Looking for a digestive diagnosis without success

Posted , 3 users are following.

I came to the hospital where I still am on Wednesday (it is now Saturday) for what seemed like a textbook case of appendicitis. Symptoms included pain the right lower abdomen, well below the stomach, and bladder spasms when peeing (though no burning sensation when urinating or trouble emptying the bladder), as well as an elevated white blood cell count.

Although the appendectomy following a CT scan (with a false positive detecting a knot in the small intestine that turned out not to be there) on Thursday was a success, the resumption of solid food and termination of morphine and hydrocodone and antibiotics (the IV) on Friday resulted in the same pain returning with a vengeance, as if the surgery had never taken place. Additionally, the consumption of any food - clear liquids, solids or otherwise - caused severe bloating, cramping and pain in my stomach, in the same spot as before, and with more painful bladder spams than ever.

My hospital stay followed a trip overseas where I did not knowingly contract food poisoning, but that is the only unexplored explanation so far, along with gastritis and ulcers (though neither would cause lower abdominal pain and/or bladder spasms, presumably)

Ultrasounds of the kidney and bladder, a manual review during the laproscopy that preceded the appendectomy, multiple CT scans and blood tests have failed to confirm the source of the pain.

I have also not had a bowel movement in over 72 hours, though the pressure keeps building in my colon. I am able to release gas periodically though.

Any ideas on what else could be going on? To what extent would IBS (which I have) cause these lingering symptoms? The doctors at the emergency ward of the hospital are also stumped.

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • Posted

    hi samsam, having read what you said i wonder if you're chronically constipated as this can be terribly painful! it can really hurt if your bowel is very bunged up! has anyone offered you laxatives so you can make your bowel work? ask them if they can do this, i just think it's an idea. they may have overlooked the obvious. it could be muscular and they may cause all the pain too. just simple things. if you had food poisoning that could explain all the pain but don't you think you would have been ill much quicker? mention these things and see what they say.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.