Cindy-Re: Bev's description of Dr. Reich's adhesiolysis procedure

From: marianne bolding (ojowojo@yahoo.com)
Sun Aug 5 13:40:42 2001


Cindy, this is insightful info as to how a lysis should be performed. The right surgeon is the most critical factor in adhesion removal. Many doctors (like mine) don't use up-to-date, new technology in surgical procedures for adhesions lysis...increasing the percentage rate for re-occurence. Which might very well be your bowel problems...seeing your past history. I wish you luck in reaching the point where you can manage your ARD to allow you a more productive and normal life. (with daily routines and all! LOL) Marianne --- Helen Dynda <olddad66@runestone.net> wrote: > Dr. Harry Reich perform Bev's (Beverly Doucette)
> adhesiolysis procedure on April 22, 1999. Bev
> continues to be pain-free.
>
> Bev posted the following information about Dr. Reich
> on the IAS Message Board on:
>
> June 08, 1999 10:38 AM
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> I am sharing my experience of surgery performed
> under Dr. Harry Reich of New York City -- since a
> number of you requested that I provide greater
> detaiI about my surgery. Please keep in mind that
> this is MY surgery and that each one of us has a
> case history unique to each one of us. I also am
> stating MY interpretation of how the body responds
> to and creates adhesions, as I understand that
> physiological process.
>
> Previous to consenting to Dr. Reich's adhesional
> lysis procedure, I requested a copy of it so that I
> could determine for myself what was being done
> differently than the other adhesional lysis, which I
> had. I also checked out his credentials with the
> AMA - all very outstanding
> recommendations. I then asked for statistics of the
> surgery; and, even though he has not kept a
> following of his patients, he does have some figures
> on it and it looked to be the higher % of success
> for non-reforming adhesions with his procedure.
>
> I also was put in contact with a woman who had
> undergone his lysis last June. We talked at great
> length ( e-mail ) and we continue to do so. She was
> a wealth of information and encouragement for
> me...and you can be assured that I am watching her
> case closely as it parallels my adhesional history
> very closely. Dr. Reich also videotapes his entire
> surgery for you.
>
> Dr. Reich's theory regarding non-reforming adhesions
> is: "The solution to pollution is dilution!" And
> he stands by that phrase yet today.
>
> This procedure is done through a minimally invasive
> route. One small incision in the navel for camera,
> two 1" to 2" incisions on each side of the lower
> abdomen for instrument use. Dr. Reich is the only
> ambidextrious surgeon in the United States - and
> that is a plus for us!
>
> He does a diagnostic look-around upon entering the
> cavity -- looking for any invasive pathology besides
> adhesions. He evaluates the situation and then
> determines his plan of treatment. In the event that
> there are dense adhesions, he proceeds to dissect
> (separate) them. This is not an easy process and is
> very involved.
>
> I can understand why most doctors do NOT want to
> challenge themselves doing a lysis, which is
> dangerous and tedious - as the doctor is working
> right up against and around the intestines, etc.
>
> Based on Dr. Reich's vast experience with
> laparoscopic surgeries, he has developed 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 his clean-up at the end of the 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 attatchments, 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.
>
> Dr. Reich uses a procedure called "aqua" surgery.
> He is constantly flushing the cavity with ringers
> lactate (a type of compatible fluid to the human
> body -- like saline); and he finds the fibrin
> strings and removes them -- bit by bit -- a
> wonderfull cleanup job (on my video). If someone
> would have told me he could clean up the cavity as
> good as he did -- and I had NOT seen him do it -- I
> wouldn't believe them!
>
> His theory is that if the cavity is cleaned of the
> clotted blood, the body's defense system will have
> less to react to -- thus reducing -- and possibly
> stopping -- the reformation of PAINFULL and
> distructive adhesions. He also leaves 3-4 liters of
> ringers in the abdomen following his surgery. It
> takes about 48 hours to dissipate out of the body (
> lots of peeing goes on ).
>
> I was not shaved, had no urinary catheter in place
> nor gastric nasal tube (when I awoke in recovery)
> following 5 hours of surgery; and I was back in our
> suite in less then 4 hours following the recovery
> room. Sure, I had surgery pain; but I also had
> both ovaries removed and two tumors! One very large
> tumor had attached to the right side of my colon on
> the left side of my peritoneum -- my colon was
> totally twisted over and attached! No wonder I hurt
> and couldn't have a BM on my own!
>
> How am I now? I'm a tiny bit sore on the lower
> right; but that is from an organ removal. *No
> adhesion pain, no backaches, no pain pills* -- and
> a smile on my face that only a crowbar could remove!
> I had been on:
>
> 1. Pain medication,
>
> 2. Anti-inflammatory medication -- which you need to
> be on at LEAST 1500 mgs a day if you are suffering
> adhesion pain. This medication is to help combat
> the inflammation from the pulling of the organ at
> the attachment site. You can bet you have something
> attached to the peritoneum at this time -- and it is
> pulling and doesn't like that!
>
> 3. Antacids -- from irritation of the esophagus and
> stomach from years of drugs.
>
> 4. Sleep/pain meds at night; and last but not
> least...
>
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