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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!
My sister in law was told her pain wasn't her appendix and it was.You might get a second opinion on the appendix. But alternatively, later she had many surgeries too and lots of adhesions. She had peripheral neruopathy from it and coudln't eat got depressed etc. She was on morphine. Finally, they put her on antidepressants plus a couple of nerve drugs. Have you tried things like Lyrica and such? As perhaps you have similar symptoms. Have you been to a pain doc? You need to get relief and eat. So, you need something now. Getting diagnosed is important if you can too. I wouldn't go for more surgery unless they know for sure that is what is going on.
hope you get relief soon. Try Ensure to help get some nutrients if you can keep it down.
mkh9
hope you get relief soon. Try Ensure to help get some nutrients if you can keep it down.
mkh9
Yes, I have had a colonoscopy (done by the colon rectal surgeon who did the rectopexy) and he said everything looked fine. I have constipation but the pain did not go away with the prep and he did not find scar tissue in my colon (he thought that maybe I had scar tissue buildup in my colon rectal area from the surgery, but did not find any). I will check out the link above. Thank you!
Have you had a colonoscopy? Could they get the scope through? Did you have relief of pain with the prep? Do you think the pain is coming from constipation, probably of an obstructive cause from scar tissue?
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=58785&pf=3&page=1
If you have adhesions, it is true that doctors will be hesitant to cut you further for fear you will just get more adhesions, and now these will be his fault. The above article is good. It says some adhesions go away on their own.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=58785&pf=3&page=1
If you have adhesions, it is true that doctors will be hesitant to cut you further for fear you will just get more adhesions, and now these will be his fault. The above article is good. It says some adhesions go away on their own.
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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