My advice for you is to read thru previous informational postings to the forum for the names of doctors to help you. Helen Dynda & Bev Doucette are particulary helpful & accurate. I know either one would not mind a personal contact. Or contact me, I would like to talk or whatever.
Good Luck Kay in WI
Find a doctor who believes he knows how to help you!
>----- Original Message -----
From: "Deborah & Jean-Marc" <dasje@telusplanet.net>
To: "Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS" <adhesions@forum.obgyn.net>
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 12:32 PM
Subject: Desperately looking for advice.................
> May 2, 2000, I left the forum feeling defeated and lost to have my 19th
> surgery.
> I return to all of you today looking for "HOPE". I am sending my story
> from the "quilt"
> to share with all of you............Thank you in advance for your advice,
> and friendship.
>
> I am 33 years old. I have had 18 surgical procedures since the age of 21.
> The last 8 of 9 surgeries were due to bowel obstructions caused by
> adhesions(gallbladder also removed). In '99 I underwent 3 surgeries, the
> last one, for a bowel obstructions, was in Dec. I am now experiencing
signs
> of a (partial) bowel obstruction, severe vomiting, lower abdominal
cramping,
> and minor bloating. The only option presented to me thus far is yet
another
> surgery, something I would, needless to say, like to avoid. In Jan 2000 I
> had to close my retail store, due to poor health. The store had been open
> for 2 1/2 years. It had been my life dream to have my own store, sharing
> with my clients giftware from all over the world, antiques, French linens,
> jewelry and my own artwork (pottery & paintings). We (my husband and I)
had
> worked so hard to make that store a success. The last year was terribly
> difficult for myself and for my family. I had emergency surgery in June,
> which resulted in an 8 week hospital stay. In the operating room I was
given
> an epidermal to be used for pain blocking for after I woke up from the
> surgery. During this procedure the doctor punctured the "Dhura", which
> resulted in severe 'spinal' head-aches when I awoke from surgery. The
first
> week in hospital I had to stay in bed and under go a "blood patch" to stop
> the (spinal?) fluid from leaking. This resulted in having another partial
> obstruction, and having to have NG tubes to stop me from vomiting, then
> another tube to feed me. I left the hospital in late July, only to return
> again to emergency on August 28,'99 (My Wedding Day!!!) with
incapacitating
> abdominal pain. I was given a 6 hour pass to get married. A couple of days
> later I had my Gall Bladder removed (another 3 weeks in hospital).
November
> came and I was in hospital again with another partial bowel obstruction.
My
> surgeon did not think I would be strong enough to have another surgery so
> soon, so I was in hospital with a NG tube and heavy narcotics for 2 weeks.
> On Dec 07 I returned to hospital. Surgery was performed but this time when
I
> woke up my digestive system had stopped functioning and my bowel went into
> severe spasms. I stayed in hospital for almost 1 month, and was
investigated
> by several "specialists". One so called GI "specialist" thought that I
> should have an IV put into my neck for 6 months to feed me. Another doctor
> suggested that a psychiatrist see me,..... my mental state was now being
> questioned for.. "it was not possible to have so much pain and require so
> many surgeries, just for adhesions... it must be in my head".That was the
> "last straw"...those words almost broke me. Some days I feel like I'm
going
> crazy......I can't stand the idea of going back to hospital, to be cut
open
> again...I don't want all of those horrible drugs put into my body. I want
my
> life back! I want to be healthy for my children, my husband, and for me.
In
> September my husband and I want to hike the "West Coast Trail", for our
> "honeymoon" that we missed last year, because of my being sick. I need to
> get strong and healthy for this! I am desperately searching for any
> alternative or advice that may be offered. Already, it is some
psychological
> solace to have found this Society and to find out that I am not alone!!
> Thank you! UPDATE: May 3, 2000 Emergency Laparotomy In less than 4 months
> adhesions returned covering my abdominal wall. All loops of bowel twisted,
> and one loop, in the pelvis, of the small bowel was completely twisted
> around over 180 degrees. I am now 4 weeks post-op. I am in constant pain.
> The surgeon thinks the bowel has twisted again. Now what do I do?????
>