-- I personally thought this was not needed!!!!! I chose how long to be there, he never told me I needed to be there for 3 weeks. My first surgery, I left the hospital the next day, pain free even though I was on some meds, it was because the meds I was on had to be decreased slowly. My 2nd look surgery I left that day. I am now only on 15 mg of MS Contin for another 9 days, then I get to lower it to one pill a day and then none. Getting off such strong pain meds have to be done slowly. In fact as I talked to my husband every day, he kept telling me to take more meds to help with the withdrawl symptoms, but I have always been too determined to get off meds too soon for my own good. ..We had less time in Germany, (quicker recovery?) >and I see that as a blessing as we were able to return to our family >sooner!!!!!!!!!!!!I also had a friend there that I wanted to be able to spend time with. I also wanted to be as comfortable as possible for my over 12 hour flight alone. I also was then facing a 6 hour car ride all the way to my home. While I was there, after my surgeries on Tuesdays, I went site seeing, walking so much that my feet hurt. I can't remember the last time I walked so much, or shopped so much or even felt like shopping. I spent 1 1/2 hours yesterday at Wal Mart with my daughter. I wanted to hop, skip, run & jump!! I cant remember the last time I spent 5 mins there, but I know I was in a motorized cart, and this time, I was walking!!!! Money was an issue for me, yes, that is a shame, but It is the truth when I say if we had to come up with more money, I would not be adhesion free today!!! robin At Thu, 26 Jun 2003, Karen Steward wrote: > >Robin, > Thanks so much for taking the time to fill out the study form! >I hope others from both Dr. Korell and Dr. Kruschinski will >take the time to fill it out. > Melissa will be filling out the form also..........however, I have >to get her to slow down long enough to do it....but will post it for >others to see.......Melissa arrived in Germany in pain as most of >you know........she was advised to take pain meds with her as we >were told the pain medication in Germany was different. > >Melissa, even though she was always ill, did not take much pain >medication. She tried to always get by on OTC's............. > >For the trip to Germany, she took RX's of Oxycontin and Percocet >with her that she had left from the California surgery (which left her >wracked with pain for 8-12 weeks)........... > >Melissa was surprised and relieved to find that she needed very >little pain medication after surgery with Dr. Kruschinski using the >AbdoLift. She said, "I am sore, but not in pain----this is tolerable." >She only used the suppositories that Dr. Kruschinski provided, >(and he had to insist she use those).............as she told me, "if >it doesn't go in by mouth, it doesn't go in"............... > >It wasn't until surgery with Dr. Kruschinski that we learned so much >about CO2 and the harm it does to the body............we mistakenly >thought the "pain" after surgery in Texas and California was from the >surgery itself. In Germany Melissa did not experience the same type >of pain she had in the previous surgeries in the States. Now, we know >that much of the pain she had in the States was due to CO2!! Her >recovery time was much faster and when we left Germany on the >22nd, Melissa was on no pain meds at all. > >I would also like to confirm the years of experience of Dr. Korell, >as you have stated 25 years experience in each post. I do not know >the years of experience Dr. Kruschinski has, as I never asked. >I only knew he was turning out well patients with quick recovery time. >That was all I needed to know. If that is important to some people >maybe we should add that information to our study....................... > >For myself, years upon years do not carry any merit......I only want >to hear results! > >Melissa's first surgeon stated he had 37 years of surgery experience. >She was no better after her surgery with him........he was a wonderful >person, >and though he had many years of experience, it was of no benefit >to Melissa. So, all in all, I learned that years of experience is not wh t >counts when it comes to getting well............. > >I have nothing against Dr. Korell, just as you say you have nothing >against Dr. Kruschinski................I only want people reading the >board that are in pain to consider each posting. In the states, we >have all been like cattle led to water, but there is nothing to drink!! > >It would be a disservice to anyone considering surgery to make the >wrong choice in surgeons, especially when making a decision to >travel to Germany............thus, the reason for my post. > >And once again, you bring up money...............however, we cannot >base what one doctor charges against another, as they are operating >out of different hospitals, providing different surgery techniques, and >providing different accommodations for the patients. Therefore they have >different expenses. >Bringing dollars into the equation is not in the best interest of the >patient >or the surgeon. There is no way to "price comparison" >quick recovery, no cell death, OR extraordinary success results! >We had less time in Germany, (quicker recovery?) >and I see that as a blessing as we were able to return to our family >sooner!!!!!!!!!!!! >So Dr. Kruschinski may have more expenses to cover, but the patient is >at MUCH lower risk in all areas. > >And this is my opinion and our experience!! > >Thanks Robin, > >Karen > >-------Original Message------- > >From: adhesions@adhesions.org >Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 07:03:08 PM >To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS >Subject: Re: Robin/Korell--Kruschinski > >Dear Karen, >I filled out the study form. I am taking pain meds so that I can slowly >decrease them. I was on > Duragesic 75 patch, 60 mg 2 x day Morphing >(MS Contin), 15-20 mg of codine every 3 hours, Ibuprofin 800, equgesic, >Paxil & Buspar (anti depressants that should help with pain) Temazapam >for sleep. (That doesn't count the meds I tried that did not work for >me) >NOW I am on 15 mg Morphine for 2 weeks, then 1 pill a day for 2 weeks, >then off them totally. Using 5 mg codine to help with any withdrawl >symptoms. Before surgery, even with a sleep pill, I was waking several >times a night, now it is so much better. >I do need to say that DR Korell has 25 years experience with removing >adhesions. I paid almost 3,000 Euros less & I stayed for 3 weeks >instead of only 2. I have nothing against Dr Kruschinski, I do not know >any thing really about him. It is a decission that each person needs to >make based on their situation. I do not know many of the names of >people that have been to DR Korell. But I do know he has had success >with more than with me, using the spray gel. >I wish you luck with your study, >love & prayers to all, >robin M > >-- > >>My name:_Robin Massengill___My Surgeon:__DR Korell___ >> >>Pain before surgery (scale 0 -10): 10 >>Pain after surgery (scale (0-10):2 >>How much pain meds were you on prior to surgery: > >C>What were the pain medications prior to surgery: >> Duragesic 75 patch, 60 mg 2 x day Morphing (MS Contin), 15-20 mg of co ine >every 3 hours, Ibuprofin 800, equgesic, Paxil & Buspar (anti depressants >that should help with pain) Temazapam for sleep > >>How much pain med were you on after your surgery: > >>What were the pain medications after your surgery: >>30 mg 2x day of Morphine & 5to 10 mg Vicodin > >>Activity level prior to surgery (scale 0-10):0 >>Activity level after surgery (scale 0-10):7 >> >>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in the US? 6 >>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in Germany? 2 (and 2, 2nd look ) >> >>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr. Korell? yes > >>If so, why? In Nov 2000, he was using Intergel. It did not keep the >adhesions from returning. >> >>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr. >>Kruschinski? >>If so, why? >> >>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after >>adhesion surgery with Dr. Korell, in Germany or the US: >>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like) >> >>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after >>adhesion surgery with Dr. Kruschinski, in Germany or the US: >>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like) > >At Wed, 25 Jun 2003, Karen Steward wrote: >> >> Robin, >> >>Thanks for the response to my questions concerning Dr. Korell. I do thi >>there needs to be clarification between the two German doctor's and the >>techniques being used. >> >>Many postings have been made concerning Dr. Kruschinski and the >>success that patients are achieving through his surgery techniques. >>Your recent post about Dr. Korell has confused some patients. I have >>received personal letters regarding the two surgeons. >> >>I believe it is only in the best interest of ARD sufferers to know all e >>facts >>before making a decision concerning such an important surgery! We must >>make a unified effort to bring complete clarification between the two >>surgeons! I firmly believe we would both be doing a disservice to the >>suffering patient if we do not state facts, techniques, & results >>between Dr. Kruschinski and Dr. Korell. >> >>I am thrilled for your successful surgery with Dr. Korell............th is >>the >>same story we are wanting others to hear! You did mention pain >>medications, waiting to see if you are free of adhesion pain and costs. ou >>stated that Dr. Korell is not as expensive as Dr. Kruschinski. We must t >>allow a dollar bill to come between success stories being posted on thi >>site.................Although the cost may be more or less from one doc r >>to >>another, we would not want money to sway a patient considering going to >>Germany because of cost differences, as these are two very different, >>unique individuals, using two very different techniques, different >>hospitals, different facilities, etc..........the two doctor's would >>obviously >>have different expenses! >> >>We would all agree if we are making such a drastic step to fly to Germa , >>we want the BEST possible outcome of that endeavor! >> >>Patients must KNOW!! >> >> Dr. Kruschinski uses SprayGel, but no CO2 (gas). >> >>Dr. Korell uses Spraygel and gas (CO2). >> >>I would love everyone that has been to Germany to begin postings >>answers to the following questions and let's do a comparison: >> >>My name:____________My Surgeon:_____________ >> >>Pain before surgery (scale 0 -10): >>Pain after surgery (scale (0-10): >>How much pain meds were you on prior to surgery: >>What were the pain medications prior to surgery: >> >>How much pain med were you on after your surgery: >>What were the pain medications after your surgery: >> >>Activity level prior to surgery (scale 0-10): >>Activity level after surgery (scale 0-10): >> >>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in the US? >>How many adhesion surgeries have you had in Germany? >> >>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr. Korell? >>If so, why? >> >>Have you had more than one surgery (excl. second look) with Dr. >>Kruschinski? >>If so, why? >> >>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after >>adhesion surgery with Dr. Korell, in Germany or the US: >>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like) >> >>Have you had any surgeries CONNECTED to adhesions after >>adhesion surgery with Dr. Kruschinski, in Germany or the US: >>If so, please state reason (give doctors' name if you like) >> >>I would love to collect the data between surgeons. Robin, since you are he >>only one I currently know that has been to Dr. Korell, it would be hard or >>me to collect the data......do you know of others we could get data fro >>Would you help gather data for this important study? >> >>Thanks a lot, >> >>Karen >> >>. > >. > .