Re: questions
From: Cheryl (woodenflower52@aol.com)
Sat Oct 19 05:58:05 2002
At Fri, 18 Oct 2002, Toni wrote:
>
>Hi everyone...I have been silently reading everyone else's posts and
>decided it was time to post my own. I am 42. I had 2 c-sections, 1
>hysterectomy with left ovary removal, 1 small bowel obstruction, 1
>gallbladder removal; all done abdominally not lap. It has been 15 years
>since I have had surgery and over the last couple years it has been to
>where it is affecting the quality of my life. A lot of times I can
>ignore it, but not anymore. I also have been put through the wringer of
>diagnostic testing. But noone has mentioned the possibility of
>adhesions even though I look like a road map. I am having sharp pain in
>my lower left quadrant that normally shoots down into the pelvic area
>and is now traveling around my side and to my back? I also have frequent
>UTI infections (at least 5/6 yearly). Daily I get this horrible
>contracting feeling that reminds me so much of the beginning stages of
>labor. I tell everyone it's like I'm giving birth to my bladder. I
>have been trying to deal with this on my own, going to doctors then
>giving up, then going to doctors. I am now seeing a surgeon who has run
>the upper GI and ultrasound (normal) and now wants to run on Thursday
>(again) a colonoscopy. Does this sound like adhestions, and if this
>colonoscopy is normal, do I have the right as a patient to request a
>lap? Thanks.
--
Yes!! You have the right to request anything you want to. Whether or
not the Dr. will comply is up to him/her. I also had all the tests
and had previous obstruction surgery years ago. Recently, after much
pain and various tests, everything negative, I requested my ob/gyn do
a lap scope to try and determine the problem. She told me as soon as
she got the scope in she could not view any organs because of massive
adhesions. She backed her instruments back out and closed. She told
me I would need to find a surgeon more skilled than her to do an adhesiolisys.
I have been turned down by 4 different surgeons. They all agree and
say that there is too much of a possiblity or nicking or perforating
intestines or organs. They will only do surgery in the case of a complete
bowel obstruction. If you do find a Dr. to do your lap, make sure you
discuss with him/her what he will do if there are alot of adhesions.
You don't want to make things any worse than they are. For me, just
knowing adhesions are there and are the problem is enough. I will
continue with the pain clinic to manage the pain untill the medical
community finds a way to get rid of them and prevent them from coming
back. No surgery for me now!! Your friend wishing you good luck and
less painful days and nights.....Cheryl Cole