>Hello to all you brave women (I just realized I don't believe I read a
>single message from a man on this site). I have been reading for the
>last hour some of the interesting information all of you have shared
>with each other over the years of your trials and suffering. I have had
>intense abd pain for about the last six months, multiple tests have
>ruled out everything, which leaves my surgeon to believe I have
>adhesions. She does not recommend surgery due to, you know, creating
>more adhesions. My first abd surgery was in '98, open cholecystectomy
>(gallbladder removal due to large stones) which left a large scar that
>took about a year to heal, still felt "tight" at that time. Then I
>became very ill 11/01 with frequent bouts of flu-like symptoms about 1-2
>times a month. Then in Feb '02 became very feverish, jaundiced,
>hepatitis tests negative, more tests revealed almost completely blocked
>liver duct. Emergency repair surgery with larger abdominal scar over
>old scar (looks like a large inverted 'V' with 6-8 inch lines), that was
>in March '02. Very long recovery, Dr kept saying "you had a very big
>surgery with lots of layers of muscle cut open, it will take a while to
>heal". One year later pain seems to be getting worse with frequent
>episodes of bent over, can't breathe, think I might die kind of pain. So
>begins the tests to rule out everything but the kitchen sink. I live in
>a medium size town so we get sent to a bigger town 3 hours away for
>major surgeries. I went back to the big city to see my surgeon and she
>confirmed what I hoped I would not be hearing, "you have adhesions". She
>gave me an anti-spasmodic which does not seem to help any more than the
>oxycodone and told me I could come back to see her but there is not much
>she can do since more surgery . . . you know the story. I was so
>depressed on the way home I cried for two hours non-stop. I'm a single
>mom of a 12 year old son, how can I work, have a life with my son, have
>a life of my own. So much I used to be able to do I may not do again.
>The next day I woke with a sense of determination. I have a lot of hope
>that I can beat this somehow, without surgery. I have received 2
>acupuncture treatments and am scheduled for another 2 this coming week.
>I am using a chinese herbal drink that seems to lessen the pain a bit.
>The acupuncture has generated some result after first session that
>lasted a few days, then second session was not as effective. There are
>good days and bad days. I will research low residue diet as my problems
>seem to be bowel related.
>Thank you for providing this outlet for ARD - I am sure it will help me
>as I am sure it has helped many others cope.
>
>--
>Denise
>