Jo,
Thanks for e-mailing me. I've been following your
e-mails for several months now. I've learned so much
from all of you on the web site. I tried getting on
you bombobeach site but I couldn't figure it out, so I
gave up. I haven't felt well enough to tackle it but I
will give it another try in the future. My story is on
the adhesion quilt. I went & saw my surgeon yesterday,
thank goodness he is keeping me on disability for now.
He said he is going to set me up with a "GOOD" Pain
Management Dr. I've been to two others but neither of
them seemed or wanted to know anything about adhesions
& pain. I've been through nothing compared to most of
you but this pain is so all consuming I can't help but
get frustrated. Sadly, I agree, there is comfort in
talking & knowing other people who have adhesions.
I've made a few friends on here that I really enjoy
corresponding with. Thanks so much for all of your
care & concern I really appreciate it. It sounds like
you are having a really positive experience with the
Spray Gel. Please keep all of us posted with your
progress, it's very encouraging. My thoughts & prayers
are with you for a speedy & healthy recovery.
Take Care,
Rita in AZ
--- Jo Eslick <joanne@bombobeach.com> wrote:
> Hi Rita, > > I am not sure if we have met before... I am Joanne > Eslick and I live in > Australia. I had to write and just let you know > that your fighting > spirit shone through your post and I can see the > familiar pattern of > fighting the pain to be normal and fighting to find > a way to live with > the pain until someone listens and believes that you > really are still in > pain!! > > I have just finished writing a paper that describes > my last three > surgeries, the first one was April 2001, then April > 2002 and the most > recent, on August1. I am fortunate to feel pretty > good this time, > SprayGel is available in Australia and I was amongst > the first patients > in my state to receive it. I can't believe the > difference it made to my > recovery and for the first time since February 2000 > I woke up after > surgery only feeling surgery pain only!! NO > ADHESIONS PAIN at all!! It > really was the weirdest feeling, and exhilarating > and intoxicating too! > > I know I struggled to get recognition for my pain > after my disastrous > hysterectomy in Feb 2000 and it was almost twelve > months of a continual > track from doctor to doctor until I found someone > who cared and actually > believed I had pain!! I totally empathise with your > frustration! > > Don't give in to the pain or your employer or > Doctors Rita, keep looking > for someone who will believe you are in pain and > keep seeking answers > and relief. > > I started my own web site, which has become the > Australian Adhesions > Support Group, but all my international ARD friends > are more than > welcome to visit and become members. I have a > section called "How to > Cope" were I have listed and described various > alternative methods to > help control pain in association with pain > medication, or if you haven't > been able to get any.... then at least you can try > these suggestions!! > I also encourage fellow ARD sufferers to contribute > their ideas and ways > of dealing with pain, because I think we can all > learn so much from each > other. > > There is comfort in knowing there are other people’ > suffering as we do > isn’t there? I can remember the first time I > stumbled across this > message board. I cried for hours as I read the > messages on the board > and the stories on the adhesions quilt. There was a > sense of release > and comfort knowing that I wasn't a freak, what I > was suffering was a > very real and painful illness and it WASN'T ALL IN > MY HEAD!! > > If you would like to read my story, please visit > http://www.bombobeach.com and > over this weekend my Webmaster and I will be adding > a new section that > will include my story about my last three surgeries > and the results from > my latest surgery using the SprayGel barrier. > > I am thrilled with my future outlook and now I have > more time and energy > to devote to helping fellow sufferers find their own > peace and > treatment. On Wednesday nights from 8pm to 10pm US > Eastern Standard > time, we meet in the chat room on bombo.... this > week there were up to > nine of us I think, and the transcript of that chat > can be found on the > bottom of the chat page in the archive section. > Perhaps you might like > to join us some time, it is an open invitation for > anyone who reads this > very long post! LOL > > I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers Rita and > watch for your > future posts here and perhaps on bombo's message > board too... > > -- > Love and gentle hugs, > Joanne Eslick > Founder Australian Adhesions Support Group > http://www.bombobeach.com > NSW Australian Co-ordinator of > International Adhesions Society > http://www.adhesions.org > > -- > 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. > > http://www.adhesions.org/forums/listcmds.htm