WHY INDEED!
For several months now I have been struggling with ongoing abdomen pain, particularly around the pelvic area. Now, initially, I didn't want to get lost in the ‘what ifs?’ And the tirade of Google searches to self-diagnose myself. Of course, I absolutely did both of those things and got myself into such a panic that I booked an appointment with my GP immediately.
The previous mentioned process is a somewhat simplified version of the flaming hoops suspended above pitchforks which I had to jump through in order to get seen! (On a side note, I don’t blame the NHS!)
Anyway, the GP prodded about and pushed down on my abdomen so that I squirmed and winced, before telling me I needed to have some swabs done…. Now as a woman, that singular word ‘swabs’ is like peaceful music on a summer’s evening….. NAAAAAAAT. Bloody awful, dreadful things.
Needless, to say I left my dignity somewhere on the floor in a heap with my clothes and proceeded to be prodded further. This time with two clenched fists under my buttocks with my ankles together and my knees dropped, how flattering.
A few days later, the results were in. They were all negative (in a positive way I mean – I had no nasties!)
On to the next experiment. Off to see the Vamps in Outpatients for some blood tests (sadly I don’t mean the teen heartthrob boyband!) To my surprise they actually located a vein pretty quickly which was a relief as I usually leave with two arms that look like they lost in the ring to Mike Tyson.
Again I waited.
Then finally, I got the results at long last, which again were in the normal range.
So on the one hand, I was glad that the outcome of the preliminary tests were encouraging, but I still had the pains and I was no closer to getting to the bottom of it. Frustrating.
I was then referred over to UHCW (University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire) where I had an ultrasound scan. Here, they did manage to find something which helped explain the pains I’d been having. They discovered I did have some abnormal fluid on my ovaries which needed further investigation.
As a special gift, I was given a cocktail of antibiotics which I was advised would remove an infection if there was one and as such alleviate the associated pains. I took the pills (and felt frigging terrible, by the way) but alas the pain in my abdomen was still there.
Fast forward 12 weeks and I have to attend another appointment with the Gynaecologist. She asks me a number of questions, all equally delightful, for example ‘Are you sexually active’, ‘have you ever had an STI?’ and ‘how often do you open your bowels?’ All great questions.
We proceeded to conduct an internal ultrasound examination. NOW let me tell you something. This is not like the cutesy 12 week baby scan kinda thing, this is quite literally being penetrated with a cold plastic stick with a condom on the end! EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE.
So much so I even asked her, ‘is it supposed to be this painful’ to which she replied, ‘no, patients usually describe it as being uncomfortable or unpleasant but never painful.
I was evidently that one difficult patient who found it painful.
Anyway after much discussion, she agreed that there was indeed fluid on the right hand side of my ovary. In light of this, she offered me a keyhole procedure which would mean inserting a camera into my abdomen to search for scar tissue, internal damage, infection etc.
‘But first’, she said, I want you to try a restricted diet to see if that would have any impact on the pains and symptoms.
The first of five restrictions: bread first up on the hit-list. Bread is possibly one of the hardest for me as I am essentially a loaf of bread with arms and legs.
Next is DAIRY
Then BEANS & PULSES
Then CARBONATED DRINKS
Then STARCHY GAS-PRODUCING VEGETABLES
.
I have been advised to cut each one out for 2 weeks at a time to fully measure the impact. I really have no idea how I am going to fair over the next 10 weeks but I will be sure to keep you informed and if there is no improvement I guess I’m heading in for surgery.
Wish me luck guys.
xx