Re: You asked about having (more) surgery?

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Tue Mar 25 16:54:21 2003


Please read my comments below:

You said: "In two weeks I will have a three level anterior cervical disc fusion (ACDF), and then I will be in a hard collar for 6 weeks. Hopefully by the end of summer, I will be feeling better."

HD...Have you thoroughly researched this procedure? Have you considered a second opinion? Many times insurance companies will allow second opinions. I know Medicare approves of second opinions. How many of these procedures has your surgeon done? Are you aware that surgery of any kind will cause adhesions?

You said: "I have been in pain from DDD in my neck since mid-1989."

HD...What does DDD stand for? What caused the pain in your neck in the first place? How much pain are you experiencing in your neck...on a scale of 1 to 10? How have you been coping with the pain in your neck since 1989?

You said: "But I did not really know that until I did another MRI last Fall; I thought all this time it was probably fibromyalgia. Now I know more."

HD...Is the pain becoming progressively worse?

~ ~ ~ ~

Re: You asked about having (more) surgery?; From: winged phantom (winged_phantom8@hotmail.com); Tue Mar 25 15:21:51 2003

Hi Everybody, Many of you don't know me, but I do lurk around here a bit. ;) I discovered the board a few months ago, a few weeks before I had a total abdominal hysterectomy. I was like some of you, in that I had never had previous abdominal surgery. I had never been diagnosed with endometriosis, had never had PID or diverticulitis or any of that stuff. I had one or two small ovarian cysts over the years. But when I had a laparoscopy in early January, the finding was "extensive abdominal and pelvic adhesions", and I have pictures to prove it. In the months leading up to this, I had gained 12 inches around my "waist", with no corresponding weight gain. I grew out of my clothes, and I was very uncomfortable. I never felt "empty", although I could feel hungry. It hurts to eat much (too bad I still do!), and I have been diagnosed as having IBS. I think now that although I have the criteria for it (mostly constipation with some diarrhea), it's probably due to the adhesions. Let me insert here that at 8 days post-op I developed ileus, something I don't think I would have had if my gut was not so sluggish anyway. And the surgery and the pain meds all tend to slow it down even more. Let me tell you, that NG tube that I had for 3 days was no fun!

Now, at 6 weeks post-op, I still feel the same as before! My pathology reports came back pretty good, but my doctor found old, scarred-in endo and adenomyosis. I guess I was extremely lucky in that I was asymptomatic until after menopause! I'm not sure if it's too early to suspect adhesions again; my doctor told my husband that he used Seprafilm, but the surgery report does not report that anything was used (One of these days, when I'm not busy, I will have to call his office and ask for clarification). At any rate, I have lost only about 2 inches in my girth, and I'm still very uncomfortable most of the time. I had my reasons for going through with the surgery when I did, and I don't really regret it, but I'm disappointed I don't feel better than I do.

First things first, though. In two weeks I will have a three level anterior cervical disc fusion (ACDF), and then I will be in a hard collar for 6 weeks. Hopefully by the end of summer, I will be feeling better.

My plan has been that, if I have to, I will go to Germany to have Dr. Kruschinski do surgery with the SprayGel. I am unwilling to give up more of my life to pain than I already have. And if the surgery is covered by my insurance, then it will not be that bad. If it is not covered, then I will have made a good investment in my, and my family's, lives. Although I have not had adhesion pain that long, I have been in pain from DDD in my neck since mid-1989. But I did not really know that until I did another MRI last Fall; I thought all this time it was probably fibromyalgia. Now I know more. Live and learn, eh?

So those that ask if you should have (more) surgery? MY OPINION is that you should NOT have any more surgery if you have had it in the past, unless you can be seen by an ARD specialist. Too bad there seem to be so precious few of those around. If you already know you have adhesions, then more surgery will in all likelihood make the problem worse, and you may only feel "good" for a brief time. For those of you who are not sure if you have ARD (like me), be sure you think it through very carefully and have plans for the future. It's best if you, too, could be seen only by an ARD specialist, but sometimes that is hard.

QUESTIONS! Do I need to be re-diagnosed with adhesions before I plan a trip to Germany? Will I need another laparoscopy? Another round of ultrasounds or X-rays or what-not? Or should I just assume I have more adhesions and plan the trip if I continue to feel the same?

Sorry this is so long, but that's the way it goes. I know so many of you are suffering terribly, and my heart goes out to all of you. I think of you all every day. And I thank all of you who were willing to go to Germany and blaze the trail for those who will follow! More power to all of you who have slain the adhesion monster! Tawonda! :) wr


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