Tami Torres wrote:
> Hi fellow pain members, my name is Tami and I just joined this group. First
> to say I am so glad to find out I am not alone in this. I have been
> suffering with this disease for about 10 years, before that 10 years of
> endometriosis. I have two beautiful daughters, who are 7 1/2 years apart.
> I had a complete hysterectomy 5 years ago and have had 3 surgeries since for
> the adheisions. My hysterectomy lasted almost 6 hours due to massive
> adheisions, the doctor couldn't find my ovaries, bladder, ureters or much of
> anything else. Anyway, it's been 2 years since my last surgery and I
> haven't gone back to the doctor. I know what he will tell me. It's that
> time again. I am in terrible pain again. Almost constantly. I am just so
> very tired of this. At times I just can't take it any more. To make it
> even better, I have to be kept awake while under going surgery. I have to
> have an epidural while its being done. My bladder feels like its the size
> of a peanut. During my hysterectomy my doctor told me that the adhesions
> had wrapped completely around the bladder and was squeezing it like some
> type of vice grip or something. Anyway, just wanted to say hi, and thanks
> for listening and how much better I feel knowing I am not alone. For years
> I didn't know anybody else existed out there with this dreadful disease.
> Bless you all, Tami
>
> >From: wallamara@hotmail.com (Wally)
> >Reply-To: adhesions@adhesions.org
> >To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS
> ><adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
> >Subject: Re: New member/bladder adhesions?????
> >Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 17:14:55 -0600
> >
> >Hi Rose, my name is Joanne and there are many of us here who know
> >exactly what mean about adhesions around on or near the bladder. Just
> >the day before yesterday, my GYN told me that adhesions on the bladder
> >are quite common. Nice of them (doctors)to tell us that BEFORE surgery!
> >
> >Rose, I had my hystorectomy in Feb 2000, and if you look it up in the
> >archives you will find my story. I now have reduced capacity in my
> >bladder.....just 300mls immediatley AFTER being stretched under
> >anasthetc. It is healthy on the inside as confirmed by the uroligist
> >when he did the "stretch". My problem is caused by adhesions all over
> >my bladder, after 4 c-sections my bladder, uterous and abdomen were
> >"glued" together with thick adhesions. My hystorectomy took 5 1/2 hrs.
> >I returned for emergency surgery 5 days later. Because the same area
> >had been opened now five times, my muscle wall was weak, and half of my
> >bowel pushed through the muscle wall, forming a large hernia and
> >heamatoma (spelling....agh!). Because of the blood loss during surgery
> >and these 5 days, adhesions rapidly filled the empty space.
> >
> >Rose, I now experience pain before during and after urination and cannot
> >hold even a cup of urine in my bladder. The adhesions prevent the
> >bladder from expanding (the bladder is a bit like a balloon and swells
> >as the urine collects in it), therefore it can cause leackage and or the
> >urine can back up into the kidney's causing infection and can cause
> >other serious problems.
> >
> >I have been using Chinese herbal therepy, and find it has helped with
> >this part of my problem very well, I don't have the pain, and my kidneys
> >donot ache as much. (IT is wonderful to not have a constant back ache).
> >Everyone is different, and because the herbal is working for me, doesn't
> >mean that it will work for everyone. My advice is to try everything, do
> >lots of reading and research....ask lots of questions here on the board.
> >I have been able to make very serious decisions about my future
> >treatment with the help of some of the information here.
> >
> >As for seeing adhesions on a scan, I'm afraid they don't show up. The
> >only way to diagnose adhesions is by laperoscopy. This is a small
> >incision in the or just under the belly button, a small camera is
> >inserted into the abdominal cavity so that the doctor can look around.
> >Laperoscopy provides the least opportunity for more adhesions to form.
> >
> >My laperoscopy revealed that my ovaries are attached to my vagina, my
> >bladder is encased in adhesions and my bowel is adhered to the abdominal
> >wall. I am scheduled for surgery on April 9 to "clean up" and seperate
> >my organs, I was going to have my ovaries removed, but I have
> >reconsidered and will ask the surgeon to just seperate them first, and
> >only remove them if they are too damaged to remain, I am only 37yrs old.
> >
> >Don't loose hope Rose, as a support group, we will answer any question,
> >my motto is the only stupid question is a question that isn't asked. So
> >don't be afraid to ask ANYTHING, if we can't answer it, we will help you
> >find the right place to get the answer.
> >
> >Welcome to the board
> >Cheers and Hugs
> >Jo
> >
> >--
> >You will never never know.......if you don't give it a go :)
> >
>