersyndol (basically panadol) and advised me to go back to my Doctor for further follow up.

The Drugs Don't Work

Mersyndol did nothing, I suffered terribly that night, pain hit 50 x worst then before, and all I could do was put up with it.

Family Support I phoned my parents when we got home, and mum was extremely mad for not calling her, but I didn't want to wake her up with a call at 2am. Since that time, anything that happened, no matter what hour of the day I was to call MY PARENTS !

My family have been the greatest support through my illness, and I'm so thankful and lucky to have such a loving, caring and supportive family.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

My boss at the time consulted her very old Family Doctor, gave him the run down of my problems, even though he had never met or examined me he told my boss I had all signs of Ovarian Cancer....... The Story Continues ....... If you would like to continue reading: Ovarian Cancer

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.