You have my exact problem. I had four laparoscopies, each time loads of adhesions were removed. The pain came back each time. It was so bad that it echoed down my right leg. I spent the better part of a year on pain meds, but I felt like I didn't want to live like that. My uterus was completely stuck to my large bowel. There were many other things that stuck together, but it was the pulling of the uterus to the left that caused me the most pain. I opted for the total abdominal hysterectomy about 2 1/2 years ago. I was great for a year or so, then the digestive problems set in. But, the horrible pain did not return. I have some pain, usually related to a full bowel, but it is nowhere near as bad as before. I do not have to take pain meds any more. Of course, the adhesions did come back and now I am dealing with a poorly functioning bowel. I controlled that for another year by modifying my diet. I found that if I avoided meat and cheese, and ate only fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, that I functioned almost normally. Not that this is really normal, but it wasn't a crisis. I've been going down hill and I know that another surgery is in my future. Right now I'm managing by taking lactulose and zelnorm. I want to wait until that Spray Gel is approved for use in the US before I have another surgery.
I guess you could say that I am satisfied with the result of my hysterectomy. It did greatly improve the pain situation. I'll try not to think about the fact that it would have been unnecessary if Spray Gel existed 5 years ago. Good luck with your decision. It's tough-I avoided it as long as I could. People say that a hysterectomy changes them. I can say that, except for the scar on my belly, I wouldn't know that I don't have a uterus. I got to keep an ovary, so no HRT.
At Fri, 28 Mar 2003, Robin M wrote:
>
>Dear Danielle,
>A hysterectomy will not get rid of adhesion pain. More surgery will
>cause more adhesions. Keep looking for a DR to give you pain meds, or
>have your current DR get you into pain management. It is hard to ask
>for meds, but it will help you a great deal. If you don't want a
>hysterectomy, don't agree to it. I did have a hysterectomy & there was
>something wrong with my uterus. I had scaring in it & had heavy periods
>& pain 3 weeks out of the month. It took me a long time to recover, but
>then I was out of pain for about 2 years. I am one of the few that is
>happy about the hysterectomy, but, it is not for everyone.
>
>I hope I have helped in some small way. If you have more questions,
>please ask. You can also privately email me.
>robin M
>
>At Thu, 27 Mar 2003, Danielle wrote:
>>
>>Hi, my name is Danielle and this is my first time posting. I've always
>>had pelvic pain for as long as I can remember, at around 19 I was told
>>that I have endometriosis. The dr. said it was a mild case and pretty
>>much disregarded me. In the years since I have had 4 laps and 2
>>c-sections (both children were concieved w/fertility meds) This last lap
>>I had the dr. said I had severe adhesions, that my uterus and bladder
>>were fused together and that I would need a hystorectomy in order to
>>aleviate the pain caused from the adhesions and the endo. I had a 2nd
>>opinion yesterday and that dr. was very wishy washy and threw it back
>>to me, well do you want to have it done? When I said no he suggested
>>lupron or depo. I have tried it all, and I no longer wish to be forced
>>into menopause and how would that help w/ the adhesions. I'm very
>>confused and in pain daily. That is the other thing no dr. I see will
>>address the pain issues, whenever I ask for pain meds I always feel as
>>if I'm some kind of freak pill seeker.
>>
>>Anyway I found this site and really hope to hear from some women that
>>can understand.