I was “diagnosed” with ibs for a while now.
I had an exploratory laparoscopy for endometriosis back in August, and a small amount was found and excised. 2 months later I was in and out of the hospital due to chronic RLQ pain. The first few times appendicitis was expected. I was sent home when my CT scan appeared normal. I then went to my primary care doctor. They insisted I go back. Again, was sent home blaming my symptoms on endometriosis/ibs.
The first overnight stay the doctor thought I was seeking drugs. She tried sending me home but I refused. My mother told her she was afraid something bad would happen to me (due to my pain) which was misinterpreted by the nurse as me hurting myself. This lead to me being held for psychiatric observation, they tried to force me to go to a psych ward, and I was not treated for my pain. The gynecologist who performed my first surgery came in after hours and demanded that I got a HIDA scan. This showed I had cholecystitis. The doctor still showed no concern so I had to fight to get discharged psychiatrically and was easily discharged medically.
The day I was sent home I went to a different hospital and got my gallbladder taken out. I felt okay for a few days. I ended up going back to the ER due to the RLQ pain.
I was told by doctors at the new hospital that it was all in my head, that the pain was from a past trauma. They did a colonoscopy (taking the bowel prep gave me horrible pain and my vision started to blacken during the prep— it is dangerous to take any type of laxative if you have appendicitis) and it was clear. The GI doctor just wanted to be rid of me and said it must be muscular problems because he gently pushed on my abdomen when I was laying down then had me to a half sit up and JABBED me. Because it hurt worse when he JABBED ME he said I needed trigger point injections. I refused this.
During this stay, the first doctor I saw said that I had nothing wrong with me and that young women with abdominal pain are a headache for doctors. He came back shortly after telling me my WBC was raised. I was given IV antibiotics after a CT scan then another CT was taken after seeing the GI doctor as I was not convinced he was right. The CT showed that my appendix shrunk. I was told that they “didn’t know what this meant.” I demanded to see a new surgeon.
The surgeon came in and said he didn’t think it was my appendix but agreed to take it out alongside my gynecologist to check for more possible endometriosis. I just had this surgery two weeks ago. I just got the pathology report this morning. It showed that I had appendicitis this entire time.
I am appalled at how I was treated. I had to research what was wrong and demand to get proper treatment. I was in the ER multiple times with textbook appendicitis symptoms and no one believed that it was my appendix solely based on how it looked on the CT scan.
Thanks to me, I am healthy and no longer in pain. I no longer have IBS symptoms. I no longer have a low grade fever. I will never doubt myself ever again.
I can’t believe it took them this long to take care of me properly.