I waited a few months, the idea of anyone finally diagnosing me didn't seem possible. I took a leave of absence from work and was home bound for some time as the pain limited my activities. Over the next few months I developed more pain areas, the right side just under the rib cage became tender and felt bruised. When the pain hit I felt like I was having a heart attack. Of a night I would be woken up from breathing trouble, and I put it down to lying on my stomach too much and the pressure on the ribs, perhaps lack of blood supply, really not sure, your mind races.  

Sometimes when the pain hit I would almost black out, I'm really not sure why but I have come to the conclusion that it's my bodies way of tolerating the pain. I made appointments with my doctor on occasions explaining all the new symptoms, only to be told, it must be another symptom of my undiagnosed illness, so nothing was done for me.

My stomach remained the same, distended and pregnant looking, although over the months it didn't balloon any further, stayed the same shape.  Having this new right sided pain was a concern for me, it was like my whole body was slowly dying, from the appendix, pelvis, gallbladder, perhaps now my liver was having trouble. So I pushed the subject with my Doctor, and after a while he came to the conclusion I may have a condition called Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, so I was referred for a Hida scan.  

The specialist at this clinic was lovely. I was given I think it was three Hida Scan tests, I don't recall exactly but the diagnoses from this specialist was exactly as my Doctor had mentioned, Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction.  

My doctor was rather pleased that he got something right. After all this time it was the only thing he picked up on so I was then referred to a specialist in Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction to discuss treatment. This specialist wasn't impressed, he said a Hida Scan is useless for picking up this condition, and full stop I DON'T HAVE SPHINCTER OF ODDI DSYFUNCTION, my pain is all in my head. He gave me a handful of NEXIUM and send me on my way...........

I felt so much frustration and anger

Looking back at my previous tests, the CT scan never picked up the sludge surrounding my gallbladder, yet when I made an appointment with a General Surgeon he noted the problem and I was booked in for surgery, which found I had an inflamed gallbladder, and as he picked up on the CT scan, sludge surround it, so I was really annoyed at how the previous CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, etc didn't show anything, so depending on which specialist I saw, they picked something unusual on the tests. The gyno I seen in Sydney, despite nothing showing on previous ultrasounds, decided to perform another one and he noted something unusual.

In my opinion, it really does depend what specialist you see and how much they are interested in helping you. Because the specialist for Sphincter of Oddi was arrogant, rude and mean.