About 10 years ago i was rushed to the hospital for an extreme abdominal pain. Normally i would just curl up like a ball and wait for it to go away but the pain just did not. Since the Doctor was not able to get what was the triggering point of the pain, he gave me a pain killer which somehow relieve the pain. However, he did suggest to have an exploratory laparotomy just to be certain. My dad and i decided not to resort to that since as soon as i took the pain killer the pain subsided.
Years passed, the pain would come and go but it only happens sporadically and the only remedy was the pain killer. My wife would insist to go ask for a Doctor's opinion but i really doubt that they can find whats wrong with me.
My body somehow was able to cope with the pain. Usually when the pain starts it would only last a day but it took turn for the worse. Occasionally, it would last more than two days or a week. I still refuse to visit a Doctor until last year i finally decide to give in. So the Doctor made a couple of test namely CBC, Urinalysis and Ultrasound. They did find something on my kidney from the result of the Ultrasound but i doubt it was that. So i gave it a try, took the prescribed medicine and go on with my life.
Few months after, the pain occurred however this time the pain doubled. It was the same unbearable pain i felt 10 years ago. And to make it worse, the pain killer had no longer an effect. Without a second thought, i let my wife rush me to the hospital. It was already a "Do whatever you want to do to me Doctor!" situation.
It started with the same test: CBC, Urinalysis, Ultrasound and X-ray but all came out a vague results. Then they said a CT scan would definitely tell them whats wrong with my stomach so i said will go for it. A CT scan is a large machine with a large tube on the side, your body would then slide through that tube which is pretty much scary to me.
A closer look of the CT scan
What i hate most about the test was the painful "contrast" (at least that is what i heard) that was injected through my IV. Since the vein in my IV has already swollen i have to bear the pain for over 40 seconds.
Finally, thank God we were going somewhere. They found something from the CT scan result, some sort of Haziness (that is what they describe it) in my Appendix and enlargement of my intestine therefore concluding i need an operation. But that still did not explain why this has something to do with the reoccurring pain for the past 10 years. We were planning to get a second opinion from a Gastroenterologist but due to the appendix that is about to rapture anytime soon an operation was badly needed. To tell you honestly i was not in favor of the operation but i got no other options.
The operation was the day after the exam result, it was Saturday night. I opted to have me put to sleep while on surgery but before that they need administer an anesthesia on my lower body. The funny thing is the anesthesiologist had a hard time finding the space in between my spine. With Doctor's frustration she ended up administering general anesthesia.
Three hours later, i was out of the Laboratory along with the Doctor's findings. I actually had a rare case, along with the acute appendicitis the real deal was the intestinal adhesion. From what i have understand, my intestine was preventing my appendix from rapture because my intestine was wrap around it. The reoccurring pain for the past 10 years was the congenital intestinal band (already had it when i was born). An exploratory Laparotomy was indeed a good call for this. (I was able to search it from the net and it all says Explore Lap is the only option). I have to say that the Doctor and whoever took part of the operation really did a good job and i am very thankful to them. I really feel much better now. Thank God!
My stitches
This is a picture of my stitches. Doctor really did a good job.
By the way, they have to put in a surgical staples because surgical sutures can barely hold it.
