--- Helen Dynda <olddad66@runestone.net> wrote:
> Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 16:41:58 -0500 > Reply-to: adhesions@adhesions.org > From: "Helen Dynda" <olddad66@runestone.net> > To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS > <adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com> > Subject: ADHESIONS =>Bev's answers to 9 questions > about adhesions > > Bev's answers to 8 questions about adhesions: > > 1.) Once adhesions have formed, how rapidly do they > grow or spread? > > Bev: Adhesions form within 2 to 7 days post > operatively. The very thin filmy adhesions do not > create any problems for months to years; and they > are soft and pliable. Your organs, though attached > abnormally, can move quite well and freely thus no > tugging. Over time -- and it's different for each > adhesion patient -- the adhesions start to get firm, > like external scar tissue does; and when that > starts to happen, the organs that are tethered > together will begin to lose their freedom, thus the > pulling and tugging starts and the ARD sufferer will > experience pain and other symptoms. The symptoms > are very dependent on which organs are attached and > how tough the adhesions have become. Some adhesions > form very quickly and are thick, vascular adhesions; > thus one experiences pain and pulling within a > couple of days post operatively! Once adhesions are > formed within that time frame, they DO NOT continue > to form and they do NOT spread. They get tighter; > and the tissue toughens thus creating either pulling > of the organs or constricting of the bowel -- like > placing a loose rubber band around a balloon and > gradually wrapping it around more and more, thus > causing a constriction. > > 2.) Is there a point where the growth stops? > > Bev: Adhesion formation ONLY takes place in the > time span of two to seven days. That is due to the > healing process of the internal wounds. After seven > days NO adhesions form as a result of the invasive > process of surgery or injury. An inflammed appendix > though can create inflammation internally; and the > longer it is undetected, the more adhesion growth > there is in response to a pending burst within the > body. The body is encapulating that injury site > with adhesions so if it does burst, the peritonitis > is less -- though it is still usually fatal. > > Adhesion tissue does not continue to grow. Your > pain and symptoms increase due to the toughening of > the tissue and thus tighter tethering of what should > be freely moving organs -- and, of course, along > with that comes pain! > > 3.) How can the extent of their growth or spread be > determined? > > Bev: As to the extent of the attachments and organ > involvement from adhesions, only a laparoscopic > diagnostic test will show that. There is no > diagnostic test known in medical science today that > will or can diagnose adhesions. NONE! No matter > who tells you otherwise, there is none! > > 4.) Should I be concerned that they may be attached > to other organs? > > Bev: Well, I don't know that. They ARE attached to > other organs as that is what tethers them from > moving freely. As to whether you should be > concerned about that depends on your symptoms. If > you have no symptoms that bother you, don't worry > about them; BUT, if your'e suffering from symptoms > of pain, constipation, heart burn, vomiting, > etc...then yes, you should have a great concern as > it will not get better. It only gets worse over > time. > > 5.) Could they be the cause of abdominal distension > (when no gas is present and BM's are regular) > because of the extra tissue that has formed? > > Bev: Abdominal distention is a symptom of ARD; and > it is not due to extra tissue. It is due to the > bowel not being able to function properly as it is > probably being pulled out of normal alignment as > well as constricted in areas. This all depends on > what surgeries you have had and what organs may be > involved. This CAN be pretty well determined by > looking at your operative reports. They tell a very > informative story as to what adhesion involvement > you have. > > 6.( I had a CT scan in December and a spot on the > liver was detected. I go for another on Friday to > determine if it has increased. > > Bev: The spot is NOT adhesions. > > 7.) Could this be an indication that there are > adhesions attached? > > Bev: NO, it cannot be; and it isn't adhesion > tissue at all there. > > 8.) What is the prognosis for people with abdominal > adhesions or is there one? > > Bev: There is one. The best case scenario for a > good prognosis for an ARD sufferer is to secure the > most qualified adhesiolysis surgeon there is. To > date there are three of them in the world. The > difference in frosting a very eye catching wedding > cake is in the skill of the cake decorator -- as it > is for a high quality adhesiolysis performed by a > skilled and very precise surgeon. One will never > really know what their personal outcome will be > following an adhesiolysis; but it sure is one's > best chance of getting as well as they can get if > they go to the best. > If you don't, your chances of getting any BETTER > then when you went in for an adhesiolysis with an > unskilled surgeon are very poor -- let alone > thinking of getting well from ARD! It won't happen. > It hasn't yet! > > 9.) Are there suggestions for living with and > successfully managing adhesions? > > Bev: That depends on the symptoms. I have about 5% > pain at times. It is either adhesions or residual > damage from prior surgeries, which would be normal. > If one can live with a certain level of pain -- such > as people do who have back problems, arthritis, lots > of things that > cause chronic pain -- one may be able to live with > ARD and manage it with medication. BUT...taken over > a long period of time, medication itself will start > to distruct your organs -- liver and kidney > toxicity, esophageal eschoriation (GERD)...ncrease > in dosages if the pain increases. intolerance of > medication over time...lots of things happen when > people are on long term medications. This question > is based on how YOU think you can live with it. If > you can eat and perform tasks, sit in a car, sit for > over ten minutes in a chair, walk, bend, have bowel > movements, not vomiting all the time...maybe you can > live with it. I would guess some do. I only hear > from those who suffer terribly; and many are so ill > they might succumb to ARD...I don't think people, > who can live with it, actually look for help so we > at the IAS wouldn't hear of them. > > I tell people with ARD, like myself, one day at a > time and you will be able to know when you need > something done for your adhesions...you will know! >
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