I personally thought this was not needed!!!!! I chose how long to be
there, he never told me I needed to be there for 3 weeks. My first
surgery, I left the hospital the next day, pain free even though I was
on some meds, it was because the meds I was on had to be decreased
slowly. My 2nd look surgery I left that day. I am now only on 15 mg of
MS Contin for another 9 days, then I get to lower it to one pill a day
and then none. Getting off such strong pain meds have to be done
slowly. In fact as I talked to my husband every day, he kept telling me
to take more meds to help with the withdrawl symptoms, but I have always
been too determined to get off meds too soon for my own good.
.We had less time in Germany, (quicker recovery?)
>and I see that as a blessing as we were able to return to our family
>sooner!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also had a friend there that I wanted to be able to spend time with. I also wanted to be as comfortable as possible for my over 12 hour flight alone. I also was then facing a 6 hour car ride all the way to my home. While I was there, after my surgeries on Tuesdays, I went site seeing, walking so much that my feet hurt. I can't remember the last time I walked so much, or shopped so much or even felt like shopping. I spent 1 1/2 hours yesterday at Wal Mart with my daughter. I wanted to hop, skip, run & jump!! I cant remember the last time I spent 5 mins there, but I know I was in a motorized cart, and this time, I was walking!!!! Money was an issue for me, yes, that is a shame, but It is the truth when I say if we had to come up with more money, I would not be adhesion free today!!! robin
At Thu, 26 Jun 2003, Karen Steward wrote:
>
>Robin,
> Thanks so much for taking the time to fill out the study form!
>I hope others from both Dr. Korell and Dr. Kruschinski will
>take the time to fill it out.
> Melissa will be filling out the form also..........however, I have
>to get her to slow down long enough to do it....but will post it for
>others to see.......Melissa arrived in Germany in pain as most of
>you know........she was advised to take pain meds with her as we
>were told the pain medication in Germany was different.
>
>Melissa, even though she was always ill, did not take much pain
>medication. She tried to always get by on OTC's.............
>
>For the trip to Germany, she took RX's of Oxycontin and Percocet
>with her that she had left from the California surgery (which left her
>wracked with pain for 8-12 weeks)...........
>
>Melissa was surprised and relieved to find that she needed very
>little pain medication after surgery with Dr. Kruschinski using the
>AbdoLift. She said, "I am sore, but not in pain----this is tolerable."
>She only used the suppositories that Dr. Kruschinski provided,
>(and he had to insist she use those).............as she told me, "if
>it doesn't go in by mouth, it doesn't go in"...............
>
>It wasn't until surgery with Dr. Kruschinski that we learned so much
>about CO2 and the harm it does to the body............we mistakenly
>thought the "pain" after surgery in Texas and California was from the
>surgery itself. In Germany Melissa did not experience the same type
>of pain she had in the previous surgeries in the States. Now, we know
>that much of the pain she had in the States was due to CO2!! Her
>recovery time was much faster and when we left Germany on the
>22nd, Melissa was on no pain meds at all.
>
>I would also like to confirm the years of experience of Dr. Korell,
>as you have stated 25 years experience in each post. I do not know
>the years of experience Dr. Kruschinski has, as I never asked.
>I only knew he was turning out well patients with quick recovery time.
>That was all I needed to know. If that is important to some people
>maybe we should add that information to our study.......................
>
>For myself, years upon years do not carry any merit......I only want
>to hear results!
>
>Melissa's first surgeon stated he had 37 years of surgery experience.
>She was no better after her surgery with him........he was a wonderful
>person,
>and though he had many years of experience, it was of no benefit
>to Melissa. So, all in all, I learned that years of experience is not wh t
>counts when it comes to getting well.............
>
>I have nothing against Dr. Korell, just as you say you have nothing
>against Dr. Kruschinski................I only want people reading the
>board that are in pain to consider each posting. In the states, we
>have all been like cattle led to water, but there is nothing to drink!!
>
>It would be a disservice to anyone considering surgery to make the
>wrong choice in surgeons, especially when making a decision to
>travel to Germany............thus, the reason for my post.
>
>And once again, you bring up money...............however, we cannot
>base what one doctor charges against another, as they are operating
>out of different hospitals, providing different surgery techniques, and
>providing different accommodations for the patients. Therefore they have
>different expenses.
>Bringing dollars into the equation is not in the best interest of the
>patient
>or the surgeon. There is no way to "price comparison"
>quick recovery, no cell death, OR extraordinary success results!
>We had less time in Germany, (quicker recovery?)
>and I see that as a blessing as we were able to return to our family
>sooner!!!!!!!!!!!!
>So Dr. Kruschinski may have more expenses to cover, but the patient is
>at MUCH lower risk in all areas.
>
>And this is my opinion and our experience!!
>
>Thanks Robin,
>
>Karen
>
>-------Original Message-------
>
>From: adhesions@adhesions.org
>Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 07:03:08 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS
>Subject: Re: Robin/Korell--Kruschinski
>
>Dear Karen,
>I filled out the study form. I am taking pain meds so that I can slowly
>decrease them. I was on > Duragesic 75 patch, 60 mg 2 x day Morphing
>(MS Contin), 15-20 mg of codine every 3 hours, Ibuprofin 800, equgesic,
>Paxil & Buspar (anti depressants that should help with pain) Temazapam
>for sleep. (That doesn't count the meds I tried that did not work for
>me)
>NOW I am on 15 mg Morphine for 2 weeks, then 1 pill a day for 2 weeks,
>then off them totally. Using 5 mg codine to help with any withdrawl
>symptoms. Before surgery, even with a sleep pill, I was waking several
>times a night, now it is so much better.
>I do need to say that DR Korell has 25 years experience with removing
>adhesions. I paid almost 3,000 Euros less & I stayed for 3 weeks
>instead of only 2. I have nothing against Dr Kruschinski, I do not know
>any thing really about him. It is a decission that each person needs to
>make based on their situation. I do not know many of the names of
>people that have been to DR Korell. But I do know he has had success
>with more than with me, using the spray gel.
>I wish you luck with your study,
>love & prayers to all,
>robin M
>
>--
>
>>My name:_Robin Massengill___My Surgeon:__DR Korell___
>>
>>Pain before surgery (scale 0 -10): 10
>>Pain after surgery (scale (0-10):2
>>How much pain meds were you on prior to surgery:
>
>C>What were the pain medications prior to surgery:
>> Duragesic 75 patch, 60 mg 2 x day Morphing (MS Contin), 15-20 mg of co ine
>every 3 hours, Ibuprofin 800, equgesic, Paxil & Buspar (anti depressants
>that should help with pain) Temazapam for sleep
>
>>How much pain med were you on after your surgery:
>
>>What were the pain medications after your surgery:
>>30 mg 2x day of Morphine & 5to 10 mg Vicodin
>
>>Activity level prior to surgery (scale 0-10):0
>>Activity level after surgery (scale 0-10):7
>>
>>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in the US? 6
>>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in Germany? 2 (and 2, 2nd look )
>>
>>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr. Korell? yes
>
>>If so, why? In Nov 2000, he was using Intergel. It did not keep the
>adhesions from returning.
>>
>>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr.
>>Kruschinski?
>>If so, why?
>>
>>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after
>>adhesion surgery with Dr. Korell, in Germany or the US:
>>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like)
>>
>>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after
>>adhesion surgery with Dr. Kruschinski, in Germany or the US:
>>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like)
>
>At Wed, 25 Jun 2003, Karen Steward wrote:
>>
>> Robin,
>>
>>Thanks for the response to my questions concerning Dr. Korell. I do thi
>>there needs to be clarification between the two German doctor's and the
>>techniques being used.
>>
>>Many postings have been made concerning Dr. Kruschinski and the
>>success that patients are achieving through his surgery techniques.
>>Your recent post about Dr. Korell has confused some patients. I have
>>received personal letters regarding the two surgeons.
>>
>>I believe it is only in the best interest of ARD sufferers to know all e
>>facts
>>before making a decision concerning such an important surgery! We must
>>make a unified effort to bring complete clarification between the two
>>surgeons! I firmly believe we would both be doing a disservice to the
>>suffering patient if we do not state facts, techniques, & results
>>between Dr. Kruschinski and Dr. Korell.
>>
>>I am thrilled for your successful surgery with Dr. Korell............th is
>>the
>>same story we are wanting others to hear! You did mention pain
>>medications, waiting to see if you are free of adhesion pain and costs. ou
>>stated that Dr. Korell is not as expensive as Dr. Kruschinski. We must t
>>allow a dollar bill to come between success stories being posted on thi
>>site.................Although the cost may be more or less from one doc r
>>to
>>another, we would not want money to sway a patient considering going to
>>Germany because of cost differences, as these are two very different,
>>unique individuals, using two very different techniques, different
>>hospitals, different facilities, etc..........the two doctor's would
>>obviously
>>have different expenses!
>>
>>We would all agree if we are making such a drastic step to fly to Germa ,
>>we want the BEST possible outcome of that endeavor!
>>
>>Patients must KNOW!!
>>
>> Dr. Kruschinski uses SprayGel, but no CO2 (gas).
>>
>>Dr. Korell uses Spraygel and gas (CO2).
>>
>>I would love everyone that has been to Germany to begin postings
>>answers to the following questions and let's do a comparison:
>>
>>My name:____________My Surgeon:_____________
>>
>>Pain before surgery (scale 0 -10):
>>Pain after surgery (scale (0-10):
>>How much pain meds were you on prior to surgery:
>>What were the pain medications prior to surgery:
>>
>>How much pain med were you on after your surgery:
>>What were the pain medications after your surgery:
>>
>>Activity level prior to surgery (scale 0-10):
>>Activity level after surgery (scale 0-10):
>>
>>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in the US?
>>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in Germany?
>>
>>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr. Korell?
>>If so, why?
>>
>>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr.
>>Kruschinski?
>>If so, why?
>>
>>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after
>>adhesion surgery with Dr. Korell, in Germany or the US:
>>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like)
>>
>>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after
>>adhesion surgery with Dr. Kruschinski, in Germany or the US:
>>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like)
>>
>>I would love to collect the data between surgeons. Robin, since you are he
>>only one I currently know that has been to Dr. Korell, it would be hard or
>>me to collect the data......do you know of others we could get data fro
>>Would you help gather data for this important study?
>>
>>Thanks a lot,
>>
>>Karen
>>
>>.
>
>.
>