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Part 2: Bev is pain-free following April 22, 1999 adhesiolysis...
Based on Dr. Reich's vast experience with laparoscopic surgeries, he hasdeveloped a technique like no other surgeon in the world! That is why he has the reputation as being the best laparoscopic surgeon in the world!
It was the clean-up at the end of his surgery that impressed me the most; and was also the reason that I chose to go to him and have this done! He cleans out almost EVERY piece of clotted blood that is in, around, under, and virtually all over in the abdominal cavity following the surgery! He feels that it is this residual clotted blood that the anti-bodies in an adhesion-former's system respond to as "foreign" -- and thus creates an adhesion over it to protect the internal organs! Now, this is exactly how our bodies defense system works!
Think about your getting a sliver (externally, of course). What does our body's defense system do to that foreign body? It sends out the leukocytes and creates an "infection" to get rid of it -- right? Internally, one of two types of defense systems kick in when there is a problem:
1.) If our appendix ruptures, we get peritonitis ( an internal infection -- like pus or white blood cells that spill into the cavity ). Those white cells are responding to an inflammation in the appendix and build up and burst; but it WAS a defense mechanism as well. Peritonitis can kill us as the body has no way to rid itself of that infectious drainage; and it infects the surrounding internal organs as well. In defense our body sends the leukocytes ( white cells ) to the area of "infectious drainage."
2.) Because there is an active infectious foreign body in the abdominal cavity, our body will attempt to "CONTAIN" that poison to protect the other internal organs from damage! These white cells form a material called "fibrin," which is the sticky stuff in the blood. The fibrin starts to cover the infectious material and then you have what is called an "ADHESION!" Now, adhesion means "to stick together." In the abdominal cavity -- filled with lots of organs in very close proximity to one another -- what do you think will happen? Abdominal organs become attached to one another -- everywhere that the infectious drainage touched!
Let's look at that same reaction now using the clotted residual blood following your internal surgery. Blood is found throughout the cavity from any area of surgery or ischemia ( areas scraped or cut -- causing an area that bleeds ). In the cavity this blood dries very fast -- VERY FAST!
Now, 99.9% of surgeons DO NOT clean up the residual blood clots thus leaving that in, around, and under your internal organs. Your body sees this blood as a foriegn body and sends out the leukocytes and thus forms adhesions wherever these clots of blood are. Because fibrin is sticky, some of these organs become attached to the peritoneum ( innermost tissue of the abdominal wall ) causing pulling and inflammation at the attachment sites -- thus causing PAIN and eventually a decrease in our physical mobility. That pain is from the attachment to the peritoneum. Other organ to organ attachments, if any, don't cause pain; but these other organ to organ attachments can cause:
1.) Bowel obstructions
2.) Painfull and difficult bowel movements
3.) If some adhesions attach the bowel to the vaginal wall, these can cause painful intercourse as well.
( Continued in Part 3 )