lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
Well folks, I really feel like you guys are going to get tired of my drama, but after bouncing around a couple of emergency rooms last fall, then having a sigmoid and stomach scoping, I was diagnosed with gastritis and swollen bowel of no known reason. Of course, they neglected to scope the entire colon as this would have been the thorough thing to do.
Then, even after being examined by my GYN and having an ultrasound, no one noticed I was double prolapsed. Not even my own self, being in horrible pain and on morphine, realized I had a problem down there.
Then in December my lyme doc in LA said my back pain had to be a tissue problem because my x-ray was normal. For some reason, by brain started spinning and I called my GYN. Yes, she determined I was prolapsed, both bowel and uterus.
I was scheduled for surgery in February, and went through a routine cardiac work up, I thought. They did a chemical stress test which I was told I failed miserably and needed a stent.
That meant, I was told, no other surgery for at least six months. Tears like Niagra Falls fell on the doctor's table. He looked at the ground.
I went in two days later for the angioplasty, including the legs, and was pronounced clean as a whistle, except he snagged a nerve when sewing me up so I was on crutches for 8 days after.
Rescheduled female surgery. Come out of surgery on February 21st. Horrible pain and was in I.C.U. for pain control for 24 hours.
Arrived home 3 days later and realized during my shower that I was still prolapsed. Yes, the doctor had repaired my BLADDER and removed the uterus. She had told my husband the bowel looked o.k. to her.
Returned for my two week follow-up and reported being prolapsed. She nearly dropped her teeth. Even my husband was surprised how shocked she was. So we need another surgery to fix that.
Returned home for the next four weeks only to have pain increase daily in the area I believe is appendics and gallbladder.
Suffering and crying again.
One week ago had an appointment with a general practitioner. I was a new patient. I met her. She struck me as local "Society." She wanted to know what I did for a living, and how long I had lived here.
Then she reported that lyme is just not found around here that much, and wanted to know if I tested positive on the lyme test. I responded that the tests are not all that accurate, but she interrupted my statement to ask again, pointedly, if I tested positive. I told her yes, period.
All of this had nothing to do with why I came to see her. I explained then that my lower left abdomin and back were in sever pain, and just under my right rib, and between my shoulder blades mostly on the right side. I explained that I was taking Lortab still post-surgery because of this abdominal pain.
She said she would do blood work to check organ functions. She sent in her nurse who drew blood and explained that their procedure would be to mail the blood work results to me...no need to schedule a follow up.
I left completely abandoned.
My husband followed that up by contacting a surgeon and making me an appointment. I had that appointment this week Tuesday. I made sure NOT to take the Lortab so this doctor could see me "in the raw," pain and all.
Could barely talk through the pain and tears. Explained my entire ordeal since last September, including each way that the medical community let me down. Explained the current pain on the right side that was making my life miserable.
Oh yes, forgot to mention I saw a pulmonary doc just before the hysterectomy to make sure the pain between the shoulder blades was not lung. Didn't even think about the gall bladder at that time. Lungs all clear.
So, Surgeon I saw earlier this week said we would "kick off" our exploration with an ultrasound. I was thoroughly expecting gall stones with this kind of pain.
Yesterday I had a first appointment with a woman that practices hydrotherapy for the colon. You actually get on a machine and warm water is pulsed into the colon for an hour. She recommends I do this for ten sessions to completely clean and restore the colon, and hopefully reverse any brewing emergencies.
I also began yesterday the program for gall bladder/liver cleanse. I'm starving! I tried tonight for the first time to drink the epsom salt water and it made me so sick to my stomach I don't know if I will be able to do the olive oil beverage at bedtime. Still have one more day of this three day stuff.
Had the ultrasound this morning, and technician saw no stones, gall bladder and all other visible organs look completely normal. How frustrating for me. Once again, why am I in horrible pain.
She was not able to see the appendics on her scan.
I have a follow up NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY with the surgeon, and then with my GYN.
Somebody either help me or shoot me. I'm trying to help myself. I am in pain, now very sick to my stomach, hungry, and have no clue yet what is wrong.
Do I have some undetected cancer?
I had a CT scan last October. Need one again but insurance is giving me trouble to get it approved. Never had an MRI, but you would wonder why some doctor has not done it yet considering no one can figure me out.
Please someone send me a flotation device.
I did a search on the medical forum here to read everything posted on gallbladder. Found some good stuff, but mostly what I had unearthed already. I thank all of you that contributed to those discussions.
S.O.S.
Lymewreck in Alabama
Posts: 1032 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Wow, sorry you're going through so much ... I used to be a trained lifeguared, so a personal flotation device is coming your way!
Lower left abdomen, isn't that the descending colon? Swollen bowel -- did they check for bowel problems like Crohn's? I assume that with all the water, it's not something as simple as constipation.
My GI issues are all gluten related, of course, the docs didn't figure that out, I did, just like the Lyme! My gluten pain sometimes is the kind where you have to hold your stomach and cry, so it's very bad, it's usually under my left rib. I don't know if that sounds familiar to you at all.
Just brainstorming ... I really don't know. I hope you feel better soon ... and be watching for that PFD.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Lymewreck,
Words cannot express how sorry I am for your ordeal.
I've had a few email correspondences with another Lyme patient on another forum. She and I share a history of abdominal pain, etc.
Anyway, she mentioned that the HIDA scan for the gallbladder determined that her gallbladder was emptying at a fraction of the normal capacity. When she had her gallbladder out, there were a lot of abnormalities found.
She mentioned this for my benefit because every regular gallbladder scan she had, and that I've had has been normal. But I've never had a HIDA.
I know others on Lymenet have been through the HIDA scan. They will have more knowledge than I do.
If your situation is being compounded by your gallbladder, hopefully they will chime in. Or do a search for HIDA if you feel well enough.
Are you sure you are up to detoxing with all this pain? I can't - it makes everything worse for me.
Maybe you need to be gentle with your body right now.
You will be in my prayers.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
So sorry to hear that you are feeling pain like that.
Sounds like you need an advocate with you at all doctor's visits. How about pressuring that surgeon who made the mistake to provide an MRI? An MRI is a good idea, given your symptoms. Take care and I hope that you will be feeling better soon.
I am really really sorry to hear that you are being put through the wringer!!! That is really awful.
Upper right quadrant pain and pain behind the right shoulderblade -- I have often seen that to describe liver/gallbladder pain. I have been dealing with this myself lately.
I've done many many liver flushes but have not done one for 2 years because they are soooooo unpleasant (as you know). I just did one a few days ago and it really seemed to help even though I hated every second of it. I noticed this time I got out a lot of sludge which I think is a lot of residual pill filler stuff that's been building up the past couple of years since I started treatment..
It is not surprising that you had an ultrasound and that no stones showed up in your gallbladder. I think if I remember correcly only calcified stones will show on ultrasound, but most stones are not calcified so they will not show up. Also there are many stones in the liver itself, not just the gallbladder.
Good luck with your flush and everything else. I also had a series of colonics which were very hard on my system at first, but gradually got easier to do.
Take care,
Alison
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The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Hi lymewreck, I'm sorry as well to hear of what you're going through. I can totally understand the pain of the gallbladder/liver area as well. Have been going through it myself for 2 years.
I did everything you did...MRI, ultrasound(s), xrays, coloscopy, etc...heard everything from gas, IBS, colitis, to ulcers. I think the only left for them to say was gremlins, but the duck couldn't find the matching diagnostic code for that so I was saved from that...though I'm sure it's on my charts if I look hard enough.
What helped my find out what the problem was just plain being persistant like you're doing (and what every lymie is...) and like you're hearing...finding an advocate.
For me, it was going to a great ND and explaining what was happening...after telling her i KNOW this has got to be my gallbladder due to the SAME pain, in the SAME areas, ALL the time (upper right quadrant, btw shoulder blades, near the right side, right side stomach bloated and painful when pressed)...also said that many lyme patients for some reason have issues with their gallbladders and I just have a gut feeling (no pun...) that that's what was happening with me.
She saw there had never been any stones...only slight sludging, and asked was a HIDA scan ever suggested/ordered to see about how the gb was actually functioning. I told her no, and within 2 days I was having one done, within 4 days, I had an answer. The gb was only contracting at less than 20%, making it hard to extract any bile out on it's own.
I don't know if this is what's happening with you...only that you sound very similiar to me with your ducks and gb tests. I think the HIDA scan would be a option to consider.
It's very easy, rather painless (there is an injection involved...but not bad) and then you basically just have to lie down while they perform the procedure. They even had cable tv for me to watch while I did mine..
Hopefully, this will give you some answers you need. But keep doing what you're doing...speak up, be pushy, be insistent, listen to your instincts. And just as important, like the others have offered...find an advocate, a ND that can order tests helps.
As for the colonics, I have to use them every week...my bowels are a problem as well. The colonics are great for helping the body function in getting the toxins/waste out...but you do have to be gentle here as well.
I know with me, they irritate the heck out of my liver/gb sometimes due to not only stimulating those organs and releasing bile, but the procedure can move the bowel area around those "sore" spots. Hot packs help alot for me when that happens.
Right now, I know I have to have my gb removed. The pain is getting to that "point"...I'm just trying to get my immune system up as well as being able to sleep more than 4 hours. Still haven't figured how to get around that.
Hoped this helped some...just wanted you to know there's others out here that share in what you're going through. You are showing such courage and strength in dealing with all this...don't give up, you're going to find your answers.
Health and healing, JavaBeing
Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have had several of your problems,though they were spread out more over time. You have had way too much to deal with all at once.
I also was sure my recent abdominal agony was from my gallbladder,and even posted here asking how to convince the doc to take my GB out! My Ultrasound and HIDA were both normal, twice in 3 years.
So, I just had an EGD 4 days ago (Upper gastric endoscopy) and lo and behold, it turns out I have gastritis, duodenitis with bleeding, and Barrett's esophagitis, with possible atrophic gastritis.
There is a lesson here. Taking digestive enzymes with meals has seemed to cure my GERD for a whole decade now, but the doctor told me it just fixed the symptoms. The disease still progresses silently!
So, despite the upper right quadrant abdominal pain, with the radiation of pain to the back and the armpit and shoulder pain, it was not my gallbladder after all, or at least not only my GB (I am still waiting for bile microscopy results on the GB to see if I have cholesterol crystals in my bile,a sure sign of gallstones).
I agree a HIDA scan should be next, but if that is normal, an EGD might be a good idea. The EGD is not painful, since they almost knock you out for it, and give you drugs that make you forget. It would show any problems in your stomach or the upper part of the bowel or esophagus. They told me problems in the duodenum can cause the same symptoms as gallbladder.
I hope you find an answer soon. I am sitting up here typing at 4 am because my reflux is so bad I can't lie down, even though they put me on Zantac, so I empathize with you and am praying you will get help soon.
Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
So sorry you are going thru this Hell. I am not a Dr but have had a few things go wrong myself.
The one the drs could not find was a para esophageal hernia. I had major back pain and right side stomach pain, including the side becoming sore and distended.
This is caused by heavy lifting and the stomach rips thru the diaphragm. I also had a lot of acid reflux, etc.
A couple of years earlier, I had an emergency hysterectomy due to major bleeding with fibroids. Since things have shifted everywhere and now have the prolapsed issues and in need or more surgery.
The Dr said that once one part is removed, things tend to shift. It often happens.
But NO one says lyme or infections, well one but not someone that I respect anymore. So do not think that Lyme can cause all of this. Drs say my causes were from heavy lifting and pregnancy and labor strain that caused the need for C-sections.
Good luck. I am sure you are very frustrated and afraid. Many things can go wrong and not be cancer or life threatening. Try to keep as positive an outlook as possible thru the duck farms. lymemomtooo
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
O.K. I just read through all these posts. I am going to print them and reread and highlight stuff, as my brain cannot compute all this at once! :-)
Nevertheless, should anyone think of something else to add, please do so for each and every comment is indeed a flotation device. I'm sure you all know what I mean. You people are the only ones that know what this is like.
I should post a correction to my original post. I said in the original post "pain in the lower left side." That was wrong. I meant right side. Eventhough I proof read my post, I still missed that one. So sorry.
No, all the pain is on the right side.
AFter my first colonics treatment, the lower back pain that was only on the right side also entered the left low back. So I am afraid of further colonics, even though I am sure I am pretty toxic and need it done. What should I do?
I finished my second day on gallbladder/liver flush yesterday. It was the first night to drink the epsom salts, then pure lemon juice, and 15 minutes later the 6 oz. olive oil with two teaspoons lemon in it.
My daughter held my hand and pushed me on to get through it.
I immediately laid down on my right side, as instructed, and felt this incredible release in the gallbladder area.
This morning there was a reduction of gallbladder pain, and there appeared to be little 1/2 to 1 inch green "meteors" in the toilet. They were soft though. It that a gall stone?
Because I appeared to have benefit from this flush, I decided to persevere and do the third day on the flush. Last night I had decided that I can't go through another day, but this morning I re-commited myself to it.
Bowel/appendics pain the same.
mary
Posts: 1032 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
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Back pain -- hubby had normal xrays, but lumbar MRI showed 2 bulging discs. Insurance really fought hard and tried to deny MRI -- said it was only needed for people who had prior back surgery.
At least 2 neurologists and even a really good bodywork therapist didn't think the bulging discs were bad enough to be causing hubby's severe pain.
See the recent thread I wrote about the LCD spinal decompression -- traction seems to be helping reduce back pain.
In hubby's case, I am pretty sure the bulging discs may have been a factor in his paralytic ileus. Would definitely suggest you see a good chiropractor -- adjustments might benefit G.I. issues.
Be sure to read the article -- Bell's Palsy of the Gut.
Regarding angioplasty -- have you been tested for hypercoagulation? What about babesia? Either could be a factor in the cardiac stress test.
Hang in there. Things will surely start improving soon.
Are you being treated for Lyme and coinfections yet?
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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