Forgive me for being a coward and not revealing my name. My name is Esther and I live in Essex, England. Thank you so much for your email. I have been overwhelmed by the responses. I have heard so many sad stories, it is so very humbling. My experience so far has been mild compared to what others have suffered. I am listening to everything that everyone is saying and am taking time to digest it all. Your comments are greatly appreciated. I wish you the best of health and every happiness in your life. Best wishes, Esther
At Tue, 13 Aug 2002, Jo Eslick wrote:
>
>Hello,
>
>I usually don't answer messages when a name isn't given, BUT you ask
>some very good questions, so I am bending my own rules just for you ;-)
>
>I am sorry that you have just discovered the challenges & pain caused by
>adhesions, and I am relieved to see that surgery hasn't been offered to
>you as a "cure all" at this stage. The longer you can go without
>surgery the better (There does come a time though when most of us end up
>having surgery at one time or another).
>
>You ask about what foods etc to eat considering your condition. You
>will discover that everyone has different ideas about this. I have just
>as recently as a fortnight ago had a five hour surgery to divide
>adhesions which also included the complete covering of my small & large
>bowels. The surgeon commented later that when he first looked through
>the scope (it was a laperascopic procedure, the best kind of surgery if
>you are prone to adhesions) that he couldn't make out the difference
>between the small and large bowel (visually).
>
>Because my bowel has been "stuck down" with adhesions for so long, it
>simply doesn't work and now I am on a very strict and heavy laxative
>regime as well as a very high fibre diet. I know that many women here
>on the board avoid high fibre diets because of the pain it causes their
>bowels to process these foods, but my doctor explained to me that I
>needed to persevere regardless of the discomfort if we ever wanted to
>retrain my bowel and get it working properly again.
>
>So I guess what you have to decide is, do you want to take it the easy
>way & stick to soft foods that go through your bowel with little effort
>OR do you want to make sure that your bowel continues to function
>properly & eat a high fibre diet. His plan is for me to gradually be
>taken off the laxatives as the high fibre diet I am eating stimulates my
>bowel and makes it work properly of it's own accord.
>
>I am not going to lie to you & say there is no discomfort and pain
>associated with eating a high fibre diet, BUT if you want to keep your
>bowel healthy, and you want it to work properly, then high fibre is the
>only way to go. I am not just saying this, it is the advice i received
>from my surgeon, and he is VERY concerned that I get my bowel working
>properly.
>
>Well, I hope that next time you feel more comfortable with us & share at
>least your first name. My name is Joanne Eslick & I am from Australia,
>if you would like to read my story go to http://www.bombobeach.com and follow
>the "Our ARD Stories" link on the left menu bar.
>
>At Tue, 13 Aug 2002, anonymous wrote:
>>
>>I have recently been informed that I have adhesions on my intestines
>>resulting from 2 operations that I had when I was 5 and 9 years old. I
>>am now 33. I do not have to have them operated on at this stage but the
>>pain and sickness that I have recently suffered is something that I
>>never want to experience again! I was wondering if anyone knew what
>>foods I should not eat/eat, and if exercise such as aerobics (including
>>excerices like sit ups) would help or hinder. I would really appreciate
>>any comments. Mank thanks.
>
>--
>Love and gentle hugs,
>Joanne Eslick
>Founder Australian Adhesions Support Group
>http://www.bombobeach.com
>NSW Australian Co-ordinator of
>International Adhesions Society
>http://www.adhesions.org
>
>--
>I am not a medical person, and all my messages are based
>on personal experience. I am a fellow adhesions sufferer
>reaching out to help others.
>