Paul
At Sun, 9 Sep 2001, Karla wrote:
>
>Paul,
>
>I am so glad that you have gotten help with your problem. Unfortunately, it
>is in my blood to call attention to one thing and I sincerely do not want to
>be negative. I have heard some good stories about Dr. Semertzides....but I
>have a big problem with him...and your story bares this out. That is the
>need for repeated surgeries...in your case 3 to date and you say that you
>are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. How many more surgeries do
>you have to undergo to get to the end of the tunnel?? There are very few
>doctors out there that can take care of our problem...and it is very hard to
>find them...but they are there and for the most part they take care of the
>adhesions in ONE surgery. Yes, they are very expensive and yes they want
>there money upfront, but its one surgery...not multiple surgeries which in
>and of themselves create more adhesions. When you add up the multiple
>surgeries it is probably costing more to go to someone like Dr. Semertzides
>and then you are putting your self at risk with each additional surgery.
>
>I will admit....I am kind of carrying an attitude right not because I just
>realized something. Everyone out there in this group is soooo excited about
>Intergel possibly coming to the US and yes, I was excited too. But, my
>doctor just told me on Thursday that they will put no more foreign materials
>into my abdomen....ever because my body just rejects them. That means no
>hope of a cure with INTERGEL. That means a lifetime of pain unless I can
>find a doctor to cure me without Intergel.
>
>I am open to hearing from Dr. Semertzides himself if he wishes to contact
>me. I cannot be a naysayer without at least giving them a chance. However,
>I wonder...how many of his procedures are done laproscopically? I would
>travel anywhere and have...to find an answer to my problems. As it is, I
>now have to settle for a "patch" job...my doctor's own words...and hope and
>pray that I never herniate again...even though I have probably had more
>hernias then this entire group combined. And believe me....I am not
>exaggerating. I don't like settling for less. Read my story on the
>adhesion quilt and then contact me at ifirgit@new.rr.com and I will give you
>my phone number. Like I said.....I am willing to hear what Dr. Semertzides
>has to say. At this time, I just don't agree with his practices.
>
>--
>Karla N.
>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Paul Owens NREMT-P" <PLOJER40@aol.com>
>To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS"
><adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
>Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 2:08 PM
>Subject: Paramedic with adhesions, hell from inside the medical community
>
>> Hello, My name is Paul Owens, and I have been a Paramedic for about
>> twelve years. I am also a paramedic, and emt instructor. I have been
>> an ARD sufferer for about 14 years. Every surgeon that has treated me
>> in the past has treated me like scum after surgery. Their feelings were
>> that they had removed the adhesions; end of story. I am originally from
>> akron, Ohio. I contacted Dr Wiseman to ask if there were any doctors in
>> northeast Ohio that had a clue. I figured with the Cleveland Clinic,
>> Cleveland Univ. Hospital, Cleveland Metro Hosp., There had to be
>> someone. WRONG!!!! Dr Wiseman gave me the name of Dr John Semertzides,
>> and his phone number in Cincinnati. I called him the next day, and he
>> called me back. We talked for 45 minutes, and without me saying a word;
>> he told me MY story. I saw him two weeks later. I've been very
>> fortunate; my fiance' lived about 45 min away from him. For the last
>> year I have lived down here being treated by Dr Semertzides. I have at
>> least one more surgery, but I'm better than I was.
>> Please allow me to give you a few details. So far I have had three
>> surgeries. During the first surg the Dr found a problem that the other
>> surgeons should have noticed during my first surgery for ARD. Dr
>> Semertzides will not be rushed, because he insists on doing it right. As
>> a medical profesional I can appreciate that, but it's the other things
>> about Dr Semertzides that really make him great. He doesn't have any
>> partners, and if you call him at 3am, he will have called you back by
>> 3:10am. I can go into the ER at any hosp, and if the doc calls from his
>> car, he can still tell the ER docs, what meds you're on, what surgeries
>> you've had, and when you've had them. If you're feeling down, he will
>> have some of his success stories get in touch with you. They will give
>> you their phone numbers, come in and see you in the hospital. If you
>> need psychotherapy, he will arrange that too. THE MAJOR thing is; no
>> matter how difficult your case he will NOT give up on you. He helped to
>> keep me going when I was just too tired to deal with the pain any more.
>> When I was sick of kneeling in front of the toilet.
>> It's been a rough road, but I can actually see a light at the end of the
>> tunnel, and 90% of why is Dr John Semertzides
>>
>> --
>> Paul Owens=PLOJER40@aol.com
>>
-- Paul Owens=PLOJER40@aol.com