"It is imperative that ALL victims of adhesion related disorder (ARD) demand that their surgeon videotape their scheduled surgical procedure! This can be done with NO problem for the surgeon - and at very little personal cost; but the results are ' worth their weight in gold ' - when it comes to the patient!
"Surgeons tend to be a bit more conscientious if they videotape surgical procedures they perform; because they know their patients will be able to see what was done - and what was not done!! With a video of their surgical procedure the patient has a visual record that ' speaks a thousand words ' - when compared to a written report!
"A surgeon - who is neither skilled nor experienced in performing laparoscopic surgical procedures (especially adhesiolysis procedures) and then tells the patient he will perform their surgery laparoscopically - will refuse to allow a video to be done. There are many surgeons, who do not stand by their word. Instead of following through and performing a laparoscopic procedure, there are some surgeons who almost always resort to an open abdominal procedure (laparotomy) - regardless of their lack of skill and experience in the performance of laparoscopic procedures!
"If your surgeon appears squeemish and refuses to videotape your surgery - when videotaping is so simple to do - it is time to seek another surgeon!!
"Requesting a videotape of your surgery is simply another tool we victims of adhesion related disorder (ARD) can empower ourselves with. By insisting that the surgeon videotape our surgey, we accept the responsibility of taking control of our medical/surgical care!!
"Victims of ARD are not going to go away; because surgery itself is the number one cause of ARD. We are going to continue to stand up for ourselves. We are going to continue to force changes in our personal medical/surgical intervention. By doing so we will make a difference in how doctors/surgeons treat us - medically, surgically and personally!!!
"It is time we make demands - and not allow ourselves to be intimidated by doctors/surgeons. We simply need to deal with medical professionals in the same way as we do with any other business interaction. This business is our lives!!!"
Here is an example of "Taking Charge of Your Health":
"Karen Steward posted a message to the IAS Message Board on November 5, 2002. In her message she said she actually sent the video (converted to a CD) - from one of Melissa's (her daughter) prior adhesiolysis procedures in the United States - to Dr. Daniel Kruschinski at Frankfurt, Germany.
"As the result of sending Melissa's video to Dr. Kruschinski, he was able to visualize the extent of adhesion-formation within Melissa's abdominopelvic cavity. After viewing the video, he provided Karen with his expert opinion as to what percentage of recovery Melissa could expect - if he were to perform her adhesiolysis.
"The result? Karen and Melissa felt confident that Dr. Kruschinski would do his best to restore Melissa's health. With this knowledge these two ladies from Texas felt confident that getting on a plane and traveling all the way to Germany for Melissa's life-saving surgery was no longer an overwhelming trip for them. The result of Melissa's surgery? Melissa has her health back - and Karen has her daughter back!!
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!
"Knowledge gives you strength. Knowledge gives you courage. Without courage there can be no progress. Without progress there is no solution."