Re: Adhesion symptoms???
From: theo (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed Jan 28 21:15:46 2004
Hello to Olivia and Darlene,
I'm a new member to this support group, but I want to let you know what
I have been through regarding adhesions. To date I have had seven
laparoscopies and it wasn't until my fifth and my fifth ob/gyn, when I
learned that a lot of my pain was due to adhesions - which can be more
painful than endo. My doctors have never been able to feel any endo in
me. I suffer mostly from nonpigmented endo combined with adhesions that
develop within six months of my last "clean out". Have either one of
you had an appendectomy? I had appendicitis when I was 18 and when they
openned me up, I had adhesions all over my guts and female organs. The
male doctors never made a connection to that and endo.
Another thing is that many doctors are not very sympathetic to pelvic
pain. If they don't feel or see anything (ultrasound), then it is all
in your head. This is the time to find a new doctor immediately who
will listen to you and provide some alternatives. I've had laps just
about every year now - since I found my awesome ob/gyn. Relief from
surgery lasts about six months and then it's back to Darvocet and
missing work.
Finally, I feel it is time to have my uterus removed. Since most of my
adhesions are caused by endo and not surgery, I figure that my pain
relief will be substantial and I will no longer have the anxiety of
sudden pain when I'm in a meeting or driving on the freeway.
But all in all, I mean to say is that your pain is very real. And you
deserve treatment no matter what. I've been through the Lupron...toxic
stuff...and I never attained pure pain relief. I would like to
emphasize that Lupron is not an optimal therapy for people with both
endo and adhesions.
I wish you well with your doctor - but please be a strong advocate for
yourself. All to often we accept medical advice without expressing our
deepest concerns and pains. Have courage, and you will conquer. Many
blessings to you all.
Theo
At Wed, 28 Jan 2004, Darlene wrote:
>
>Olivia,
>I am so happy to have read your post. I am thinking that it may be what
>is going on with me. I have had endo for quite some time, but lately on
>my right side, I have had so much pain. I was thinking that I must have
>some huge endometrioma or cyst on my right ovary. I went to the gyn
>today and she told me that she feels absolutley nothing on my ovaries.
>When she touched my right ovary it hurt VERY BAD! I am menstruating
>right now, and the cramps I can handle, but this right sided pain is
>HORRIBLE! Also I have this pain throughout the month. Not as bad as
>when I am menstruating, but still there none the less. Like you I end
>up wearing sweats and jammies.
>I am going to look more into this and ask my gyn what she thinks.
>Thanks so much!
>Darlene
>
>At Tue, 20 Jan 2004, anonymous wrote:
>>
>>Olivia,
>>
>>I know that this message is from a while ago, but I saw that no one
>>responded and decided to put in my two cents worth. The difference that
>>I feel with adhesion pain verses endo pain is that it is constant. It
>>doesn't only come with a period. It shoots pain down my legs and into
>>my feet. It causes severe pain when I am laying down and I cough or
>>sneeze. I had a huge!!!! adhesion next to my right ovary, so deep that
>>the doctor couldn't even touch it when I had my lap. In the pictures
>>from my surgery, it is bigger than my ovary. I had others, but he tried
>>to remove them because they were smaller. The pain that it causes
>>varies in type and pressure and intensity, but it is constant and never
>>ending. The more I do in a day, the worse it hurts, but sometimes it
>>hurts really bad right when I wake up. On those days I stay in bed.
>>Otherwise I have to plan my activities very carefully. When I have a
>>big day, I am usually stuck in bed for the next few. See, I can take an
>>incredible amount of pain because I am used to it, I have it every day,
>>but the pain that comes from adhesions is intolerable if I overwork
>>myself. After my surgery I had some limited relief from the endo pain,
>>but none from the adhesion pain. Since my big adhesion is on the right
>>side, I cannot have any pressure on the right side of my abdomen, the
>>whole area is very sensitive to the touch. Getting a yearly exam is
>>sooooo painful when they check my ovaries that it makes me cry. I
>>cannot wear jeans unless they are real loose on the abdomen. I live in
>>pjs, overalls, and sweats. Some times I can't wear underwear because it
>>hurts too bad. Anyway, I have gone on and on for quite a while here, so
>>I will say my good-byes...I hope that I have answered your questions. If
>>not, let me know and I will write back. Best wishes to you.
>>
>>At Tue, 23 Dec 2003, Olivia wrote:
>>>
>>>Hi all...
>>>I hope everyone is feeling well today. I see a few of y'all were
>>>talking about adhesions further down...so I thought I would jump in too.
>>>I had my third lap. in August and am having pain again already. During
>>>the surgery...I did have some adhesions between the cul-de-sac and right
>>>ovary...it sounds like my right ovary was actually stuck behind my
>>>uterus. I also had many implants and cysts removed. My question
>>>is....for those of you that have adhesions.....what are the symptoms??
>>>Are they different than endo. symptoms or not? I've had a lot of right
>>>sided pain and a general pulling/aching/burning feeling. I'm wondering
>>>if the endo. is coming back or if it's adhesions or both??? Since I had
>>>both at my last lap....I don't know what was causing the pain.(pre
>>>op).maybe both?? Any experiences with this would be greatly appreciated.
>>>Thanks all and Merry Christmas :)
>>>Olivia
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