I noticed in your reply & thanks to To Robin that you have a time to wait between qualifying for pain meds..... and you weren't sure how to cope with pain in the mean time.
I have a "how to cope" section on the Asutralian Adhesions website the URL is: http://www.bombobeach.com
My web designer is busy working on the chat room & I hope it will be ready soon, then we will have somewhere to meet and share our experiences & ideas for coping with pain, it will also give us a chance to share our ideas & through msn & ICQ chats with many of the regulars here we find ourselves exchanging recepie & craft ideas, poems, joke & stories.... all of these things help us cope day by day.
I hope you will drop by & visit our beach... we wanted it to feel relaxing & welcoming & laid back, in the true Aussie sense ... it's how we live!
I hope you get the relief from medication that you need soon, visit us here, and we will support you... it's OK to complain and describe your pain,you will always find someone who has a similar experienc to you. It's weird, but there is an odd sort of comfort that someone else has experienced it & understands what you are complaining about....
Please let me know if I can help you with anything.... or if you have a suggestion to add the the "How to cope" section!
Love & gentle hugs Jo http://www.bombobeach.com
At Thu, 14 Feb 2002, Heather wrote:
>
>At Wed, 13 Feb 2002, Robin wrote:
>>
>>Dear Heather
>>My adhesion problem started over 18 years ago. Having pain off/on until
>>a few years ago when I started having it 24/7. I have had every test
>>there is & none of them show adhesions. There is actually no test left
>>for them to give to me. Some tests might show your intestines twisted
>>because of the adhesions & some tests they might have a hard time
>>finding an organ, but not one test that actually shows adhesions.
>>Sometimes a colonoscopy might show signs that the intestines are twisted
>>are narrowed. It is a good thing to go through all the tests, because
>>that will show the Dr that you really want to find out what is wrong
>>with you. Once, a Dr recomended a test that I had already had, well I
>>told him they didn't find anything & he accused me of just wanting pain
>>meds, well, since then, I do any and all tests that are recomended. Yes,
>>I want pain meds, am I addicted to them? Well, only as far as I am
>>addicted to life. I guess I could live with out the meds, but then I
>>would be totally bed riden & in horrible pain. That happened to me when
>>they cut my meds back a few years ago. I was to take only 2 pain pills
>>a day (grown men with broken legs only take 3) & of course I could take
>>ibuprofin 2 times a day. So, my advise is to do all tests, just to rule
>>out anything else. There hagve been cases where additional problems
>>were found during the test. Good luck to you.
>>robin
>>
>Thanks Robin for the reply, I appreciate it very much! As of this
>morning I applied for individual health care coverage and now have to
>wait until March 1st for it to become effective. Then I can schedule an
>appointment with my GYN that did the first two scopes and see what he
>recommends. In the mean time I have 14 days to countdown till I can
>even get some pain meds...Ibruprofin, just doesn't even cut it anymore!
>And if I call now about getting any type of advice or treatment for the
>abdominal pain, then it will be considered a pre-exisisting condition
>and the insurance won't cover a dime of anything I have done related to
>the adhesions! So, as for now I'm in another catch 22 and will just have
>to wait it out!! Everyday is getting worse and more frustrating...I know
>where you are coming from in regard to having all possible tests
>done...been there and will do it again if I have to! Please say prayers
>if you don't mind that these next 2 weeks go by quickly and as of March
>1st everything works out with the insurance and I can begin to get
>relief! Thanks again for the reply and hope to talk with you again
>sometime, I appreciate you listening yo my story and giving me a chance
>to vent! My fiancee is wonderful, as he's been with me throughout every
>test and surgery, but sometimes I feel bad constently venting to him
>alone about how I'm feeling, as I know it is hard for him to see me this
>way. So, my appreciation to you is very deep.
>Have a great day, and hope you are feeling well.
>Heather
>>At Tue, 12 Feb 2002, Heather wrote:
>>>
>>>Hello all...I've read many of your postings and related to many. I have
>>>had 2 laparoscopies with lysis of adhesions in Sep 99 and Aug 00. The
>>>first experience I went through the whole gammet of tests with no
>>>apparent findings, until finally the GI I was seeing recommended I see
>>>my OB-GYN to discuss possible endometriosis. After the first scope
>>>adhesions were found and removed..along with very, very
>>>hyperperastalsis. Not a year later...the pain returned. Then the
>>>second scope came with again lysis of adhesions however, the recovery
>>>turned into a nightmare for me, as in the recovery room, I experienced
>>>uncontrolled shaking and ended up being diagnosed with seizures (WHICH I
>>>AM HAPPY TO NOW SAY WAS NOT THE CASE..the neurologist was completely
>>>wrong. I ended up on Dilantin and became toxic on it..thus ending up
>>>back in the hospital for treatment of that. It ended up being a 2 month
>>>recovery and loss of my job for excessive absenteeism. So...as for
>>>today, I have been having pain for the past 3 weeks, with it getting
>>>worse. I have that sharp, stabbing pain in my right lower quadrant,
>>>constant cramps, and abdominal distention. I also experience pain with
>>>intercourse. I am 90% sure that the adhesions are back and I know
>>>what's going to happen next...however I am very scared!
>>>I guess I am just in need of venting my frustrations to those who
>>>understand and also was wondering if anyone has had any tests done,
>>>other than a scope, that have shown adhesions or if anyone has any great
>>>advice on what has worked for you to help stay pain free for a long
>>>period of time. Thanks for reading this. Heather.
-- I am not a medical person, and all my messages are based on personal experience. I am a fellow adhesions sufferer reaching out to help others.