>Hi,
>I am seated in my recliner looking like I'm ready to give birth any day
>now. The sad part of this equation is, it's a normal occurrence in my
>life. I'm 46 and had a total hysterectomy at 28 because of severe endo
>and even more severe adhesions. And like so many of you, I've spent the
>better part of my life looking for that one magic surgery to cure me.
>I learned to live with the pain a long time ago once I came to realize
>that no matter how many times somebody went in and "cleaned me up", it
>wasn't going to take long before I needed another tidy up. And,unless
>you've got a doctor willing to operate on you over and over again, who's
>been inside your body and knows the condition beforehand, it's VIRTUALLY
>IMPOSSIBLE to convince another one to do so. And, though it saddens me
>to say it,I've come to the conclusion after seven abdominal
>surgeries,"surgery" really isn't the answer, anyway. As a matter of
>fact, it's almost a cruel thing we do to ourselves. We have those few
>months virtually pain free and just when we begin to believe that we've
>finally had the "magical surgery" or found a doctor who really did know
>how to fix us, that familiar tug comes back. As the weeks progress, it
>pulls harder and deeper, and starts to stab again, too. Just when our
>clothes are beginning to fit better our tummies start to balloon up
>again. For us,adhesions may hibernate...but they always find a way to
>wake up.
>
>In my experience which includes four states and the country of New
>Zealand, the reactions fall between "I don't believe adhesions cause
>pain or distention unless they are directly responsible for an
>obstruction. Or, "I don't doubt that adhesions are the root of your
>condition, but I don't touch them. "Personally, I respect the latter
>opinion more,though it does nothing for my physical pain, at least my
>integrity has not been wounded. As a side note, don't bother bringing
>your previous records, in an attempt to "prove" adhesions exist. Most
>"new doctors" in my experience, anyway, act as if they're offended by
>your evidence.
>
>My problem merits a rather unusual scenario,in that I'm petite and
>normally in good physical condition.(5'1" and around 110 pounds) When I
>get distended, I look very abnormal. Now, when this first started
>happening, it seemed like a good thing as I had an external symptom.
>But, I learned quickly, however, NOT TO visit the ER in this condition
>as they took one look and automatically assumed I had a bowel
>obstruction or a tumor. So, I would endure the same tests over and
>over...and over again. Or even worse, the decision would be made to
>insert an NG tube to "decompress". (FYI, if you've not had an NG tube
>and find yourself with the possibility, MAKE SURE you need it before you
>endure this horrible ordeal!)
>
>So, here I am, grossly distended without relief for three full weeks
>now. I am scheduled for CT tomorrow after having an obstruction series
>done last week. Those x-rays were normal,as I said they would be and
>the CT will be normal, too. (My thoughts were just interrupted by a
>call from hospital to confirm my appt. and to make sure I could pay the
>$200.00 registration fee required to have the test performed. Why AM I
>paying for this to be done again?!)
>My new doctor had put me on a powerful round of antibiotics. I've been
>given yet another IBS wonder drug. And, to his credit, he offered pain
>killer without my having to ask. (But, than again, how effective are
>the pills when you've got this kind of pain?) He's been gracious and
>agreed not to admit me into hospital yet since I spent 10 days
>hospitalized in another state this time last year with no surgery and no
>diagnosis. Again, I will credit him for that. I do see a bit of
>compassion in his eyes which somehow makes me feel better, in a weird
>way.
>