I'm glad to hear that you've been treated well by your own colleagues. I can't answer you question, but I just wanted to tell you that I think it is great that you are educating yourself on your problems. I have only recently started doing research on my own problems - as my new friends on the board have been encouraging me to that. It's important that we take charge of what happens to us. And you're right - it feels horrible every time you know you feel so bad and nothing shows up - not on x-ray, not on CT, not in the blood tests. It's very demoralising. And it's so hard to keep yourself from getting depressed and you do wander about your own sanity if every doctor you see tells you they can't think what is possibly wrong with you. And I have been accused of being a drug seeker and right now I have to fight for the right to take pain killers which are strong opioids / narcotics - as even here in New Zealand there is a war on against drugs. Even my pain specialist as well as my parents and my sister's and their families believe that I should stop taking them - and try to live without them - they really do not believe me that my pain is so bad! I'm so lucky that my house doctor feels differently and that he supports me.
Goodbye for now, and look after yourself.
Linda Vermey from New Zealand (Lin to my friends)
>----- Original Message -----
From: Karen <OHMomrn@aol.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS <adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 5 December 2001 09:40
Subject: New diagnosis
> I am so sad to see how awful some of you have been treated. As a nurse
> in a very busy ER, I am lucky that my staff have believed me when I was
> in pain. I was treated very well, and way over medicated (so I would be
> comfortable). But in doing research I am a little scared with my new
> diagnosis of adhesions. I have had 1 laparascopy and 2 surgeries in two
> years r/t these adhesions. I am now trying to educate my self better
> for the future. If I have to have surgery again I want to be armed with
> up to date ways to prevent or assist in the on going process of these
> dastardly adhesions. I have been very depressed about the occurances
> and the pain I have endured, along with the stigma I am sure we all feel
> when we finally revert to the doctor's office...and you feel like they
> think your drug seeking...because nothing is seen on CT, UTZ or MRI. I
> am so excited to see that I now can find an area to go to where others
> are suffering the same things I am, and now the depression can be less.
>
> My question however is...now that I have had my uterus and ovaries
> removed, I have pain at the bladder, so I am wondering if now the
> adhesions are attacking that area? Has anyone had any problems with
> adhesions on the bladder and what have they done to relieve the pain? I
> am taking an anti-spasm medication, but it has done no good.
>
> Sincerely Karen
>