It's Not My Appendix
By StacyB
@Srbageldog (7716)
United States
October 16, 2017 3:24pm CST
I just got back from the ER. After I posted my last discussion I was concerned that I had multiple symptoms pointing to appendicitis, so I thought it would be best to get it checked.
The good news is it's not my appendix. The not so good news: It's my messed up reproductive system. I already know my tubes are blocked and are glued to my bowel, along with my ovaries. I have severe endometriosis. The doctor I saw urged me to have the surgery to remove the fallopian tubes or whatever it is showing up as liquid filled cysts in there. I have had a diagnostic laparoscopy and was told it's my tubes. I am on birth control to treat the endometriosis.
But apparently it's not enough. Because I'm in agony, I'm bloated and gassy all the time, and I am having other issues. The doctor warned that leaving this issue as-is puts me at risk of my bowels being perforated, which would be life threatening.
So now I have to get ahold of the specialist and tell him I want to have surgery. Which I have already been leaning toward anyway. I just wish I didn't have to travel three hours away to have it.
12 people like this
11 responses
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
16 Oct 17
Sorry to hear you have to have surgery but once it is done and you recovery you will feel so much better.
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
Thank you. I hope you're right! I have lived with bowel pain and general discomfort for way too long. I wasn't sure if this issue was contributing to it or if I just had IBS or something. The ER doc said it was definitely caused by this. So I keep telling myself I will feel better after the surgery, even if the surgery itself scares me.
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
@Happy2BeMe Thank you. I know you went through major surgery recently and it helps knowing you came out of it okay, even if it was for an entirely different issue. I have at least had two lesser surgeries already so I somewhat know what to expect (as far as pain, anyway) but this one makes me especially nervous since it involves my bowel.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
18 Oct 17
@Srbageldog The thoughts of surgery is always scary but you will go through it all just fine.
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
I called the specialist yesterday and have an appointment to see him two weeks from now. I see my primary doctor next week to follow up on the ER visit and will ask for a rushed referral to UC Davis (which is closer) so one way or another I will get this taken care of. My right fallopian tube is now about the size of a baseball.
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
18 Oct 17
Well glad to know it's not your appendix. I hope it's a minor surgery and your recovery will go quickly. I wish you luck and i hope you can get in soon so you don't have to be in pain anymore.
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
18 Oct 17
@Srbageldog Let's hope not. Prayers and wishes to you
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
Thank you for the kind thoughts. Unfortunately I was told it's a "complex" surgery which is why I have to travel so far away to a specialist to have it done. But I'm hoping it won't be too bad.
1 person likes this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
17 Oct 17
I've got PCOS, I don't know if that's the same thing you're talking about but I know how that sort of thing can affect you, emotionally as well as physically. Sorry to hear you need surgery buy hopefully it will really help you 
1 person likes this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
18 Oct 17
@Srbageldog Fingers crossed it's the solution for you 
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
I think they are similar (symptom-wise and how they can effect fertility) but different. I am sorry you have PCOS. Yes, endo has the same affect emotionally and physically. It sucks. But, what can we do but deal with the cards we've been dealt. I hope that this surgery helps. The specialist I saw made it like it could possibly make the pain worse, which is one reason why I opted not to have it back in May. But risking a ruptured fallopian tube is not something I'm willing to do, so it's time to get them taken out.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
16 Oct 17
Hold the phone.. I definitely missed your last discussion. So sorry you have pain and have to get surgery. But sounds like its the best thing to do
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
Thank you. Yes, this needs to be taken care of. I'm kind of mad that I was told (by multiple doctors) that this condition could be left as-is and it wasn't "life threatening." But they probably weren't thinking that the fallopian tube would grow bigger. It is now about the size of a baseball.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
18 Oct 17
@Srbageldog hmmm. They're drs youd thinkk theyd know..
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Oct 17
I'm sorry that you need to have the surgery but I'm glad you got checked out.
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
Thank you. I'm glad too. If I hadn't I would have just continued thinking everything was hunky dory and I could just leave everything in there, when the reality is my tubes could rupture and kill me. One is now about the size of a baseball! 
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
16 Oct 17
Yes that is what I was thinking about it the last time just get the surgery..so sorry for your pain my friend.
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
Thank you. I have been leaning toward having surgery but have just been scared because it involves my bowel, plus I have to go so far away from home to have it. But it's not worth risking my life by not having it.
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
I won't. I see the specialist in two weeks to discuss having the surgery. Hopefully it will get scheduled soon. If not I will get a second opinion because I'm not just going to leave a ticking time bomb inside of me.
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
17 Oct 17
When my ovaries were "melting" my doc sent me to oncology because that is the first sign of ovarian cancer. I had a complete hysterectomy and the oncologist said I probably caught it just in time.I was 40 and that was 12 years ago. I had already had cancer of the uterus and had the tumor removed 10 years earlier.
I know how bad that pain is and I can tell you, its awesome not to hurt anymore. Get done what you need to get done and you`ll see how much your life will improve.
1 person likes this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
18 Oct 17
Thank you for this. The thought of this surgery scares me. My fallopian tubes are blown up but they show up on tests like ovarian cysts. They are glued to my bowel (along with my ovaries) which complicates removing them. One tube is now about the size of a baseball, I'm more scared to just leave it in there than I am of having the surgery. If it keeps growing in size it will eventually rupture. I keep telling myself that afterwards, maybe I'll have a whole new lease on life, at least one without constant pain in my abdomen.
