At Fri, 6 Jun 2003, Michelle wrote:
>
>Hi everyone. This is the first time that I post a message but I have
>been reading the messages on this board for many months now. I have a
>few questions that I have been wanting to ask for a while now, but
>first, I will give a quick snapshot of my history.
>I am 24 years old and my problems started over 2 years ago now. At
>first, I started to have some pain in the left upper quadrant area and
>also began to have some bowel difficulties. I went to see my doctor as
>I was sure that he would no sweat figure out what was wrong and that he
>could help me. That's when the nightmare began.. as you all know.
>Upper GI, Sml bowel follow through, endoscopy, colonoscopy, Ct scan, MRI
>etc, etc. All to show NOTHING. So, finally, IBS was the verdict.So I
>tried the medications, all of which made me worse and increased my pain.
>My Mom and I went from one doctor to another, from one surgeon to the
>other, to some of my Mom's friends since she used to work in the
>hospital, and finally, all we ended up with was an anti-depressant and
>to be labelled as two completely neurotic women.
>My condition got worse and worse and my belly grew bigger and bigger, I
>couldn't believe it! I was tiny before, but I wasn't gaining weight, if
>anything the rest of my body seemed to get smaller.
>I got so fed up of doctors and knew so much that my pain and mostly
>extreme discomfort (trapped gas everywhere, tightness under diaphragm,
>etc) was NOT IBS.
>I started researching the internet, so desperate, because as time was
>going on, I couldn't keep up with my classes anymore, not could I do all
>the sports that I loved so much to do. I just felt like I couldn't move
>my body properly.
>I came accross adhesions and immediately knew that that was my problem.
>The symptoms, and all of what you are describing on this board is so
>much what I am going through.
>So I found out info about Dr. Reich and the ADLAP crew as I decided I
>wanted the best surgeons to treat me, besides, no one here (I am in
>Canada) would do anything, they all thought I was nuts (we were actually
>sent out of one surgeon's office when my Mom lost it on him and kindly
>threatened him that one day he will see his name in the paper).
>To make a long story short, they were extremely kind and I had a surgery
>booked in July of last year (2002).
>The outcome was Left upper, left lower and right lower quadrant
>adhesions. Exactly in the area where I had the pain.
>The only problem was that as I felt a lot of immediate relief in certain
>areas, I was never fully well and then, after a few weeks, I felt like I
>was right back where I started. :(
>When I followed up with Dr. Reich a few weeks later, I told him about
>all of my symptoms again, and he didn't seem to think that adhesions
>could still be my problem since I don't have endometriosis and I didn't
>have that many to begin with.
>But what about what I FEEL???
>So I am not in the process of booking another surgery. "We may not find
>anything" is not good enough for me, I am the one living like a cripple
>at 24 years of age! It's not like I like to be sick!!!
>My question is the following:
>* Although I know that Dr. Reich is one of the best surgeons in the
>world and has had many successfull adhesiolysis, and is also a very kind
>and compassionate man (their whole team, from beginning to end are
>always extremely polite and understanding), has anyone gone to him but
>not been better yet?
>If so, what did you do after that? Did some of you have to end up going
>to Germany? Do some people really need the combo od gasless and spray
>gel, even if it isn't endo?
>Karen, when I read your stories about what you went through with
>Melissa, it is an exact replica of what I have been going through with
>my Mom!! She is so lucky to have you the same way I don't know where I'd
>be without my Mom.
>Anyways, this message has been long enough and I thank you so much for
>having the patience to sit through it.
>I would really appreciate all the ifo I can get from anyone of you.
>Sincerely,
>Michelle.