Undiagnosed Illness - Waiting For Bowel Resection

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

Waiting For Bowel Resection

While waiting for the operation for bowel resection I kept in contact with the surgeon who performed my gallbladder operation. He would call on occasions to see how I was doing. He could see my distended stomach, and the lump on the left hand side and was concerned. He said my new Doctor would be really helpful, just give it a bit more time.

Bowel ReSection

When I told him about my pending bowel resection operation and the two surgeons involved he was not impressed, they all knew one another. He said this was a rather extreme measure to take, and did I fully comprehend what it all meant. I just wanted to get rid of this pain and willing to do anything.

Doctor's Conflict

We chatted about previous findings, the fact the gyno who did my first laparoscopy didn't follow up with why the adhesions had formed in the first place, the fact I had already had a colonoscopy and for the most part that was all ok. He said there are numerous tests, procedures that could be performed before such drastic measures of bowel re-section were performed and I should really think this out. The fact no one had been able to help me so far, and the fact no one else had mentioned other procedures I was going ahead with the bowel resection.

When the surgeon who performed my gallbladder operation called a few weeks later to see what I had decided he was extremely concerned. I said I had exhausted all measures, no one has mentioned these other tests, so what am I meant to do?

He called a few times and in the end, despite the code of ethics, said the surgeon who is to perform the bowel resection and the gyno operating on the edno were unprofessional and just after money, the operation was just an extravaganza. He worked in the same hospital with them and I should not go through with it, they just want the money they are not at all interested in finding out what is causing all my health concerns.

My mind was racing, what if he was right?. What if I end up with a permanent coloscopy bag, or my bowel suffers more problems due to this surgery. In the end I thought I would chop off my leg to rid this pain once and for all, so I went through with the operation.

Time For The Bowel Resection

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

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.