Re: Appearances Can Be Deceiving...

From: khickey (khickey@mciworld.com)
Sat Dec 4 06:33:33 1999


I wanted to let everyone know that.... Dr. Semertzides called me last night, and spoke to me for over 1 hour. He was very informative, and seemed to genuinely care about the problems I was going through. He explained to me that because of the severe endometriosis I had since early teens, I was probably full of scar tissue. He went on the explain how and where adhesions like to attach themselves. He was the only person I have ever talked to that explained it in such a matter that I was able to understand. I felt like crying because everything he was saying was exactly how my life pain cycle had been going. I was so glad to know that I was not "abnormal" in my adhesion pain cycle. He told me about how other doctors have spoken to me, (not even knowing them, and not having a history of my doctors) and the things they have most likely suggested for me to do to get rid of the pain. He was right on the money. I told him that one doctor told me, I was a gorgeous girl, and if I would lose 40 lbs., and leave my husband, I would be happy and forget that I was having so much pain. He was floored. I am so glad that my family physician allowed me to be referred to Dr. Semertzides. I am not pursuing anything with him until I get ALL of my records from my doctor in Chicago. I lived there until 1992, and then moved to the Dayton/Cinci area. My records are spread over 3 hospitals, but I am going to get them, and he wants to look them over for me. He will read them, and then he is looking at doing the endo...(down the nose), or a laparoscopy during the break from school, so I don't have to miss any work. That is the one advantage of working for a school district. I have the whole summer off, and all holidays. I am looking forward to starting this process with Dr. S. He told me he is 48 years old, and has had numerous experiences with adhesions, but has a very high success rate, with the new barriers. He told me of one woman who had a surgery every year for 13 years due to adhesions, and he was able to get her out of surgery for a longer period of time with the barriers. I am having a large amount of pain today, but it is pouring rain outside, and that does seem to make a huge difference in the pain cycle for me. I am going to act like it is a "good" day, and maybe I can get some Christmas lights, and shopping done today. Thanks to all of you for your help and support. Thanks again, Kim -----Original Message----- From: Helen Dynda <olddad66@runestone.net> To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS <adhesions@talk.obgyn.net> Date: Friday, December 03, 1999 12:58 PM Subject: Re: Appearances Can Be Deceiving...

>It is really unfortunate that we are sometimes judged by the way we look
>and act by our doctors, friends, and sometimes even by our own family.
>It is actually unfair!!
>
>To help block pain signals from reaching the brain, chronic pain people
>need to consciously "think positive thoughts" and doing whatever is
>necessary to help bring on "a pleasant attitude" toward life
>experiences. These are known ways which will help to deter us from
>complaining and dwelling on negative thoughts. Negativity only
>increases our sensation of pain!
>
>Humor is another way to block pain - humor in spite of how much pain a
>person is experiencing. "Put on a happy face" and find ways to "make
>light" of whatever life hands you.
>
>I know that I somehow managed to include humor in my life - without
>realizing that humor is psychological technique; and without realizing
>that my use of humor was actually helping to lower my pain level.
>
>Recently I read that humor can actually reduce a person's pain level.
>With practice, humor can actually become a comfortable part of a
>person's personality - a natural response which can be easily available
>to help to block the sensation of pain and thus help bring a person's
>pain level down to a more manageable level. Try it - it works!
>
>- - - - - - -
>
>At Fri, 3 Dec 1999, Sharonda Moore wrote:
>>
>>Rhonda,
>>
>>One strong piece of advice - ignore. You can't even entertain what they
say >>to you. Most people around us don't know what its like to go through long
>>term illness. They conjure up images of people like Richard Pryor with
MS, >>Muhammed Ali with Parkinson's - people have the visual signs of an
illness. >>
>>I am grateful for the people that are "healthy" looking coming out about
>>their illnesses..Montel Williams, Michael J. Fox and others. Now the
world >>can see that people with 40-60 hours schedules and kids and numerous
>>commitments can be sick - even their coworkers didn't know.
>>
>>We hide our pain in the dark, it becomes an involuntary action. We don't
>>want pity, be portrayed as the resident hypochondriac, or too much
>>attention, or if we ignore it maybe it will go away. For whatever reason,
>>we hide it. I simply get quiet - I don't yell out in pain or cry or
>>anything obvious, this is my battle - so I understand.
>>
>>Concentrate on documenting how you feel and keeping good records for your
>>doctors. Continue to do what you do, when we put on makeup and wear
decent >>clothing - it sometimes can make us feel better, even if in a small way.
>>
>>Sharonda
>>
>>>From: rwhite@alston.com (Rhonda )
>>>Reply-To: adhesions@obgyn.net
>>>To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS
>>>Subject: Appearances Can Be Deceiving...
>>>Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 12:20:51 -0600
>>>
>>>Yesterday someone made the comment to me that because I don't look sick,
>>>I will have a hard time convincing a doctor that I'm truly in pain and
>>>need to have my adhesions dealt with. I do take the time some days to
>>>put on make-up because it makes me feel better. I also dress relatively
>>>well. I work in a conservative law firm so I can't wear jeans to work.
>>>I've been overweight for years so I'm not exactly skin & bones.
>>>
>>>The person that said this to me said that she can't even tell when I'm
>>>in pain. I work very hard to make myself look presentable and I have
>>>the "stiff upper lip" mentality so I'm not one to allow casual/business
>>>acquaintances to know I'm feeling. Am I to be penalized by the doctors
>>>just because I don't look like I'm at death's door and because my manner
>>>is almost always sunny? I was raised to never allow my personal feelings
>>>to show to anyone other than immediate family.
>>>
>>>Ordinarily someone else's opinion wouldn't concern me but this person is
>>>usually right on the money when it comes to things of this nature. It
>>>really bothers me that I'm being judged on this basis.
>>>
>
>--
>The 15th century proverb which summarizes the purpose of medicine is:
>* To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always. *
>


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