Dear folks,
This may be kind of out of place but I know there are a number of medical personnel who post here and I am interested in their perspectives. No, I'm not asking for medical advice and, yes, I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist whom I know on the 22nd.
Here's the story. I've been having constant right side abdominal pain and other GI symptoms most of the time for about a year. Also, about a year ago I spoke with my PCP about having a sensation of breathlessness. I've had x-rays, a CT, an echocardiogram and recently, an upper GI follow-through. All the findings have been basically negative although the echo showed mild regurgitation in three valves. Both my PCP and a cardiologist said that the amount of regurgitation is not sufficient to cause symptoms. I have thought that my abdominal symptoms have been due to adhesions from two previous abdominal surgeries and that I need to do more cardio to improve my breathing. I previously had similar GI symptoms, after a laparascopic Nissen fundoplication (anti-reflux surgery) which were relieved entirely for five years by a lysis of adhesions. Despite my history of adhesions, which tend to recur and my history of having similar symptoms relieved by lysis of adhesions, no one has been willing to take a look, absents some clear radiographic findings (which, of course won't reveal adhesions unless there is an acute obstruction).
However, the recent upper GI follow through did reveal that I have a "large" hiatal hernia and that the terminal ileum "is of usual appearance." This is where it might start to get a bit interesting. in 2000, when I was getting my workup that eventually led to the lysis of adhesions, I had two different upper GI tests involving contrast (barium?) and two different radiologists described the cecum as "higher than normal in the right upper quadrant" and "just above the level of the right iliac crest." Is sounds like it has been visualized in at least two, and possibly three, different locations. It's not supposed to do that as normal anatomy has it attached to the abdominal wall. I'm wondering whether, reviewd in series, these studies reveal a mobile cecum, which could further explain my symptoms which closely match those of mobile cecum syndrome.
So, no one has been willing to go in after adhesions (and I understand that surgery CAUSES adhesions although I had a good result before) and I remain uncomfortable and inconvenienced most of the time. However, breathlessness and swallowing problems (which I also have if I eat other than slowly) are symptoms of hiatial hernia that often justify surgical intervention as might a mobile cecum. I don't WANT surgery but do want to be able to exercise vigorously and not have to be constantly running to the bathroom. All of this adds up to an exercise problem, a hygiene problem, a pain problem, an outdoor activities problem, and a travel problem. I'm almost fifty-eight and did not suddenly develop IBS (I'm bored and stumped).
I'll stop except to pose my questions which are: What does this sound like and how likely is it that surgery is in my near future? Thanks.
Dave
This may be kind of out of place but I know there are a number of medical personnel who post here and I am interested in their perspectives. No, I'm not asking for medical advice and, yes, I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist whom I know on the 22nd.
Here's the story. I've been having constant right side abdominal pain and other GI symptoms most of the time for about a year. Also, about a year ago I spoke with my PCP about having a sensation of breathlessness. I've had x-rays, a CT, an echocardiogram and recently, an upper GI follow-through. All the findings have been basically negative although the echo showed mild regurgitation in three valves. Both my PCP and a cardiologist said that the amount of regurgitation is not sufficient to cause symptoms. I have thought that my abdominal symptoms have been due to adhesions from two previous abdominal surgeries and that I need to do more cardio to improve my breathing. I previously had similar GI symptoms, after a laparascopic Nissen fundoplication (anti-reflux surgery) which were relieved entirely for five years by a lysis of adhesions. Despite my history of adhesions, which tend to recur and my history of having similar symptoms relieved by lysis of adhesions, no one has been willing to take a look, absents some clear radiographic findings (which, of course won't reveal adhesions unless there is an acute obstruction).
However, the recent upper GI follow through did reveal that I have a "large" hiatal hernia and that the terminal ileum "is of usual appearance." This is where it might start to get a bit interesting. in 2000, when I was getting my workup that eventually led to the lysis of adhesions, I had two different upper GI tests involving contrast (barium?) and two different radiologists described the cecum as "higher than normal in the right upper quadrant" and "just above the level of the right iliac crest." Is sounds like it has been visualized in at least two, and possibly three, different locations. It's not supposed to do that as normal anatomy has it attached to the abdominal wall. I'm wondering whether, reviewd in series, these studies reveal a mobile cecum, which could further explain my symptoms which closely match those of mobile cecum syndrome.
So, no one has been willing to go in after adhesions (and I understand that surgery CAUSES adhesions although I had a good result before) and I remain uncomfortable and inconvenienced most of the time. However, breathlessness and swallowing problems (which I also have if I eat other than slowly) are symptoms of hiatial hernia that often justify surgical intervention as might a mobile cecum. I don't WANT surgery but do want to be able to exercise vigorously and not have to be constantly running to the bathroom. All of this adds up to an exercise problem, a hygiene problem, a pain problem, an outdoor activities problem, and a travel problem. I'm almost fifty-eight and did not suddenly develop IBS (I'm bored and stumped).
I'll stop except to pose my questions which are: What does this sound like and how likely is it that surgery is in my near future? Thanks.
Dave