> Hi Lisa, I'm Linda Vermey from New Zealand (Lin to my friends). My
> stories on the quilt, so I won't bore you with it. I knew I had
> adhesions, but did not really know the significance of that fact. Now
> I've come to the realisation that I definitely have a reason for the
> excruciating pain I've been having for so long, day in day out,
> without hardly any good days.... I am also glad that I found the IAS!
> For the first time in a very long time I am making friends. I lost
> 99.5% of my friends after I got sick (yeah - I know now they weren't
> really friends - but it did hurt so badly in the beginning). I also am
> of the opinion that in regards to my own body and health issues that I
> could teach some doctors a few things - thankfully my health
> professionals now respect my opinion and have encouraged me to educate
> myself about my health problems, the last couple of times I've been in
> hospital I've been amused because my nurses consult me first as to how
> best they can look after me, and they come to me if they're not sure
> about things like my medication. I was amused to hear the other day
> when my surgeon told me that every time he comes onto the surgical
> ward that the nurses ask him how Linda is doing - they don't even use
> my surname anymore - I'm so well known - and I think it is so sweet of
> those ladies (and men) to think about me when I'm not even there. (My
> husband jokes to everyone that we're on a first name bases with
> everyone in the hospital - I'm not sure if that's a good
> thing....) I'm glad that this website exists - because I have nothing
> like it available to me here in NZ - I haven't been able to join a
> support group - as none exists. It's a real pity! Sometimes I think to
> myself that maybe I could set something up - but before I can do that
> I first need to get a whole lot stronger! I've only just started
> fighting again - and I've got a long way to go still. Look after
> yourself, Greetings from Lin (the Kiwi)