>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 :)
>