Based on my experience of having lived with ARD for 33 years (massive adhesions resulted from a laparotomy in February 1970), I know how important it is for an adhesion sufferer to learn as much as possible about ARD--and how ARD affects a person's life - physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.
Currently, ARD is not recognized as being either a disease or disorder; however, on October 1, 2002, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)--in conjunction with the National Center for Health Statistics--issued a new ICD-9 code for the application and administration of an adhesion barrier for the prevention of adhesions. This new code will finally give the CMS a means to track the use of adhesion barriers at the conclusion of a surgical procedure. To learn more about the ICD-9 Procedural Code 99.77: Enter: http://www.adhesions.org/ and click: Patient Advocacy.
The following website stresses the importance of learning as much as you can about the medical condition you are having to deal with.
X> Take Charge: The Five Cardinal Steps...VERY IMPORTANT!! http://www.epler.com/s_steps.html
X> The Extraordinary Story of Dr. Roberts http://www.epler.com/s_epsd1.html