I'm in the throws of a terrible bout of pain, again. I had surgery in September to remove my right (and only remaining) ovary after it exploded. Once inside, the new surgeon was shocked at the amount of adhesions found inside. (My ob/gyn, however, was not. He'd been there before.) He couldn't find my sigmoid colon because it was tucked up near my gallbladder, my bladder was twisted and turned due to the adhesions, and he decided that my appendix must have come out at an earlier surgery because he just couldn't find it! (It was turned under the colon and hidden in the adhesions.) Luckily, my ob/gyn didn't give up, because the appendix was enflamed and infected, a surprise to all. I hadn't noticed because of the pain I'm always in. They cleaned everything up, including cutting a portion of my colon off the wall of my abdomen (again), and closed me up. Two months later, the pain was back. I knew what it was, but somehow the doctors know better.
My surgeon told me that adhesions don't cause pain. It's just not possible. (Yeah, okay.) He sent me to a gastroenterologist to find out what's going on. The gastro mentioned IBS but backed off that when I threatened him with a punch in his face if he completed the thought. (I'd been dxed with that numerous times over the years, and remarkably, never once did they find any irritation INSIDE the bowels.) He also informed me that I can't possibly know where the pain is, as abdominal pain is just a general feeling, not specific. (*sigh*) Two new meds and instructions to make sure I eat three meals a day later and I'm in worse pain than ever.
I quit the meds, stopped eating three meals a day (back to one a day, and Slimfast the other two), and started taking Ibuprofin today. Then I decided it was time to join this list. (I found the site shortly before my last surgery, but didn't join then because I didn't think I'd have time.)
My history is much more colorful and gory than that, but I have a feeling that it mirrors many of you so I won't bore you with the details. What I will ask is what can I do? My internist wants to give me shots in the hip for inflammation, and my ob/gyn wants to do surgery again to disconnect everything. I want left in peace to wallow in self-pity. (I know, I know, bad idea, but I'm getting really tired of this.) I guess I'm saying that I'm open to any and all suggestions.
Mary-Ann
>----- Original Message -----
From: measureup01@hotmail.com
To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS"
<adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 7:21 PM
Subject: Re: Please help finding a Dr. or info on SSI
> There is a doctor in the dallas area that is a surgeon. His name is Dr.
> Steckler. He is a very fine doctor and not one to do surgery just
> because. Depending on your situation, he will have you see another
> doctor in Dallas for second opinion, but he is a great surgeon. He did
> my 3rd surgery. But the pain did not come back as quick as the other
> surgeries
>
> Good Luck
>
> Mary
>
> At Tue, 15 Jan 2002, Heather wrote:
> >
> >I recently moved to Dallas ,Tx., from Louisiana. After 10 years of
> >surgeries, treatment, and unknowledgable/unresponsive Drs. I was told
> >Dallas is the place to go. Well, here I am and scared to just take a
> >shot in the dark (tired of being poked in every hole at each initial
> >visit-lol) then to find out, theres nothing they can do. Anyway, hope
> >someone can suggest a good doc. Also, I applied for disability 1 year
> >ago, was turned down and waiting appeal. Anybody made it yet? If so,
> >PLEASE contact me. "Desperatly Seeking Surgeon"