Investigative surgery ?

[PVail]

Ok folks
Got a letter yesterday to tell me Im going into hospital on Friday for investigative surgery. What is investigative surgery ? has anybody had thuis and if so what is the general out come ?

I had a whole barrage of tests done about 8 weeks ago and have only been told they are waiting results. I basically have stopped going to my Doctor as I get no information from him and really not much use.
So any help on this proceedure would ne nice to put my mind at ease.

Peter

 

[mainekitty]

I had this done in the UK and it was total crap (as far as I was concerned - maybe useful for others?). Basically, it's a laparoscopy, where they stick a camera inside to look around - but the thing is, the camera isn't in your bowels! They can only see the outside.
Once I had a colonoscopy (must less invasive, I think) inflammation was confirmed, but the "investigative surgery" took so much longer to recover from, and found nothing.

However, in your case - since you have an inflamed appendix - this may be a necessary move, because they are also able to take your appendix out with this operation if they think it's called for.

I'm really sorry you're not getting helpful answers right now from doctors - I know exactly how you are feeling. At least you have had some things confirmed, so they can't tell you it's in your head. The good thing about this surgery is that it means they're taking your symptoms seriously. I hope that you get answers soon... hang in there!

 

[PVail]

Thanks sarah, I don't know what to think about it all . I've had the run around now for three years. I think there grasping at straws as they never do anything consistantly so I don't honestly believe them . I think if they haven't got rid of you in a fixed time period then they do this. So pissed off with the system. I gather they are lookin for something on the outside of the organs , never heard of that before. Is it just an excuse to take my appendix out ?

 

[mainekitty]

Maybe. But maybe it'll help your symptoms to get rid of an inflamed appendix?

Yeah, I kind of got that same feeling - like they did this as a last resort if they couldn't figure out what's going on with you. Just think - it's no better in the U.S. and we have to pay through our teeth for this stuff! But I have a bad attitude about all of the diagnostic back and forth, so I may not be the best person to make you feel more positive about this haha - sorry.

Btw - funny story about my laparoscopy - I was in hospital with a flare... lots of pain, they couldn't figure out why, cause my previous bout of IBD had been 4 years earlier and in the U.S. - anyway, the anesthesiologist comes in to put me under and I was like... um, WHY? She said - "Oh, they didn't tell you they're going to do exploratory surgery??" - NO! So I got little to no explanation before they did it! Woke up with more pain (from the surgery) and no answers.

Unfortunately, you are your only advocate. I say unfortunately, because most of the time it's hard to advocate for yourself when you feel like crap. But, can you call them up and ask what the surgery is for, specifically, and what they think it will do to help? It might not get you much further, but then again it might give you some better clue as to what they're thinking?

 

[PVail]

At this stage I would nearly do the surgery my self ! I think i will ring and ask then again can be any worse. My doctor will only prescribe over the counter mere, it's like putting a band aid on a gun shot. What do they think we do I the months between appointments. Personally I am amazed at the lack of attention for IBD issues.

 

[mainekitty]

What do they think we do I the months between appointments.

Ha! I have to laugh at this, because I have asked this same question word-for-word to my husband. I don't think they DO think about what we do between appointments, that's the trouble!