Image upload works fine, but blob data incomplete

Ok...here's my problem. I have some code that uploads an image into a MySql DB table. When I initiate the upload, all fields receive their proper data except my mediumblob. I have the MAX_FILE_SIZE var set large enough to accomodate the file upload and the apache setting for uploads is also well within spec for a successful upload. But upon completion of the INSERT INTO query the only data that makes it to the blob field is between 38 to 40 bytes even though the file was originally 103k.

Here is the code I used for this...any help would be greatly appreciated.
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include('includes/db_functs_inc.php');

$uploaddir = '/var/tmp/uploads/';
$uploadfile = $uploaddir . $_FILES['userfile']['name'];

print 'Upload File: ' . $uploadfile . '<br>';

print "<pre>";
if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES['userfile']['tmp_name'], $uploadfile))
{
   chmod($uploadfile, 0755);
   $sql = 'SELECT * FROM `tblImages`;';
   $dbResult = db_runQuery($sql);

   while($row = mysql_fetch_array($dbResult))
   {
      if($_FILES['userfile']['name'] == $row['imgName'])
      {
         $exists_in_db = true;
      }
      else
      {
         $exists_in_db = false;
      }
   }

   if(!$exists_in_db)
   {
      $ImageDim = getImgSize($uploadfile);
      #create a primary db row entry for the image
      $sql = 'INSERT INTO tblImages VALUES(\'\', \'' . $_POST['desc'] . '\', \'1\', \'';
      $sql .= $_FILES['userfile']['name'] . '\', \'LOAD_FILE("' . $uploadfile . '")\', \'' . $ImageDim[0] . '\', \'' . $ImageDim[1] . '\');';
      db_runQuery($sql);
      #add the image to the created row entry via the user's ID
      print "File ($uploadfile) is valid, and was successfully uploaded.<br>";
      print '<a href="javascript:history.back(\'1\');">Back</a>';
      shell_exec("rm " . $uploadfile);
   }
   else
   {
      print $_FILES['userfile']['name'] . ' already stored in the database.';
      print '<a href="javascript:history.back(\'1\');">Back</a>';
      exit();
   }
}
else
{
   print "Possible file upload attack!  Here's some debugging info:\n";
   print_r($_FILES);
}
print "</pre>";
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As stated earlier, everything runs fine and the new record gets inserted. Its just that the image data being sent using the LOAD_FILE seems to be failing or I am missing something that ensures that the data makes it to the table field completely.

Thanks in advance for any help offered.