Hi Annmarie, as most of us have found our situations are very similar. I just had my lastest surgery the end of August. Before this one, it was feared that my gallbladder was going bad and i was scared to death as u know we are not your typical lap patients. So, when i had the big surgery in august i told my surgeon to please take out anything non-essential such as the appendix and gall bladder as possible as this would spare me possible life threatening surgery later on. Well, when he got in there it turned out that thank goodness he was close to it as it was indeed going bad, the appendix was already starting to get backed up and blocked. He removed it but not the gallbladder as he said that he wasn't in that area which didn't make any sense to me?? I have always worried what if this stuff went bad as to what to do since we aren't your typical surgical patients. I'm still having right side problems and wondering if now the gallbladder is indeed going bad. But, at any rate, my GI doc ordered before my last surgery several ultrasounds and CT's to take a look at it and to meet with a general surgeon if surgery had to be done. the results were kind of inconclusive. Me personally, i would want to get it done before it had to be done as an emergency surgery as when an appendix ruptures, it is NOT good. My dad had this happen a few years ago, and believe me, if it can be prevented, do it! A general or bowel surgeon generally does the surgery. They have already said that if my GB has to be removed it may not be able to occur by lap. Unfortunately, for us having a simple surgery like this is not simple. Again, if i could plan up to instead of it becoming an emergency situation, i would definitely do so. Dawn
--- On Sat, 11/20/10, IAS Admin (Tracy) <tracy.joslin@adhesions.org> wrote:
From: IAS Admin (Tracy) <tracy.joslin@adhesions.org> Subject: Advice needed - appendix problems To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS" <adhesions@mail.obgyn.net> Date: Saturday, November 20, 2010, 1:14 AM From: adhesions@adhesions.org [mailto:adhesions@adhesions.org] On Behalf Of Noreen Skinner Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 8:44 PM To: adhesions-request@adhesions.org Subject: Re: Advice needed - appendix problems
Hi Annemarie, If you want to go through with the surgery you would see a family doctor, not a OBGYN. I can certainly understand your frustration. Currently I am in excruciating pain and have been told no one will perform surgery on me until I have another bowel obstruction & it is a life or death situation. Pain isn't life or death, it just makes us want to die - so I guess to the surgeons that doesn't count.
Have you seen any specialists dealing with adhesions? Maybe a GI doctor would be a good start, it sounds like you have had a lot of GI surgery. I know how that is too, as I had Endo, they took me apart piece by piece - 6 abdominal surgeries in 5 years. I too have had removal of partial bowel, intestines, gall bladder, appendix and finally complete hysterectomy. I do not think it is wise to have laproscopic surgery if you have as many adhesions as you say. They tried it on me and pierced my bowel because there were too many adhesions to see what they were doing.
I will pray for you honey. Call a couple of specialists and see how they feel about the appendectomy. I hope you get relief. Good luck to you Noreen
On Wed, Nov 10, 2010 at 8:49 PM, IAS Admin (Tracy) <tracy.joslin@adhesions.org> wrote: Sender: annmariebluett@yahoo.co.uk (annmarie) Subject: Advice needed - appendix problems
Hey guys I haven't posted for a while as I'm trying to cope with things on my own but am now having to throw in the towel. Long story short - Endo stage 4 ending with full hyst 4 years ago, including multi organ (bowel, bladder, stomach wall) involvement. Stomach full of adhesions - another laporoscopy 2 years ago for cut back (bowel and stomach wall involvement) Well - at the time of my last surgery I begged my Gyne surgeon to remove my appendix as I have extreme localised right sided lower abdominal pain. He told me he could'nt remove it as 'he saw it but it was too difficult to get at!" Any how, here I am again - awful pain, on and off low grade fever, dreadful 'water like' bowel movements which leave me drenched in cold sweat and bordering on passing out. Several times I've thought of going to the ER as I am convinced that my appendix is rupturing but have fallen asleep and woken up feeling better - until the next time the symptoms come back, which is every other week at the moment.
I just don't know what to do. I know my GP thinks I should try and handle things and get used to the pain as there is not much else they can do but - I truly hate feeling like this and am so worried that if my appendix does rupture in an emergency what if they can't get it in time?
Should I 'ask' for it to be removed in a controled way? I don't want anymore surgeries - who does, but I feel that this pesky organ, which I don't need, is removed I might get some relief.
My husband wants me too as he feels that if I don't I will always wonder if it would make a difference.
I am 43 and have a long life ahead of me - what would you guys do. Risk another surgery or try and deal?
Also, If I do decide to go a head to I push for a gyne surgeon or a general one?
Help would be so appreciated!
Hugs to you all!
-- annmarie - uk - worcestershire