Re: To Robin from Sally

From: Sally Grigg (lostcst@mcn.org)
Sun Jul 29 17:37:37 2001


Dear Robin, Thank you for telling me all about your trip to Germany.I'm afraid I didn't really understand if you are pain free now or if you have a percentage of pain relief from the surgery. You sounded really positive about it so I'm guessing that the adhesions have not come back in full force and you are better off for having gone to Germany. I'm already fantasizing about intergel. My surgery in Penn. worked in that all the adhesions were removed and the one strangling my intestines was removed as well as my enormous "Grecian column". I'm going to send pictures to the board as soon as I have a spare minute and can figure out how to do it. Anyway, please keep in touch, not only because I'm intensely curious about anything having to do with the operations in Germany, but I'm also trying to take a small survey of pain after adhesion surgery.

I'm so busy with the Inn and we have a T.V. crew coming here in a week and I'm freaking out. I should be thrilled, but I'm not really ready to walk around and be witty. I feel like turning the whole event into a gigantic adhesion lession, but it's not live, of course, they'd edit me out real quick. It's supposed to be about places for people to go and relax and feed the llamas and lay on the beach,etc. Oh, well, I guess we take what life hands us and I should be happy and not complaining over what would delight most people. Love and hugs, Sally

Robin wrote:

> Dear Sally, I don't speak German, although, I did learn a few words
> while I was there. The Dr & his secretary both speak english. Also,
> lots of nurses understand it & the anathesiologist know english. The is
> also a special friend there that will help where she can. With both my
> surgeries, I was in the hospital for 2 days. The rest of the time,
> there is apartments that are right next to the hospital that are very
> nice & reasonable priced. Our specail friend in Germany also took me
> sight seeing. It was great. I woke up feeling relief! I could tell
> that the surgery worked! I did have the intergel used on the 1st
> surgery, but not the second. I did come home feeling cured, but knew
> that the pain could come back at anytime. I came home with 15-30%
> adhesion reformation. I had a wonderful 4 1/2 months pain free. My
> husband says he is proud of me for going all that way by myself, but, I
> knew Bev, Mary, Helen D, Laura Newman, and Anne H would be there waiting
> for me. They did leave a week before me, but I had our special friend
> Elke there to help me. I felt comfortable there even with the language
> barrier. The night before surgery, they gave me a sleeping pill, (I
> asked for it) & was told nothing to eat, drink or smoke after midnight.
> I did cheat on the smoking, but did cut down the day before. The
> surgeries were so easy & I really did feel like I was on holiday. Elke
> came by daily & even brought me email. My first day in Germany, I was
> taken by her flat & was able to use her computer to send an email home!
> She was/is truely a gift from God! I hope I answered all your questions,
> if not, ask again. & if you want, or anyone else wants, they can email
> me personally.
> Love to all, Robin
>
> t Thu, 19 Jul 2001, Sally Grigg wrote:
> >
> >Robin, how did you function with the language barrier or do you speak German?
> >If you don't speak German I don't understand how it works when you can't
> >communicate? Did you spend most of your time in the hospital or the hotel? Did
> >you have intergel? Did your adhesions come back? Did you wake up in agony
> >that didn't go away? Do you feel like you are cured? Sorry for all of the
> >questions, but I'm really interested. Why do they not do bowel prep? Here in
> >the good old U.S.A. they do it I guess so if they cut your bowel there will be
> >less stuff to infect you? or maybe that's not why they do it. I do know they
> >like your stomach to be free of food and liquid, although I did everything
> >they said and I still vomited when I woke up (early) from the surgery) Love,
> >Sally
> >
> >Robin wrote:
> >
> >> I couldn't find a local Dr to do surgery on me last year. None would
> >> touch me, they all said I had already had too many surgeries, & Dr
> >> Korell would do the surgery & he is very skilled. Dr Korell is also a
> >> very understanding & compassionate dr & man. The surgeries were
> >> laprascopic & very easy to wake up from. There is also no bowel prep!!
> >> That means no drinking that gross stuff that makes you want to puke! I
> >> felt right away a difference when I woke from surgery. 2 days later, I
> >> was out of the hospital & sight-seeing! I think here in the states, they
> >> give you too much anestesia & it makes it hard to wake up. I trust Dr
> >> Korell & would go back to him again. Last time, I spent 3 weeks in
> >> Germany, my TOTAL cost was about $6,500, including gifts I brought back.
> >> It felt more like a holiday that surgery.
> >> Robin
> >>
> >> t Wed, 18 Jul 2001, marianne bolding wrote:
> >> >
> >> >I am curious...you've been through 2 surgeories with
> >> >Dr.Korell...which means your adhesions came back and
> >> >he did it again. What still makes you want to go back
> >> >to him? For all this talk of Dr. Reich and Redan and
> >> >this German dr. noone seems to be free of pain...what
> >> >makes it worth the travel and money when they seem to
> >> >accomplish no more than the other doctors? Is it the
> >> >procedure itself and the feeling that they are more
> >> >compassionate, more safe? I am curiuos because I use
> >> >this sight to outweigh wether it's worth it to go
> >> >through any form of adhesion removal for
> >> >pain...blockage leaves you no choice, just curious.
> >> >--- Robin <rmasse2333@aol.com> wrote:
> >> >> Dear Sally
> >> >> I am on the quilt, I am under Robin Massengill. I
> >> >> did respond to your
> >> >> survey. I have had 3 c-sections, hysterectomy & 1
> >> >> laparotomy for
> >> >> adhesions & 4 laprascopic surgeris for adhesions.
> >> >> My last 2 surgeries
> >> >> being by Dr Korell in Germany. I wish I could go
> >> >> back to him, but I
> >> >> just don't have the finances to do so. We are
> >> >> literally on the brink of
> >> >> bankruptsy. Last night, I finally took a sleeping
> >> >> pill. It worked
> >> >> pretty well, I only got up 2 times instead of 4-5
> >> >> times. But, I woke up
> >> >> hurting really bad, inspite of the meds I am on. I
> >> >> have just really
> >> >> been depressed & hurting the last couple of weeks &
> >> >> I guess it finally
> >> >> had to come out. I have a very supportive family &
> >> >> my church (when I
> >> >> feel up to going) is supportive too. Thanks for
> >> >> your encouragement.
> >> >> Robin Massengill
> >> >>
> >> >> At Tue, 17 Jul 2001, Sally Grigg wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Dear Robin, I know how you feel, in pain,
> >> >> depressed, and worthless. But you're
> >> >> >not. You valuable, and wonderful. The pain will
> >> >> someday be gone. They are
> >> >> >doing so much research that someday soon we will
> >> >> wake up and there will be
> >> >> >news of a medical breakthrough. It's coming, I can
> >> >> feel it. Hang on. Tell us
> >> >> >all about your trip to Germany. Every little bit.
> >> >> I'm really interested. Have
> >> >> >you seen my survey? Is your story on the quilt?
> >> >> There were four Robins so I
> >> >> >didn't know which one was you, if any.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >I know its easier to say cheer up, and its
> >> >> meanignless, but please. Do you
> >> >> >have any support group where you are? Family,
> >> >> friends, your church, or a group
> >> >> >just for people in pain or who are depressed? All
> >> >> of those can really help.
> >> >> >Please know that we all care and we're here for
> >> >> you. Love, Sally Grigg
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> http://www.adhesions.org/forums/listcmds.htm
> >>
>


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