- Joined
- Mar 5, 2014
- Messages
- 15
Update: Blood Tests reveal... (Chronic Constipation after Appendectomy)
Update: Turns out my most recent blood tests have revealed I have an underactive thyroid, after being told that although my Nan who suffered with the same issues and blood tests didn't initially show...I've ended up with the same diagnosis. Hopefully with any chance that the thyroxine will resolve my issues, fingers crossed.
I had my appendectomy out in 2007 (During Christmas time)- at the time the nurses looking after me were unaware that I hadn't had my appendectomy via keyhole, but via the traditional method. Neither me nor the nurses were aware of the fact until I was discharged 2 days later. I found out later my appendix was hiding (the doctor's however seem secretive to say further- as it was the surgery at the time was an exploratory one as they thought it was my ovaries due to my blood results then)
Ever since my appendectomy I have suffered with Chronic Constipation which seems to only be alleviated with the usage of laxatives. I've been told it's all in my head (which has caused me to suffer from anxiety), just IBS etc etc, getting pinged back and forth through the NHS system (and at one point I went to a paediatric bowel clinic, where the doctor decided the cause was due to me eating nothing but meatballs :rof:, ironically at that point in time I was still a vegetarian).
I initially had chronic pain surrounding my appendix scar, but this was resolved in 2009 with a pain injection. I've had x-rays which have shown my constipation "blockage" to be mostly around my appendix scar region, however my colonscopy was clear of adhesions, but did feature tonnes of polyps (and a renal tag which was removed for biopsy- these came back clear but my tag regrew).
My CT scan (in 2008) was inconclusive though I did learn I have a slight spinal curvature and an ovarian cyst- normal.
I also had a barium meal (in 2010- the variety with little shapes) it didn't show any shapes in my intestine, which led to them saying my bout of IBS was over and I could go off my laxatives however just 1 month later I ended up hospitalised, as my constipation caused my bladder to retain all fluid requiring with me on a catheter and having to have yet another enema. (After that I went back on my meds of lactolose and senna).
I've tried the low fibre diet, hi-fibre, gluten-free, dairy-free and currently the fodmap diet but it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference ><
The only thing that seems to show is the fact I'm anaemic (as of 2013- and thus taking ferretin), lack Vitamin D and Calcium (taking Adcal D3) and otherwise I'm tired all of the time.
Constipation wise it seems to be a pointless circle- fybogel doesn't work, movicol is so-so (took around 8 sachets daily), was briefly on a laxative that tasted minty and was tiny pellet shapes (didn't work and can't recall the name atm) lactolose worked for about a year at 30ml daily + 2 senna tablets but that eventually stopping being affective. Linaclotide and Resolor worked but after 4ish days I ended up with sudden volatile diarrhoea.
I'm currently on Celevac, but I'm hardly "regular" and it's a struggle to go.
Don't suppose anyone has had a similiar incident? Did they figure out what was causing it?
It's affected my confidence massively and I'm not exactly having a normal social life etc (though I'd love to go on to uni for my 3rd year my attendance for HND is not brilliant).
Many Thanks,
One Saddened Student
P.S. Don't know if it makes much difference to mention but my family has a long history of asthma (me included), auto immune diseases in particular Parkinson's. I know one of my Nan's had Bright's Disease and suffered with constipation, and my other nan also had bowel issues, though whether that was from the Parkinson's I don't know - sadly both passed away before my issues so I can't ask. I suffered with eczema during childhood but since I was 14 2007 on ward I've had random flare ups of patches on body from my eyelids to my elbow joints, knee joints.
Update: Turns out my most recent blood tests have revealed I have an underactive thyroid, after being told that although my Nan who suffered with the same issues and blood tests didn't initially show...I've ended up with the same diagnosis. Hopefully with any chance that the thyroxine will resolve my issues, fingers crossed.
I had my appendectomy out in 2007 (During Christmas time)- at the time the nurses looking after me were unaware that I hadn't had my appendectomy via keyhole, but via the traditional method. Neither me nor the nurses were aware of the fact until I was discharged 2 days later. I found out later my appendix was hiding (the doctor's however seem secretive to say further- as it was the surgery at the time was an exploratory one as they thought it was my ovaries due to my blood results then)
Ever since my appendectomy I have suffered with Chronic Constipation which seems to only be alleviated with the usage of laxatives. I've been told it's all in my head (which has caused me to suffer from anxiety), just IBS etc etc, getting pinged back and forth through the NHS system (and at one point I went to a paediatric bowel clinic, where the doctor decided the cause was due to me eating nothing but meatballs :rof:, ironically at that point in time I was still a vegetarian).
I initially had chronic pain surrounding my appendix scar, but this was resolved in 2009 with a pain injection. I've had x-rays which have shown my constipation "blockage" to be mostly around my appendix scar region, however my colonscopy was clear of adhesions, but did feature tonnes of polyps (and a renal tag which was removed for biopsy- these came back clear but my tag regrew).
My CT scan (in 2008) was inconclusive though I did learn I have a slight spinal curvature and an ovarian cyst- normal.
I also had a barium meal (in 2010- the variety with little shapes) it didn't show any shapes in my intestine, which led to them saying my bout of IBS was over and I could go off my laxatives however just 1 month later I ended up hospitalised, as my constipation caused my bladder to retain all fluid requiring with me on a catheter and having to have yet another enema. (After that I went back on my meds of lactolose and senna).
I've tried the low fibre diet, hi-fibre, gluten-free, dairy-free and currently the fodmap diet but it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference ><
The only thing that seems to show is the fact I'm anaemic (as of 2013- and thus taking ferretin), lack Vitamin D and Calcium (taking Adcal D3) and otherwise I'm tired all of the time.
Constipation wise it seems to be a pointless circle- fybogel doesn't work, movicol is so-so (took around 8 sachets daily), was briefly on a laxative that tasted minty and was tiny pellet shapes (didn't work and can't recall the name atm) lactolose worked for about a year at 30ml daily + 2 senna tablets but that eventually stopping being affective. Linaclotide and Resolor worked but after 4ish days I ended up with sudden volatile diarrhoea.
I'm currently on Celevac, but I'm hardly "regular" and it's a struggle to go.
Don't suppose anyone has had a similiar incident? Did they figure out what was causing it?
It's affected my confidence massively and I'm not exactly having a normal social life etc (though I'd love to go on to uni for my 3rd year my attendance for HND is not brilliant).Many Thanks,
One Saddened Student
P.S. Don't know if it makes much difference to mention but my family has a long history of asthma (me included), auto immune diseases in particular Parkinson's. I know one of my Nan's had Bright's Disease and suffered with constipation, and my other nan also had bowel issues, though whether that was from the Parkinson's I don't know - sadly both passed away before my issues so I can't ask. I suffered with eczema during childhood but since I was 14 2007 on ward I've had random flare ups of patches on body from my eyelids to my elbow joints, knee joints.
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