13 YR. OLD HAVING SURGERY FOR ADHESIONS AGAIN

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Sat Aug 3 20:31:19 2002


Dear Cathy, I have responded within your messages below: 1.) From: CConrad8@aol.com Fri Aug 2 18:27:57 2002

Cathy: Hi, my daughter saw the surgeon this morn and he says she has a incisional hernia and probably more adhesions, from her last 4 surgeries. She is in a ton of pain and taking vicodin alot.

Helen: I am so sorry to hear that your daughter is experiencing so much pain - at such a young age!! Unfortunately, adhesions do form after surgical procedures. Additional surgeries will only cause the formation of more adhesions - and increased pain!! Adhesions are the body's way of healing and protecting itself; and research is ongoing - to find a way to surpass the body's ability to form adhesions.

Cathy: They scheduled her sugery for aug 29th. I can't believe they are going to take that long.

Helen: Is your daughter scheduled to have surgery with the same surgeon, who performed her previous surgeries? Sometimes a decision made in haste is not the right decision. I sense you're very concerned about your daughter -- and eager to see her freed from the pain she is experiencing. Have you taken the time to learn as much as you can about your daughter's medical situation - adhesions and a hernia? If not, now is a good time to begin to learn about adhesions and hernias!! There is a lot of information stored within the International Adhesions Society Archives.

Helen: You have my permission to contact me by email for information about adhesions and hernias. The Hernia information is from a general surgeon, who provides the best surgical procedure possible for people, who suffer from adhesions and hernias. This surgeon will accept email from people, who are considering surgery. He is one of the best surgeons in the United States!!

Cathy: Also, any ideas on his plan, to go in and cut open her abdomen, fix hernia then put scope in and take down adhesions if needed.

Helen: I'm not sure what you mean when you say: "cut open her abdomen." Does the surgeon plan to do an open abdominal procedure (laparotomy)? Next, you said: "...then put scope in and take down adhesions." Does he plan to perform a laparotomy or a laparoscopy? If his plan is to do a laparoscopy, I have a problem with that!! The surgeon, I previously mentioned, told me that the best procedure for hernia repair is an open abdominal procedure!! (To know more about what this surgeon says about Hernia surgery, please contact me by email.) To learn more about Hernias, please go to:

http://www.yoursurgery.com/ProcedureDetails.cfm?BR=1&Proc=26

Cathy: She is so young to go through all this, her first surgery was at 3 months for umbilical hernia, then at 9 for meckels diverticulum, lost 3 feet of ileum due to blockage, then another adhesion caused a total blockage at 11 then last december she had a lap for a ton of adhesions now we seem to be back to square one again. Thanks for any replies. Cathy

Helen: Based on what your daughter has already been through, I highly suggest that you seek a surgeon, who specializes in difficult adhesiolysis procedures - and who has the best and most current knowledge as to the best way to repair your daughter's hernia. Choice of surgeon could make a big difference in the result she has from a soon-to-happen surgery!!

~ ~ ~ ~Please continue reading my response to Cathy's second message:

2.) From: CConrad8@aol.com Sat Aug 3 10:05:56 2002

Cathy: HI, powder free gloves, that is interesting.

Helen: Surgeons in the past used surgical gloves that had talc on them. At some point in the past, research discovered that talc on surgical gloves contributes to the formation of adhesions. At this time, I assume surgeons are using talc-free gloves; but, since this is a valid concern, it certainly doesnt hurt to ask your surgeon.

Cathy: She is having a really good doctor at childrens hospital in denver dr. bensard, he did her lap last dec, the doctors in my hometown that aren't used to operating on kids i think caused all this mess in her.

Helen: The formation of adhesions is the way the body heals and protects itself following a surgery. There are NO surgeons in the entire world, who can guarantee that adhesions will not form after a surgical procedure Surgeons, who are adhesion specialists, have devised special microscopic surgical techniques that will cause the least amount of trauma to the abdominal/pelvic cavity; and they are having some success!!

Cathy: Actually she is 5"5 now, not so little but she is very outgoing, plays soccer , has lots of friends etc, lately she only wants to stay in her room and is making statement that she would rather be dead than keep having this pain, she has never talked like this before, scares me to death.

Helen: As a former adhesion-sufferer myself, I can understand your daughter's behavior. After having to live with pain for an extended period of time, chronic pain leads to depression. I experienced this myself. It was counseling and anti-depressant medication that helped me through a very painful time in my life.

Cathy: I did ask about spray gel, he said the body rejects it alot and its not adventageous. They are going to use mesh on the hernia. Thanks for writing me. Cathy

Helen: Your surgeon must have meant Seprafilm and Interceed; because surgeons had not been having very good success with either one of these barriers. He was NOT referring to SprayGel!! SprayGel is not even available in the United States yet. In June 2002 clinical trials on SprayGel began in Georgia.

Helen: In November 2001, the European Union approved SprayGel for surgical use in Europe!! In January 2002 went to Germany to have surgeryI I also had a second look laparoscopy about a week after my initial surgery. Dr. Korell applied both SprayGel and Intergel. It's been almost 7 months since my surgery - and so far I have not experienced any sign of adhesion pain!!! SprayGel shows great promise in being an adhesion barrier that has the proclivity to prevent adhesions. Please go to this website to learn more about SprayGel: http://www.confluentsurgical.com/

~ ~ ~ ~Please continue reading the next message:

3.) From: CConrad8@aol.com Sat Aug 3 10:08:09 2002

Cathy: I will ask the doctor about the OxyContin, my daughter can't last a whole month in this type of pain, i am going to call monday and see if they will move it up or maybe i can get on a waiting list for cancellations. Cathy

Helen: OxyContin has been recognized as a drug that helps to relieve pain!! You need to be aware that this drug will cause constipation. For more information about OxyContin, please go to: http://www.rxlist.com/ .


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