BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Gizmo
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 03:22 PM

Thanks all for your kind thoughts and well wishes. I came home yesterday, 9 days from admission in hospital, and 13 from the first A&E doctor I saw.

My appendix came out after the doctors and my consultant, very reluctantly decided to do a laproscopy. On the Monday, bearing in mind I could not keep anything down and was in so much pain even the strongest painkillers wore off after an hour, the Doc wanted me to go home and come back to his clinic in 8 weeks. I said that I couldn't cope with the pain, and that how am I supposed to look after my kids. He asked if I was with a partner, in a relationship have a husband etc who could help - I replied no to all of the questions.He sent me down to have an internal trans vaginal scan, and was not even hopeful himself that it was a cyst on the ovary. The scan showed up clear, and at least I know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my ovaries, womb or IUD at this point in time, everything is as it should be.
   The next day, the same doctor put the wind up me by saying everything bad that could happen during the surgery, and do I still want to go ahead with it? I replied - as long as you find out what is causing the pain,yes! to which he said, we might not find out what is casusing the pain. He then said, if it turns out that your appendix is fine I will tell you off - to which I replied, if it's not that causing the pain and the sickness, you will have to find out what is. He said the sickness was caused by the painkillers. NOTE, the sickness disappeared after the operation, and I am still on the same painkillers.
   When I was wheeled into the anaesthetic room, I was in tears, because of the fear of the operation risks the doctors had mentioned earlier, and exhaution and the pain was getting to me. When the kind anaesthetic doctors asked what was wrong and tried to put me at ease, all I could do was reply that I was scared of going through this operation (laproscopy) and they still do not know what is causing the pain. I then felt scared of dying despite doing a protection circle in my mind with the candles and hailing the quaters etc - I have a knack for visualisation, but unfortuantely a wild imagination hence the fear of the operation.
   My mum popped into the ward when I had been wheeled back up, and she went to the nurse to ask what had happened during the operation. They informed her that they removed my appendix because it was not good and slightly inflamed.

The consultant and his team of doctors were shamed and didn't stay near me very long when they came to check up on me the next morning. One even tried to cover it up by saying, that my appendix wasn't that bad and was negligable whether it was swollen - so why did they take it out if it wasn't that bad? They said they wouldn't.The notes contradict what she says.

The problem occured, because, although typically I was not keeping anything down, and was in gripping pain despite pain killers, my temperature did not rise too high and neither did my white cell count. I'm surprised they didn't bite the bullet to find out why this was - but there you go. My body has always reacted differently to how it should. My normal temperature is 36, so at 37.5 which should be normal, is high for me, same as blood pressure, my average is 99/66-68 the lower number at 78 is high for me personally, but normal for most.In hospital my rates were at the higher end of normal, which they didn't accept was high for me.
I also always have red cheeks - I do not pale. I will be very ill, and have a rosy face which belies the truth. My mum and daughter are the same, we look well even when we are ill.

One of the junior doctors on the team, who often disagreed but had no say with his seniors, informed me that if I was left another week, the appendix most likely would have burst! - Scary thought.

I'm glad it's all over now, but can not do any Morris dancing for at least 3 months, as they pierced my abdomen in 3 places and doing nothing in hospital for so long has wasted my muscles abit, which will now take more time to rebuild than had I been scanned and sorted within a few days of being admitted.

I'm still tired and worn out, but glad to be home again!

Once again for all your thoughts, but I may not be on here for a while, until sitting up on a chair is more comfy than what it is now.

Nicci.

ps - I wish I laid a bet with Bobert now!Maybe he could donate it to mudcat instead? hehe

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: ranger1
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 03:25 PM

Glad to hear you're home and better, Gizmo. Still sending good thoughts your way for quick healing.

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 03:58 PM

Get a lawyer.

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: bobad
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 04:17 PM

The practice of medicine is not always black and white, there are often grey areas and this appears to have been one of them.

The diagnosis of many conditions, appendicitis being one, is made by an evaluation of symptoms which USUALLY but not always follow classic patterns; distribution of pain, elevated white blood cell count, elevated temperature etc. When someone presents with atypical symptoms all other possible diagnoses must be ruled out before proceeding, a surgeon will not open someone up just to have a look around to see if he can find something abnormal.

To me it appears that proper procedure was followed in this case. Sometimes it is detrimental to be too healthy in a situation such as this where a vigorous constitution and measurable parameters which lie outside of the normal ranges can mask symptoms and make a diagnosis difficult.

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Tootler
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 06:51 PM

I am glad they have finally identified your problem and dealt with it. Get well soon, but be careful not to overdo things for a while. You don't want to scupper your recovery by causing damage to the healing tissue.

The next day, the same doctor put the wind up me by saying everything bad that could happen during the surgery, and do I still want to go ahead with it?

They have to do that. I recently found my consent form for my operation and it listed the possible consequences as you described, including potentially fatal ones.

All surgery carries risks. However, for most people everything works out fine.

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 09:07 PM

wot an epic.

rest, get well & dance again when it is time

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Bert
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 09:17 PM

...but can not do any Morris dancing for at least 3 months...

At least there is a positive side to this.. *HEE HEE*

When you get back on your feet, don't be afraid to go back in there and give them some (a lot of) shit.

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 09:19 PM

Rest. The worst is over.

Bert - go stand in the corner.

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Wordsmith
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 12:15 AM

I've been absent a while, but am glad to hear the resolution of this situation. What an ordeal. So happy to learn that you survived it with flying colors despite the obstacles you faced. You did stand up to the disbelieving doctors. It's often said that these days a patient must be his/her own advocate. What a shame. Personally, I miss the Marcus Welby, M.D. days. (For those of you outside of the U.S., it was a medical drama in which the doctors went out of their way to deliver premium patient care.)
When I was younger, doctors got to know their patients and their families. Because you usually had the same physician for most of your or their life, changes were noticed...notes were better kept...things were more caringly done. Now, you barely know the person who's treating you or vice versa. Progress, indeed?
On a brighter note, in my area, there is now a young doctor who is making house calls. He's done so well, that he's expanding his territory and even considering franchising his business. He seems like a nice guy on paper...there was a news article on him. I hope it catches on.

At any rate, Gizmo, make sure you write all of this down, for future reference, and in case you decide to litigate. Really, when you're better enough to come back to Mudcat, all you'd have to do is copy and paste? And then stick on a floppy or whatever. I almost forgot to mention that in one sense, you're lucky that they spelled out the adverse possibilities of surgery...many gloss them over, however, in your case, it almost sounds as if they were trying to discourage you from proceeding. I applaud you for standing up to them despite your decided disadvantage and debilitation. You shouldn't have had to do that...imagine, as I'm sure you have, what would have happened if you'd have taken that one doctor's advice to come back in 8 weeks? (And, thankfully, you had that one anesthesiologist to calm your fears somewhat.)
Still, you are better. Thank heavens! Best wishes for a speedy recovery! ;D

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: jacqui.c
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 06:24 AM

So glad to see you posting again Gizmo. Take care of yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 07:25 AM

Didn't I tell you it was yer apendix, Gizzie???

Awww, jus' funnin'... But now that yer un-apendixed next time it will by IBS...

Glad yer on the mend an' sorry yer outta the dance club fir now...

BTW, did they let ya' keep the apendix, you know, like in a jar or somethin' to show yer kids???

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 08:19 AM

Glad you've got sorted Nicci ! Take it easy for as long as it takes !

Subject: RE: BS: My tummy hurts - doctor says no....
From: Micca
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 06:32 PM

I saw Gizmo this afternoon and she is mobile but Very slow , she seemed cheerful and mending but recognizes that it is a slow and painful process, and sends thanks to all for their support, and especially to the person whose gift was the reason for my visit.