Re: Karen Carter

From: Janet Karam (jkaram4@home.com)
Fri Mar 23 11:36:48 2001


Dear Karen,

So glad to hear good news from Helen re: your successful surgery. We are all rooting for you...the worst is over now, let the healing begin! I look forward to hearing of you experience and wish for a speedy recovery and a healthy life forever more.

Love,

Janet

>----- Original Message -----
From: "Helen Chalmers" <Hchalm@aol.com> To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS" <adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 10:18 PM Subject: Re: Karen Carter

> Dear Friends:
>
> I have heard that Karen's surgery went well and she is still
> recuperating at the hospital tonight. Before Karen left she gave me
> permission to let all of you know about her surgery. Dr. Redan found
> she had bowel adhesions in her pelvis to her prior hysterectomy, kinking
> off her colon, took out her appendix too. Her biggest problem was that
> she had a chronically inflammed gall bladder. Her gall bladder was
> stuck to her duodenum kinking that part of her bowel off too, causing
> her nausea.
>
> Going back a few months ago, after hearing Karen's plea for help on the
> adhesion board I contacted her in trying to find her a doctor to assist
> her in treating her for the tremendous pain she was in until her surgery
> with Dr. Redan. Her PCP and her GYN denied her any pain medication,
> and actually said that they would be dropping her from their care as she
> only had minimal adhesions and was not in need of any pain medication.
> Her PCP also told the hospital (her only alternative to finding pain
> medication) to not allow her into the ER again without permission from a
> treating physician (she had none) and both refused to give her a
> referral to a pain specialist that I suggested see she to treat her
> pain. I did contact her GYN as her "Patient Advocate for The
> International Adhesion Society," and asked politely that they write her
> a referral to a pain specialist immediately, in fact, I would like a
> referral to be faxed with her medicals the same day to the doctor that I
> wanted her to see. Obediently, they did so upon my request and she was
> given an appointment with my doctor and treated her as a suffering ARD
> patient, and gave her the medicine she so much needed.
>
> What my intent here is to just let everyone know, and I know most of us
> have been treated this way by doctors also, is that Karen was
> experiencing this terrible pain, had medical proof that she had
> adhesions, but was still treated in such a disrespectful, callous,
> uncaring, selfish, unprofessional manner and was just looked upon as a
> drug seeker when we can all see by the above surgery the tremendous pain
> she must have been enduring during these months since her hysterectomy.
> This is what myself and Helen D. are trying to do here, is prevent this
> from continuting to happen to our fellow ARD sufferers (actually all
> chronic pain patients) and why we have asked you to write to your
> congressman, state representative and the President of the United States
> if we have to. This terrible treatment of ARD patients and all those
> suffering in chronic pain must be stopped.
>
> I will update all tomorrow as soon as I hear from Karen.
>
> Karen: My prayers and thoughts are with you. To wonderful pain-free
> days ahead and next time I'll treat you to lunch.
>
> Love, Helen Chalmers
>
> --
> Helen Chalmers
>


Enter keywords:
Returns per screen: Require all keywords: