From: Wendy (wdupont@sasktel.net); Sun Aug 4 01:34:28 2002
Hello All! I am new to this so please bear with me. This has been the most nightmarish two years of my life and I am looking for people to talk with and learn from.
H> If you are eager to learn more about adhesions and what is currently available to help adhesion-sufferers, I can provide you with up-to-date information about adhesions. I have been an active ARD patient advocate ever since the International Adhesions Society went online in April 1999.
H> In January 2002, I went to Germany to have surgery. Dr. Korell applied both SprayGel and Intergel adhesion barriers at the conclusion of my surgery. He performed a second look a week later. Almost seven (7) months have gone by; and I haven't felt any adhesion-related pain.
I have had intermittent pain for over six years and these last two years have had constant continuous pain. I have spent the last two years being poked, prodded, cut open, mistaken surgical procedures and with each operation have continuously got worse. I have not been at work for the better part of the last two years. I tried to return to my job and lasted two months and have been off ever since, I have taken more anti-inflammatories, nsaids, narcotics and antidepressants than i care to count and the emotional rollercoaster is enough to push you over the edge. Recently i was referred to physio and they were using laser to try to break up the adhesions.
H> I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way!! The best surgeons - who are specializing in adhesiolysis procedures - do not use the laser to " break up adhesions."
H> The surgeons -- who are true adhesion specialists -- are very aware of the painful problems that result from post-surgical adhesions. These surgeons are determined to do what they can to prevent the formation of adhesions. They are using their experience and expertise to devise surgical techniques that will lessen surgical-trauma to their patients' abdominal/pelvic organs.
H>Dr. Kruschinski - from Frankfurt, Germany - invented Gasless laparoscopy, which is one of the adhesion-prevention techniques that is helping to prevent surgical trauma. You can read about Gasless laparoscopy at: http://www.endogyn.com/ . Dr. Kruschinski recently performed Lisa's surgery.
In September 2002...Dr. Daniel Kruschinski and Dr. Harry Reich will be opening an *International Endometriosis, ARD, and Myoma Center* at the Emma Klinik in Frankfurt, Germany. These highly experienced laparoscopic surgeons will not only be accepting patients, who suffer from adhesions-related disorder (ARD); but they will also be teaching their adhesion-prevention techniques to surgeons from around the world.
H> Dr. Korell from Duisburg, Germany is another surgeon, who is determined to find a way to lessen the trauma of surgery. Dr. Korell has not only been doing research (for more than 20 years) concerning ARD; but he is also very experienced and skilled in performing laparoscopic procedures. In January 2002, Dr. Korell performed my adhesiolysis; and used both SprayGel (SprayGel is only available in Europe!!) and Intergel to help prevent the return of adhesions. Almost seven (7) months later, I am still adhesion-free.
Nine weeks of this(4 days a week) had me rolling in pain 24hrs a day and when i informed my doc he said that meant it was breaking them up. my pelvic area swelled after each treatment, and the burning stabbing pain wouldn't go below level 6 even after medication. I went to emergency and the doctor on call (not my regular physician) there was in disbelief. He put me on duragesic and told me to take oxycodone for the first 24-72 hrs until the patch became affective. He couldn't believe that I had put myself through hell for over a year. I have only had the patch on for 12 hrs so am keeping my head up hoping that this will be affective. I don't recommend more surgery if you have adhesions. My experience worsened after every surgery and when they remove your ovaries the hormones are very difficult to find the right combination. I am still trying to find the right combination and the removal of my ovaries only added more too deal with and fix and to top it off my ovaries were healthy. I hope you will reconsider that surgery. I wish you all the best on your decision.
H> Unfortunately, unnecessary surgery and removal of perfectly healthy organs are commonly done by surgeons, who are not aware of the special techniques that both Dr. Harry Reich and Dr. Daniel Kruschinski have developed. Often surgeons will combine another procedure with an adhesiolysis; and unfortunately many times healthy organs are removed. H> Surgery for adhesions is very risky for both the surgeon and the patient. The density of the adhesions can make it very difficult for a surgeon to visualize the operating field - and thus inadvertantly nick (cut into) an abdominal/pelvic organ...such as the bowel or bladder, for example.
Many surgeons lack the experience and skill that are so necessary in preventing trauma to the internal organs during laparoscopic procedures. Drs. Reich, Kruschinski and Korell are very skilled with the laparoscope - as a result of having performed thousands of hours of laparoscopic surgery!!
H> Currently...NO surgeon - in the entire world - can guarantee the results of an adhesiolysis procedure - or any other surgical procedure!! However, your *best chance* to become adhesion-free is with these three surgeons!! I said *best chance* -- because it is unrealistic for me to say that ALL adhesion-sufferers will become adhesion-free.