At Sat, 16 Jun 2001, Ginny Halpern wrote:
> >Leslie: > >Maybe you should ask your doctor point blank what he meant by "....the >beginning of the end." I was also told a similar thing by the last >surgeon who opened me up and found the extensive damage in my belly. He >said, "If I open your belly one more time, you may never wake up from >anesthesia." >I looked at him and I said "what's that supposed to mean" and he said >(laughingly) "I mean that the extensive damage you have inside you right >now would take me 3 weeks of continual surgery to repair! That's alot of >anesthesia!!" > >But it had sounded like my bowels and affected organs were in a terminal >state. >So why not ask him if he meant that trying to repair the bowel would >only cause more adhesions and lead to a viscious cycle, ie: beginning of >the end of your life OUTSIDE the operating room, or what?? > >Doctors sem to think their little comments, whether made seriously or in >jest are automatically understood by the already frantic patient. > >Please don't worry about it before you confront him and ask him . > >I'm available to you for anything you might need or want to discuss. Am >the PA ARD support person. > >gingin99@home.com > >Fondest regards and wishing you a better life tomorrow > >ginny > >At Fri, 15 Jun 2001, Leslie Serna wrote: >> >>I am a 48 year old woman that had my colon removed (1 1/2 years ago, a >>redundant colon). Now in the last month have had 3 small bowel >>obstructions, one of which was a 4 day admission to the hospital with a >>nice NG tube. I have been on a liquid diet since the middle of May >>(NONE, ZERO, food EXCEPT Ensure, blended yogurt etc. and continue to >>have the problem. Two scopes have verified scar tissue narrowing 2 >>places in my small intestine causing the problem. Prior to the colon >>surgery I had numerous abdominal surgeries resulting in A LOT of scar >>tissue already. My doctor said that reparing the intestine would "be >>the beginning of the END." I am very sad, frightened, angry, lost, and >>need to know if anyone out there knows what I mean. Am I going to die >>in the next 4 years? I have 3 beautiful and wonderful sons and 3 >>precious grandchildren. (Not to mention my husband, parents, sisters, >>etc.) >>Is there someplace I can go for further help? >> >>Heartbroken and desparate in Utah, >>Leslie