I received a letter from an Adhesion-Related Disorder ( ARD ) sister; and I want to share the content of her letter with both the men and women, who read/post messages here. This lady tried surgery, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drug treatment, one of the best surgeons in the United States...and now she is considering another surgery. Why am I sharing this story with you? Because I felt that she had learned some very good lessons in her attempt to get rid of her adhesions. She learned the following: physical therapy didn't work, anti-inflammatory drugs didn't work, and " with each surgery the adhesions were growing back worse." She asked the head of surgery if her surgery could be done laparoscopically; and the surgeon said " it was impossible."
Finally she started to do research; and I hope that, after reading her story, you will be convinced to do the same!! As a result of her research, she learned the name of a surgeon, who specializes in surgery for endometriosis and adhesions. She also learned that this surgeon IS ABLE to perform these surgeries laparoscopically!!! She said, " This doctor saved my life." After her surgery, she was able to get a copy of the video of her surgery, which helped her to actually visualize what adhesions had done within her body.
I am grateful to Beverly for the videos, which she sent me!! For the very first time I was able to see some very severe cases of adhesions!! I watched Bev's video in which her surgeon, Dr. Harry Reich, very carefully " took down " the adhesions, which had attached her internal organs together. Bev's surgery took 5 hours to complete!! I also viewed Deb's surgery, which Dr. Reich had performed. Deb's surgery took 10 hours for Dr. Reich to complete!!! Is it any wonder then why surgeons are not too eager to do surgery for those of us, who suffer from adhesions? Can you imagine what pandemonium would take place in a hospital, when its surgical suite schedule becomes backlogged?
In both videos Dr. Reich continually moistened and very meticulously cleaned up the surgical site as he very carefully separated the adhesions...and then again at the conclusion of the surgery. I mention " very carefully " here because any rough handling ( of the organs within the body cavity ) can remove the protective substance, which enables our internal organs, such as our intestines, to move or " slide " freely as food moves through our digestive system. When this protective substance is removed...or...if these internal organs are not continually moistened...this is a set-up for the formation of adhesions!!! Dr. Reich also believes that any blood or other debris ( such as gauze, talc from surgeon's gloves, etc. ) left within the body cavity will cause internal body organs to stick together - thus forming adhesions!!! This is what makes a surgery for adhesions so difficult, time-consuming, and even dangerous!!
The point I want to make here is: if you are suffering from adhesions, seek out the very best surgeon you can find...a surgeon who specializes and is very experienced in doing difficult adhesion surgeries! These adhesions specialists have taken advanced training in laparoscopic microsurgical techniques. With each surgical procedure these highly experienced surgeons continually strive to find ways to improve their surgical technique - so that their patients will benefit from their surgical skills.
Adhesions result as our body attempts to heal itself. In other words, our body is in control of the healing that takes place following a surgical procedure. By choosing to have your adhesion surgery done by a highly skilled and very experienced surgeon, who dedicates his surgical expertise to very difficult and time-consuming surgeries for adhesions, you will have the very best chance to become adhesion-free...and pain-free, as a result. I said " best chance " because there is NO surgeon, who can guarantee that their patient will be adhesion-free!! Remember, our body is in control of the healing that takes place!!
Some surgeons believe that a " second-look laparoscopy " is a good way to to be certain that their patient's adhesions have not re-formed or de nova ( new ) adhesions have not formed; but second-look surgery is also a surgical procedure. How many insurance companies would want to pay for that extra procedure?
I am mentioning " second-look laparoscopy " here because Mary Pomroy ( from Calgary, Canada ) will be having a " second-look laparoscopy " on Thursday, July 27th. Many of you will remember that Mary had her surgery for adhesions done at Duisburg, Germany on July 17th with Dr. Matthias Korell as her surgeon. Dr. Korell is an adhesion specialist and a very skilled and experienced laparoscopic surgeon! Dr. Korell has also done research on adhesions and adhesion barriers.
Mary was able to have Intergel, a gel adhesion barrier, used at the conclusion of her surgery. Surgeons in Europe are able to use Intergel in surgical procedures; whereas, in the United States, Intergel has NOT yet been approved by the FDA...and there are no predictions as to when Lifecore will again seek FDA approval.
For newcomers to the Message Board, Beverly ( Bev is a RN ) accompanied Mary to Germany to assist Mary as she recovers from her surgery. Bev is also documenting Mary's trip to Germany for surgery...in order to be able to provide information to anyone from the United States, who might be interested in pursuing surgery in Germany.
As a result of Joanne Butman's ( California ) pioneering journey to Germany...and now Mary Pomroy's ( Calgary, Canada )...the International Adhesions Society is becoming truly international in its scope!!!! If it had not been for Dr. David Wiseman's ( Ph.D. not M.D. ) recognition of the plight of people, who suffer from adhesions, this would never have happened. If you have not personally thanked Dr. Wiseman for making the International Adhesions Society website possible, I hope that you will consider doing so...either on the Message Board or by sending a message to: Dr. Wiseman [ Synechion@aol.com ]. My thanks to you, Dr. Wiseman!!