Abdominal Problems

This is a very detailed question. As someone who has recently gone through mysterious abdominal things myself, I sympathize. It sounds like you have a fair amount of anxiety about going to the doctor's. How about you support yourself as much as possible through this process by making sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the doctors, don't try and cook complicated dinners the day of appts, and get someone to go with you so they can help you listen as the appointment is going on? It sounds like you've put this off for quite a while, but you still have a ways to go to get this resolved. It's very possible that you'll need a dignostic test like an ultrasound to have this resolved, and don't worry--it'll be fine! Again, take a friend or spouse with you, get good support around your kids, whatever you need. Best wishes. If you need to, you can also get a medical second opinion if you need to hear another doctor's thoughts before you make a decision to go forward with whatever's appropriate.

Hi W.,
My hubby had a belly button hernia. He would take his finger and push it in- to make it feel better and releive some pain.

After his hernia op, I read that Hernias are caused by a lack of copper in the diet. The person who wrote the article said he tested his theory by taking copper and over a course of time, His body was building and repairing the tissue area where his surgury was, and the new tissue actually pushed the mesh screen out that the surgeon had put in him to help hold the muscles all together!

Sounds like endometriosis to me too, but without knowing why you had your hysterectomy and not knowing if you kept either of your ovaries, it would just be guessing. BTW... even if they took everything, endo can still come back if any at all were left behind & the fact that they symptoms come and go, along with the pulling from inside symptom... those sure make me think endo.

You likely can but you should not have to wait another week to see a surgeon, if you are having pain.
Remember that first appointment is only a talk and a brief exam. The Dr. will give you a choice if possible, but you most likely do need the surgery. You can also get a second opinion from another surgeon.
I can tell you some names, depending on which area you live in....

Hi W.,
I had (and now have again) similar symptoms from adhesions due to endometriosis. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it aches, sometimes its a knife like sensation - sometimes not at all! Swelling on and off with hormones cycles and certain foods. The adhesions were all over my abdomen and really glueing my insides up. Had a laparoscopy done 8 years ago and felt great for a long time. Get thee to a doc who will listen and take action. Most endo and adhesions don't really show up until they get in there and look for sure.

Feel better soon.

W.,

Please don't delay longer. Take care of yourself and go to the surgeon. Waiting could make it worse! It definitely sounds like a hernia or adhesions and both are fairly simple laproscopic surgeries.

No trying to be mean, but you are also sending a bad message to your children by neglecting to go to the doctor when you obviously need to go. Please take care!

--C.

W.,

I'm no doctor, but it definitely sounds like some sort of hernia or maybe your c-section adhesions are the problem? I dealt with abdominal issues for years, so I sympathize with you on the pain and stress that you are going through. I don't have the same symtoms as you, but I hope that you feel better really soon! If your not satisfied with your GP, ask for a second opinion and don't stop until you get the right person to help you or diagnose you. Have you had a upper/lower GI endoscopy yet? If not, maybe the surgeon will do one on you to get a better idea of whats wrong.

Take care and hope this helps.

Molly

I have had the same probs you have described and gone into doc twice. She says it is an umbilical hernia and if it pops out one more time like that I will need to have the small surgery to fix it. Mine popped out when I sneezed an picked up my 3 year old (who is now 5) at the same time. The doc says it is from having a few (3) kids and my abdominal muscles never went back into place properly. I can see that, with a squishy tummy, but when I have the hernia pop out it is very painful. The doc says when it is not acting up I should do stregnthening exercises to build those muscles, but ther is a fine line of doing too much----I don't want to make it pop out again. Hope this is somewhat helpful.

I've had appendicitis and that's what it sounds like to me. I'm surprised and think your doctor was remiss in not scheduling some kind of imaging, like an ultrasound or cat scan right away.

If your appendix bursts, you could become very ill. 6 more days is too long to wair in my opinion.

It sounds like a hernia. Your appendix is on the lower right side of your pelvis, nowhere near your belly button. Remember, doctors see these things all the time and unless he was uncertain of the diagnosis, he would have ordered a test or two to determine your problem. Your surgeon should be able to corroborate your doctor's findings.
My husband had surgery a few years ago for an inguinal hernia. The repair is done near the belly button through laporoscpy. He was up and back to work in a matter of days with a minimal amount of discomfort.
Good Luck, L.

W.,

About a year and a half ago I began having abdominal pain. It took a whole year, several doctors and and insane number of appointments and tests to get a diagnosis. I have two pieces of advice for you:
(1)There are dozens of possible causes of abdominal pain - Prepare yourself for the possibility that the doctors may not find the problem right away.
(2)Try not to stew about it - I know how hard that is, but it won't help and, at least for me, it made the pain seem worse! Keep busy, get together with friends, spend time working on a (non-strenuous) hobby etc.
Sending positive thoughts your way...

Abbie