Re: Questions on Pelvic CT Scans.

From: Karla N (ifirgit@yahoo.com)
Thu May 16 06:36:58 2002


Millie, Okay, take a deep breath, let it out slowly, very slowly, now relax. You do not have an obstruction....the CT would show it. I can almost guarantee you, Millie, that what you have is of course adhesions. Adhesions that have pulled some of your bowel out of place. Being out of place gives you the sensation of pressure. You don't pass a lot of gas and the stool that you pass can be very small. I have this same exact feeling and no, it didn't show up on my ct scan that I had last week either. But, they never do. I would suggest to you that you find another doctor. Or go back to your other doctor (I wouldn't). But sit down with them and (if you are at a new doctor) tell them your story. Tell them that you know that you are depressed...that you have every reason to be depressed. You live in constant pain and have noone who is willing to help you deal with it. Tell them that you think your hormones are out of balance...but whatever the case is you want and need to be treated. Tell them that you will treat them with the respect that is accorded a doctor, but at the same time you demand that same respect back. Don't allow them to cow you into a corner. Stand tall. Arm yourself with all the information from the IAS site as well as the ASAP site. Give the doctor the information about adhesions. Then tell him that you know what your rights are and that you want to be treated for your pain. Don't let them give you Tylenol 3...(what are you taking now anyway?)...but the big thing is to stand up to them....let them know that you know what you are talking about. Don't focus on being obstructed...because you are not. But, you are in pain and they need to deal with that. The thing that you need to remember is that when they give you drugs for your pain you will tend to constipate...so either eat things that will help prevent that or ask for medication to prevent it. You are not going to get anywhere by going into a doctor's office and allowing them to intimidate you. Stand up for yourself! It's okay to cry....but don't whine. State your problems as clearly and matter-of-factly as you can. Then tell them, if you had all of this going on in your life you would be depressed too. Accept the medication that they give you for depression...because you are depressed and you do need to do something about it...but you aren't alone. I take meds for depression....probably 90% of the people on the list do. I don't know anything about rectoceles or the other one. I will try and look that up...or if you have the time search the internet for information...but don't worry. Enjoy your day as best you can. Love, Karla

> Millie <milliem@citlink.net> wrote: Karla,I finally received the results of the Ct scan, and the gastro and the surgeon both said it was 'perfectly normal.'But I'm still having the pressure and trouble getting rid of gas, and loose stool. The contrast I drank was white. It was Barium Sulfate. Then they injected a dye into my arm.I am just about at the end of my rope. Have you ever gotten to that point? I emailed Dr. Redan on either Friday, or Saturday, and I told him I didn't yet know the results of the Ct scan. He said if I felt I was having an obstruction, to head to the nearest hospital, and to contact my family Dr.Karla, remember I went to Dr. 'B.' almost 2 weeks ago, crying my eyes out. I told him I felt that was because of the hormones probably being out of kilter. He NEVER OFFERED to do any bloodwork of any kind!!! I told him I had adhesions cut whan I had the hyst, and that I KNOW they come back and cause pain and MORE trouble.I was met with, "NO. You're depressed." No kidding, Karla, and it gets worse. I had the barium swallow last June or July, which didn't show anything. I had a colonoscope last year, which she said was 'normal,' but the right side of the colon wasn't cleaned well at all.(I couldn't take the phosphosoda like I was supposed to.) Have you ever seen any info on enteroceles, or rectoceles? I often wonder since I have this other trouble, if it could be an enterocele or rectocele.The surgeon did a rectal last week, and said there was no rectal prolapse.Thanks for listening.Millie.Dr. Redan said he hadn't seen me in a while, and he wouldn't be in til next week. That was this past weekend he answered.Should I try to email him again? I am praying he didn't read Jean's remark about what I did "to myself".What tests are left that I could ask for? This is really getting to me, and where I live, I feel so alone, a
From: Karla N To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2002 11:13 AMSubject: Re: Questions on Pelvic CT Scans.

Millie, CT scans do not show adhesions...with or without the contrast. But they will show bowel that is pulled out of place by adhesions...that is how they can say that you have adhesions from a ct...not by seeing the adhesion itself but by the positioning of your bowel. CT scans with or without contrast will also show obstructions....the contrast just highlights things more and makes it much easier to see. I suppose something could slip by if they didn't use contrast. You drank white contrast? The contrast I have drank with my CT's has always been clear...well either a Tang type liquid or most recently a kool-aid liquid. I don't remember any white contrast...but that could just be what my particular hospitals use. If there were some emergent problem..like an obstruction...the radiologist would be on the phone with your doctor immediately. Well, that is what happened in my case. If this test shows nothing I would question your doctor a little bit. Does the scan show anything that would indicate adhesions? Are your bowels in their normal position or are they pulled into another spot? I wouldn't go out looking for any more tests if the ct is "normal". Actually, if the ct shows the bowel is out of place because of adhesions I wouldn't get any more tests either. You don't need any more to tell you that you have adhesions. You have the pain. You have the bowel problems. That and your history say adhesions. Nothing short of surgery with a specialist is going to change anything or help you. Don't focus on the possibility of your having an obstruction. The stress of all of that will cause you a! lot more problems. Millie, do you remember when you first came on this list? Are you having any different or worse problems than you were then? At that time you were very worried about obstructions and the ng tube. Fortunately, you didn't have an obstruction and I think you were able to let go of the worries...you didn't focus on the possibilities of an obstruction for a LONG time. I would try and let go of the worry. It doesn't do you any good. No doctor is going to let you go with an obstruction. That would be lawsuit time. Yes you have lots of pain...that is normal with adhesions. Yes, you have bowel problems....that also is very normal with adhesions. Many of us go to the bathroom very little....that doesn't mean we all have obstructions...thank God. I have gone as long as ten days without having a bowel movement....yet I didn't have an obstruction. It was quite uncomfortable, but it eventually worked its ! way through. I think you have mentioned that you eat very little. That very well could be the reason that you are only passing a small amount of stool. I know that my habits change considerably based on what I eat and what I don't eat...including the amounts. I can go from being almost constipated to having considerable diarrhea in two minutes. That is all a part of having adhesions on my bowels. Please relax. Don't worry about being obstructed or having an ng tube until you are or you need the tube. You are causing yourself undo stress. This too could affect your bowels and your level of pain. If you start vomiting within a very short time of eating and you don't feel nauseated...then you should be a little concerned. But there's no sense worrying until you know that there is a definite problem. Love ya! Karla

Hi,I have some more questions,( as usual.)Yesterday, I had a pelvic CT scan of the pelvis, with contrast. I am wondering if Karla, or Helen D., or anyone had had one of these.I'm wondering what the scan can show. I'm certain I'm loaded with adhesions, and I have constant pain, discomfort, and a lot of bowel problems.Since you drink the white contrast, can they see the outline of the bowel, as if it may be pulled out of shape? If the radiologist saw something he didn't like, wouldn't he call the Dr. right away?I also had a dye injected in my arm.If this test shows nothing, what should I do next? What other tests are there?Are there any sites on Ct scans?Many thanks.Millie.


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