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Lower Right Abdominal Pain, Back Pain and Nausea. Adhesions?
Hello, I am a 41 year old female and I am looking and searching for answers and came across this forum that I am hoping someone can help or provide advice.
I have had several surgeries over the past few years - c-section (1997), gallbladder removal and hysterectomy (2008)and then last year (Dec 2010) a resection rectopexy for rectal prolapse.
Over the last few months, I have been developing pain in my right lower abdomen. Over the last two months, it has become extremely severe and debilitating. It also goes around to my lower back. I have urine retention problems (I am seeing an urologist and until my urodynamics test, have to self cather myself 4-6X/day). But, this does NOT relieve the pain - unusually, it seems to bring it on more.
I believe that my pain is due to scar tissue build up and adhesions.
When I first had the pain, I went to my OB and he did a pelvic exam and ultrasound and said all was good with my ovaries. Then, I went to my internist who thought it might be appendicitis so took a trip to the ER to find it was not appendicitis. The cat scan showed some minor cysts on my kidneys, but then also a "mixed density bilobed structure in the right lower quadrant) - my internist said that basically means an unidentifiable mass or blur of "something". After talking further, he referred me to a general surgeon. I saw the surgen today to discuss laparoscopic surgery, but he seems very hesitant.
I am in such pain and distress that I have not been able to work (I am now out on disability as of this week). I cannot eat (causes too much pain and I have lost over 15 pounds over the past month) and I was in the ER last week because the pain was so bad. I am also very nauseous.
How can I convince the surgeon to do the laparoscopic - I am certain it is scar tissue (when I had my hysterectomy, my gynecologist saw a lot of scar tissue that he says he removed some from my c-section with my first child).
I have had issues (digestive) for the last 5 years where doctors told me I had IBS, eat more fiber, etc., and that I would be okay to find out that I had a gallbladder disfunction and then the prolapse. I have had every test known to man (cat scan, mri, ultrasound, xray, bloodwork, urinalysis, proctogram, cystoscopy, small bowel series) and cannot go on like this.
The surgeon seemed hesitant because he said that if I had scar tissue or adhesions, that my intestines would be blocked, but from what I have read, that is not necessarily the case. Adhesions can cause intenstinal blockage, but not in all cases, correct? My other symptoms seem to point me back to scar tissue buildup and adhesions from my rectopexy (it was done robotically, but the surgical incisions are quite large and my pain is where the incisions are).
Your advice or suggestions are appreciated very much!
I have had several surgeries over the past few years - c-section (1997), gallbladder removal and hysterectomy (2008)and then last year (Dec 2010) a resection rectopexy for rectal prolapse.
Over the last few months, I have been developing pain in my right lower abdomen. Over the last two months, it has become extremely severe and debilitating. It also goes around to my lower back. I have urine retention problems (I am seeing an urologist and until my urodynamics test, have to self cather myself 4-6X/day). But, this does NOT relieve the pain - unusually, it seems to bring it on more.
I believe that my pain is due to scar tissue build up and adhesions.
When I first had the pain, I went to my OB and he did a pelvic exam and ultrasound and said all was good with my ovaries. Then, I went to my internist who thought it might be appendicitis so took a trip to the ER to find it was not appendicitis. The cat scan showed some minor cysts on my kidneys, but then also a "mixed density bilobed structure in the right lower quadrant) - my internist said that basically means an unidentifiable mass or blur of "something". After talking further, he referred me to a general surgeon. I saw the surgen today to discuss laparoscopic surgery, but he seems very hesitant.
I am in such pain and distress that I have not been able to work (I am now out on disability as of this week). I cannot eat (causes too much pain and I have lost over 15 pounds over the past month) and I was in the ER last week because the pain was so bad. I am also very nauseous.
How can I convince the surgeon to do the laparoscopic - I am certain it is scar tissue (when I had my hysterectomy, my gynecologist saw a lot of scar tissue that he says he removed some from my c-section with my first child).
I have had issues (digestive) for the last 5 years where doctors told me I had IBS, eat more fiber, etc., and that I would be okay to find out that I had a gallbladder disfunction and then the prolapse. I have had every test known to man (cat scan, mri, ultrasound, xray, bloodwork, urinalysis, proctogram, cystoscopy, small bowel series) and cannot go on like this.
The surgeon seemed hesitant because he said that if I had scar tissue or adhesions, that my intestines would be blocked, but from what I have read, that is not necessarily the case. Adhesions can cause intenstinal blockage, but not in all cases, correct? My other symptoms seem to point me back to scar tissue buildup and adhesions from my rectopexy (it was done robotically, but the surgical incisions are quite large and my pain is where the incisions are).
Your advice or suggestions are appreciated very much!
Hello all. An update. I had laparascopic exploratory surgery this past Monday and the surgeon DID find an issue with my appendix and my intestine. My appendix was being elongated by scar tissue and my intestines were kinked up so she removed my appendix and cut out and reattached a section of my intestines. Recovering now so don't know for sure if this will alleviate my pain but keeping my fingers crossed. Thank you all for your advice and kind words!
Thank you - and NO worries about the double posting at all. Your information is SO MUCH appreciated.
Dont understand this double post issue im hving, must be my cell, 4gv please, goina try to figure out wht the deal is. Sorry
Blockage from the adhesions is quite possible. Ive had 3 stomach surgeries, the first leaving major scar, looked liked frankenstien stomach, and of course developed masive amts of adhesions at incision site that did have my..., just asked my husband, we both cant recall, been so long ago, im sorry sweetie, but we r thinkin they hd my sml intestine bound up and had attached themselves to , hubby jst said sml intestine as well as binding it up, then i got sepsis & dam* near died, not a good time in my life, in ccu for almost 3 weeks. Do be dilligent about this and get some answers. If u hv to change drs, then do so & take your records with you! Feel better and dont give up! Adhesions can cause many problems and pain!
Blockage from the adhesions is quite possible. Ive had 3 stomach surgeries, the first leaving major scar, looked liked frankenstien stomach, and of course developed masive amts of adhesions at incision site that did have my..., just asked my husband, we both cant recall, been so long ago, im sorry sweetie, but we r thinkin they hd my sml intestine bound up and had attached themselves to , hubby jst said sml intestine as well as binding it up, then i got sepsis & dam* near died, not a good time in my life, in ccu for almost 3 weeks. Do be dilligent about this and get some answers. If u hv to change drs, then do so & take your records with you! Feel better and dont give up! Adhesions can cause many problems and pain!
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http://www.endometriosisassn.org/
Just because you have had a hysterectomy does not mean that you do not have any endo:
http://www.vitalhealth.com/patient-physician-resources/dr-cook/recurrent-endometriosis-after-TAH.php
Also if you are in Illinois I recommend going to
http://www.surgery4women.com/home
Also if you are anywhere near these doctors they are excellent:
http://www.nezhat.com/patients_myths.html
(laparoscopy myths this should help you with your argument)
http://www.nezhat.com/about_us_farr.html
http://www.nezhat.org/who/drs_cam_nezhat.html
http://www.nezhat.com/about_us_ceana.html
(They are all in different states)
I hope this helps,
achilles2