Kay
My pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) was discovered during a proctocolectomy¹ for what was thought to be an uncontrollable flare-up of Ulcerative Colitis. This turned into surgery to remove everything the mucin had touched in May 2001. I received heated chemotherapy during surgery ten days later. My surgeries were at Ashford Hospital, Adelaide and my surgeon was Professor Peter Hewett. My pathology was appendiceal mucosa cystadenoma presenting as pseudomyxoma peritonei.
– Kay
Proctocolectomy
A proctocolectomy is an operation where the rectum and all or part of the colon is removed.
In case you missed it...
Sent for ultrasound for possible hernia
For well over a year, I noticed my belly steadily getting bigger though I didn’t seem to be eating any more than normal. I of course tried dieting a few times but when I didn’t lose weight I gave up pretty quickly!
Receiving a diagnosis
My original symptom was an ‘irritated‘ bladder — it is difficult to describe but the closest I can come up with it that it felt like it was vibrating all the time. In March 2010, after several months of bladder discomfort and many trips to my GP, I was referred to the genito-urinary clinic at my local University hospital with suspected bladder prolapse. Eventually, this lead to a diagnosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).
I was admitted to hospital with abdominal pain and operated on the next day
On March 1st 2016, I was admitted to hospital with abdominal pain and operated on the next day. The surgeon found a tumour in my appendix and mucin throughout my abdomen. My story is about what happened next, my surgery, coping with the stress and the positives that came out of it.