| 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.
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. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Living With an Undiagnosed Illness
Gastroenterologist
Appointment with Third Gastroenterologist
The third Gastroenterologist was terrific, the first time I recall ever having a
thorough psychical examination. This time someone thought to look at my spine and ribs!.
He definitely thought this was a non Gastroenterologist issue, and I needed to have x-rays on my rib cage.
The x-ray was negative aaarrrggggggg how frustrating.
Gastroenterologist
When I returned to the Gastroenterologist
for results, even though the x-ray was negative he still thought from the psychical exam that it was spine or rib
related and recommended I find another Doctor (GP) to look into this area, as no
one had even thought about the spine, I didn't either, I thought something
inside my stomach was annoying the rib cage, making it very tender and sore to
touch.
Back To My Doctor
I came out of that appointment very enthused, why didn't I think about that, and very happy the third Gastroenterologist picked this up.
Even though I had no faith in my very first Doctor, she was
always willing to refer me for anything I asked, so I ventured back with the
report from the third Gastroenterologist regarding the
rib/spine potential problem. After all these Doctors, specialist etc I didn't want to relay all
this info to another so stuck with my first Doctor, she knew the
background info, and I really couldn't face telling the whole
story over and over again.
Test Results
I was referred for a CT scan, not long to wait for this
test, but you will never guess what....... the results were again NEGATIVE,
arrrrrgggggg so frustrated.
The Doctor just shook her head and said I really don't know
what is causing the pain. I was just so upset, how can the test be negative when you
can see this odd lump under my rib, my stomach is the size of a pregnant women
and I'm in so much pain, why why can't they pick something up.
Over the coming months, I stayed home alot, I slept alot, and
yes I was depressed to some degree I don't deny that, but 90% was FRUSTRATION,
ANGER, ANNOYANCE, and some more ANGER.
Alternative Treatments
I made an appointment with a Herbalist, perhaps he could help me.
The Story Continues .......
If you would like to continue reading:
Herbalist
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
|
