This was news to me.
Everyone who has had abdominal surgery is more at risk of having issues with intestinal obstructions from scar tissue, adhesions, Peterson’s spaces (voids in the abdomen from weight loss), mesentery defects not closed during surgery, incisional hernias, and other stuff. We need to be aware of the potentially serious implications and be aware that sometimes going to the ER is necessary, if only to rule out something bad.
We may be loath to go sometimes, because NOBODY wants to spend 5 hours in the ER, risking a big copayment if the insurance company says you overreacted, plus the fear of being told it’s gas or we’re full of shit.
So, it’s important to know all the signs that you need to go, as well as how to explain your surgery. For example, that if you have a biliopancreatic limb, you can have a blockage even if you’re pooping and farting, and that you need a CT with both oral and IV contrast. Plus understanding some of the possibilities that can be something else.
For a scientist of a certain age, it was a bit of a shock to find out yesterday that I have an abdominal organ (actually about 50 - 100 of them!) that I never heard of before. Can you guess how I found out about them?
I had an adventure in the ER yesterday. I’ve had lower left quadrant pain for several days, which didn’t hurt as long as I was not moving, but very sharp pains if I moved, or put even the lightest pressure on my abdomen over approximately where I think my ovary is. It had been the same each day, but today was noticeably worse. I was pooping and farting just fine (although just before one of those events, the pain would suddenly get much worse, then settle back down as soon as I started pooping or farted).
My own differential diagnosis:
I had blood work (slightly elevated white count, nothing else notable), urinalysis, and a CT with both oral and IV contrast. It turned out I have a rare but painful condition I’ve never heard of: epiploic appendagitis.
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Plus I had a 28 mm ovarian cyst that might be a problem too, but I think it’s been there a while.
I’m relieved it wasn’t a surgical issue, and that it will go away by itself. But I’m fascinated to find a have a body part I’ve never heard of, which should be considered as part of a differential diagnosis of belly pain.
But goddamned it - for something not serious, it sure hurts a lot! It should resolve by itself in a few days. And my cats keep wanting to walk with their pointy feet and weighty bodies right on my belly.
Everyone who has had abdominal surgery is more at risk of having issues with intestinal obstructions from scar tissue, adhesions, Peterson’s spaces (voids in the abdomen from weight loss), mesentery defects not closed during surgery, incisional hernias, and other stuff. We need to be aware of the potentially serious implications and be aware that sometimes going to the ER is necessary, if only to rule out something bad.
We may be loath to go sometimes, because NOBODY wants to spend 5 hours in the ER, risking a big copayment if the insurance company says you overreacted, plus the fear of being told it’s gas or we’re full of shit.
So, it’s important to know all the signs that you need to go, as well as how to explain your surgery. For example, that if you have a biliopancreatic limb, you can have a blockage even if you’re pooping and farting, and that you need a CT with both oral and IV contrast. Plus understanding some of the possibilities that can be something else.
For a scientist of a certain age, it was a bit of a shock to find out yesterday that I have an abdominal organ (actually about 50 - 100 of them!) that I never heard of before. Can you guess how I found out about them?
I had an adventure in the ER yesterday. I’ve had lower left quadrant pain for several days, which didn’t hurt as long as I was not moving, but very sharp pains if I moved, or put even the lightest pressure on my abdomen over approximately where I think my ovary is. It had been the same each day, but today was noticeably worse. I was pooping and farting just fine (although just before one of those events, the pain would suddenly get much worse, then settle back down as soon as I started pooping or farted).
My own differential diagnosis:
- A kink or blockage in my biliopancreatic limb
- Diverticulitis (my colonoscopy last year noted I had it, although I’ve had no symptoms)
- Twisted ovary
- Ovarian cyst, possibly ruptured (previous ultrasounds have noted I had one)
- Incisional hernia or something else related to my abdominoplasty 4 years ago.
I had blood work (slightly elevated white count, nothing else notable), urinalysis, and a CT with both oral and IV contrast. It turned out I have a rare but painful condition I’ve never heard of: epiploic appendagitis.
Epiploic Appendagitis: An Often Misdiagnosed Cause of Acute Abdomen
Epiploic appendages are peritoneal structures that arise from the outer serosal surface of the bowel wall towards the peritoneal pouch. They are filled with adipose tissue and contain a vascular stalk. Epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of acute lower abdominal pain. It most commonly results...
Plus I had a 28 mm ovarian cyst that might be a problem too, but I think it’s been there a while.
I’m relieved it wasn’t a surgical issue, and that it will go away by itself. But I’m fascinated to find a have a body part I’ve never heard of, which should be considered as part of a differential diagnosis of belly pain.
But goddamned it - for something not serious, it sure hurts a lot! It should resolve by itself in a few days. And my cats keep wanting to walk with their pointy feet and weighty bodies right on my belly.
