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Re: Adhesions? Let me tell you about mine......From: Christine (anonymous@obgyn.net)Wed Mar 24 06:01:58 1999
At Tue, 23 Mar 1999, Helen wrote: > >After a laparotomy in 1970 and after twenty-seven years of searching to >find a medical reason for the chronic pain which ruled my life, I was >finally able to find information which helped to open the door which >finally proved that the chronic pain I had been suffering with was "NOT >all in my head." A gynecological surgeon, who was recommended to me by >the Endometriosis Association, was the professional who suggested that a >diagnostic laparoscopy was the only way to determine whether my chronic >pain was being caused by endometriosis or adhesions. He told me, "Your >symptoms sound more like adhesions." > >When the surgeon tried to view my pelvic organs from the usual belly >button location, he couldn't even see my pelvic organs. Next he decided >to try doing the laparoscopic procedure while working from the lower >pelvis (between my legs)...BUT again he could not see my pelvic organs. >So beginning from the lower abdomen, he slowly and methodically lysed >(cut) the massive adhesions which had adhered my omentum to my abdominal >wall! > >This was a very time-consuming procedure for him because he had to be so >careful that he wouldn't accidentally harm nearby pelvic organs. I had >massive adhesions the full length (7 inches) of the surgical scar (from >my 1970 surgery) PLUS a fatty mass which extended 2 inches on each side >of the surgical scar. This procedure was a very difficult and >time-consuming surgery which took considerable time for him to do. This >diagnostic laparoscopy was supposed to be SAME DAY SURGERY...but because >of the complexity of the surgical procedure, I was kept in the hospital >overnight on intravenous antibiotics. > >My purpose in sharing my experience with you is to encourage all of you >to learn everything you can about your medical situation....especially >if you are suffering from chronic unrelenting pain and you are told that >all diagnostics tests are normal!!! Had I stopped looking for an answer >to my chronic pain, I would not know today what the REAL DIAGNOSIS was. >It took me 27 years to find the information which eventually proved to >me and the medical profession that my chronic pain was "NOT all in my >head!!!!" > >If you have had surgery and the surgery was videotaped, I suggest that >you request a copy of the videotape of your surgery. I was able to get >a videotape of my surgery in 1997...which was very interesting to watch >and also very revealing...because I noticed that there was some bleeding >when the surgeon lysed a particularly large adhesion. Some adhesions >actually do have blood vessels. It is possible that this bleeding into >the abdominal cavity could have contributed to the return of chronic >pain...which has happened to me. > >If you haven't requested copies of your medical records, you have a >right to receive this information. Also be sure to request a copy of >your surgical report. These medical and surgical reports along with the >video of your surgery can be very useful for any future medical problems >you may have. > >Many of you have already read my story, which I posted at the Healthseek >Forum in June 1998. If you want to read it, you will find MY STORY at: ><http://www.healthseek.com/forums/physicians/messages/38.html> > >Someone has taken my story (and other messages which I had posted) and >put these messages on various search engines on the Internet. I was a >little surprised to find my messages on the Internet...but then I >decided: Why not!!!!! > >Shortly after that I decided to accept the responsibility of sharing my >story and then attempting to encourage others to educate themselves >about adhesions and adhesion barriers. I have been overwhelmed with the >response of gratitude from the many people with whom I have shared the >results of my research on the following subjects: Adhesions, Adhesion >Barriers, Chronic Pain, Endometriosis, and many other medically- related >topics. > >I am willing to share the research I have done on the above subjects >with anyone who wants to become a better informed consumer of their >personal health care. Please e-mail me for this information. If you >want to share something about yourself, I leave that up to you. Hi Helen: One thing I am curious about, I know you are waiting for the gel barrier to be approved by the FDA, but why haven't you followed up on the return of the pain? Just because it feels just like the pain you had before you had the lap in 1997 that confirmed it was adhesions, does not mean it is necessarily the same thing! This is what worries me-I do not plan to dismiss future pain in my abdomen as adhesion related unless they are *sure* that's what it is! (and by sure I mean an adequate workup done periodically) As we age (and I'm getting up there) we are in the time of life when serious, life threatening diseases can appear (they can appear at other stages of life, but the risk increases as we age). I think it is risky to dismiss pain because of this. In fact, this is what I intend to ask at my next visit. I guess I have been very "lucky" because I have not run into one doctor, neither my gyn, pcp, gi doc, or surgeon who ever once said or even insinuated the pain I was having was not real. It did seem that they didn't like to bring up the possibility of adhesions (the surgeons seemed more reluctant than the non-surgeons) but once the word was mentioned they seemed willing to discuss it as a possibility for the pain. I never felt like they didn't believe me. However, I did sense their frustration at treating these things and I can understand why. Chris
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