I understand that this doctor is knowledgeable about adhesions.....but, I would hesitate and I really cringe when I hear people talk about getting surgery through doctors that consider themselves knowledgeable about adhesions. Is he a surgeon or is he a pain management doctor? I just realized that you are saying he is pain management....why if you are getting the pain meds via your local doctor .....would you need to go see another pain specialist who is knowledgeable about adhesions??? I am pretty much on the same meds as you....and yes I still have pain like you do....I don't think any pain specialist is going to change this. I don't mean to negate what you are saying or trying to do....but why not start working on getting to see either Reich or Korell? These are the only two doctors....not excluding Redan who is in with Reich....that totally use the procedure that seems to have secured painfree lives for the adhesion sufferers who have undergone surgical procedures. If this doctor you are visiting is a surgeon.....save yourself some time and make a phone call asking of his procedure. The things that you particularly need to be on the lookout for are doctors that perform clot evacuation and that leave large quantities of ringers solution in your abdomen. These doctors very meticulously clean out your insides after lysing your adhesions....removing even the most minute speck of blood. And the best part of it all......they do the procedures almost totally via laprascope. I am not aware of even one individual from this list that has gone to see either Dr. Redan or Dr. Reich that has had to have their lapracopic procedure turned into a laparotomy. Yet almost each and every one of us has been told that their adhesions are soooooo bad that the surgeons could not get through with a laprascope.
The first thing you need to do is gather all of your operative reports, xrays, pathology reports, etc. When you get them all together either contact Helen, Bev, or Pam and they can tell you how to procede. Any of these people can tell you of these doctors' requirements.
Hope this helps and I hope that I am not being too forceful in trying to persuade you as you decide what course you need to take in your medical treatment.
-- Karla N.
>----- Original Message ----- From: Robin <rmasse2333@aol.com> To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS <adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 9:34 PM Subject: Next steps on my long road
> I have an appointment in Albuquerque, New Mexico (5hrs away) to a pain > clinic on Sept. 5, with Dr Fry. He is supposed to be knowledgable > about adhesions. I talked it over with my husband, & we decided I would > not be treated with just medications any longer. My primary dr, gives > me prescriptions for meds & I want more. So unless this Dr is willing > to do more than manage my meds, he wont be seeing me again. My dr has > done so much for me, finding specialists to send me to, prescribing me > meds & supporting me in my quest to find a dr to heal me. I want to get > information about Dr Reich/Redan or the dr in Germany. Since April 98, > (except for 3 monthss) I have have been on pain meds, slowing increasing > the amount needed, & I still have pain. More & more days, I feel like I > cant go on with this. There have been so many days, that I just wanted > to give up. My husband & kids are what is keeping me going. But I > worry that the day that they arent enough is coming soon. I am > currently on Duragesic patch 75mg/h, Vicodin 10mg, (4-6 a day), & > Equagesic tablet 200-325 about 4 aday, & I still have pain. (I am also > taking meds for"long term" depression)I have been going to physical > therapy 2 x week, but that is costing me $20 a visit (getting really > expensive). I was being treated for irritable blader. I have improved > in that area. I wish it was that easy with the adhessions, just take > some meds for a month & then you are cured. I am sorry for going on > like this. I just need to get my back up plan started, so it wont take > as long to get the next step going when my next door is slammed in my > face. Thanks to all of you who care & are supportive. > Robin > > -- > Robin >