You have such a positive outlook on things. I wish that I could take lessons from everyone!
None of my 26 surgeries was for adhesions...but as you can well imagine they are a very big problem. I think now that most of my pain must be from the adhesions. Right now my pain management consists of Vicodin Extra Strength, Darvocet, ultram and then to help me sleep at night I take the over the counter sleeping aid (can't think of what brand it is) for people with pain. I still have a lot of pain despite all of this and am constantly nauseated. I take a Vicodin and a Darvocet every four hours...sometimes two of them.
I would like to be able to refuse this next surgery, but I don't think emotionally I would be able to live my life the way it is. I could live with the pain....heck, I have lived with it for 20 some years. But I can't live with the humiliation of everything else. The worst thing is I can't hold my grandchildren...or rather I am not supposed to. I do, but not nearly as much as I would like to. I know that they love me but how do you tell two little ones that Grandma can't pick them up when they need to be held?
What would I like to have happen? For years I have wanted to find a doctor that could perform one last surgery......that would take care of everything so that I don't have to have surgery every 6 months. I've been told over and over that it will never happen. But, I believe, now that I have learned so much about adhesions, that if they could find someway to stop my abdomen from herniating, I could live with the pain from the adhesions. I don't want to live my life in pain...but if that was all there was to worry about I know that I could deal with it. I may not like it...but I will thank God that I am alive and able to feel that pain. Do you understand?
Well, I have rambled enough. Please keep that positive attitude!
Karla N.
>----- Original Message -----
From: KIM MERRELL <BLONDEZDAZE@yahoo.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS <adhesions@forum.obgyn.net>
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: surgery vs no surgery
> At Fri, 11 Feb 2000, Tina Shelby wrote:
> >
>
> Hello again,
>
> Janet,
>
> Im with you on your input of surgery vs no surgery. I wish that I had
> been told exactly what I was facing. I guess I just didnt realize how
> revengeful these adhesions are!
>
> I assumed that they would go away & was never told any different until
> now. I too, almost died (as you can read in this months message board)
> In retrospect, if I had not ever
> had surgery, I wouldnt have gone thru this last year of extreme physical
> and emotional pain. My husband also was an
> emotional wreck.
>
> For someone who is new to the vicious circle of adhesions,,
> should be told extensively about the consequences of surgery. And..not
> only that..but I think they should be
> given tons of information and maybe have previous patients who have had
> the same experience give them their input as well. (Giving them this
> website would be EXTREMELY helpful..lol).
>
> Something ironic about this last surgery in which I almost
> died..the 2 doctors who performed the surgery (who by the way..were
> intestional and colon specialists that were called in just to do the
> surgery--not my regular doctor) told me that they had cut out the
> adhesions and I shouldnt ever have any more problems!!!!!! I had to
> laugh at both of them.
> They are both in the dark about adhesions as well.
>
> If you dont not take control of your life..& question continiously what
> is going on..then you may have some of the problems I had and that alot
> of you have had. I know now..that surgery isnt the answer unless it is
> a life or death situation with the blockage.
>
> Sorry this is so long..but..if I can help one person not go thru what I
> did..then its worth it.
>
> Again..anyone wanting to email me is more that welcome!
>
> :-) keep smiling
>
> >JAnet,
> >
> >I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth about having surgery or not having
> >surgery.
> >
> >I have had no less than 12 abdominal surgeries for adhesions. After each
> >surgery, I would have pain relief, for a time, then the pain wouold
return
> >with a vengence. Each time, I sought a surgeon who would go in and "clean
> >up" the adhesions and take out whatever the adhesions had caused, such as
> >ovarian cysts/tumors. My last surgery all but cost me my life. I had a
total
> >abd. hyst but also had a nicked bowel. I spent a week in ICU with my
family
> >not knowing if I was going to live or die. My husband still can not talk
> >about the horrible experience without getting emotional. Seprafilm was
used,
> >but because of the infection, it did not help.
> >
> >After about 9 months, the pain was back again. It was at this point, I
> >decided not to put my family/myself through another potentially
> >life-threatening surgery but sought pain-management. This does not mean I
> >have lost hope, on the contrary, I am at peace with my decision. The
> >medicines/diet are working to control the episodes of what I describe as
> >"sucidial levels" of pain.
> >
> >I am in the process of getting disability as I can not work and take
these
> >medicines. I am looking into starting my own home-based business and I am
> >co-authoring a book. Although life is not fair, (not that anyone said
that
> >it would be) - I am using what I have and am going to live my life to the
> >fullest - and not let the pain get the better of me. I could feel sorry
for
> >myself, but what benifit is that? I don't understand why this has
happened
> >to me. I could be bitter, just sit down and let life pass me by, but what
a
> >waste of life that would be.
> >
> >So, I just wanted to let you all know, that if the time comes, where
surgery
> >is no more the option of choice (or the cure), you can live with ahesions
> >(with pain management) and have a productive life, even though it may be
a
> >bit different that what you had envisioned for yourself. So don't be
> >discouraged because surgery does not have to be your only option. I will
not
> >have surgery again, unless I totally obstruct and have not other choice.
> >
> >Tina
>