I will warn you to be careful about pressing your surgeon too far - my surgeon literally abandoned me when I asked her only a few questions. Much later, I found out why she avoided the issue - she knew she had made a "mistake" that guaranteed me new adhesions and thought i was going to sue her because a second "mistake" with the drug Ativan had me spending my last five weeks of post-op recovery believing I was to be fired on my first day back at work, as well as dealing with the awful side effects, including suicide ideation, of a stepdown withdrawal from that class of drugs.
Still, I do believe adhesions are the surgeon's dirty secret, so try to balance your current post-op needs with your need to ask questions. Have you read your operative records first?
Tired, Karen
>----- Original Message -----
From: Dana <DMSmith00@aol.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS <adhesions@forum.obgyn.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2000 8:34 PM
Subject: Quality of Life
> A very special thank you to everyone who responded to my last post with
> such compassion and understanding. At this point, I am 3 weeks post-op
> and feeling better. (For those who didn't read before, just had
> hysterectomy and know I had adhesions from previous surgeries.)
>
> I have found that since I found out I had adhesions, that every time I
> have ANY pain in my abdomen, I want to attribute it to the adhesions. I
> am constantly thinking about my state and feeling depressed about it,
> although I have no reason to think that I might not get better and be
> pain-free for quite a while to come. My mother keeps reminding me that
> she's had numerous abdominal surgeries, has adhesions and has never
> experienced ANY adhesional pain. (Lucky her!!)
>
> My question for everyone is- how is the quality of your life right now?
> Are you in constant pain to the point of not being able to do the
> littlest things or does it come and go, with just certain times of being
> bed-ridden? Do you also find yourself consumed with thoughts of doom and
> gloom about your condition??
>
> I go see my surgeon tomorrow and plan to grill him intensely about the
> number and placement of my adhesions. Although I'm depressed about the
> situation, I don't plan to accept this quietly!!!
>
> Thanks and take care - Dana
>