Re: my awareness of adhesions
From: Elizabeth (lizfirst1@comcast.net)
Thu Mar 24 08:29:57 2005
Like you, I've had several surgeries due to
Endometriosis which were all removed in 1989, 1
year after a partial hysterectomy. Howevever, my
problems with adhesions did not start until 2002
to early 2003. I, too, went from doc to doc, was
told it wouldn't be worth THEIR time (Dr.
Parks, DeKalb med Cntr) to go in and find out
what was causing the pain since the all GI tests,
as well as MRIs and CT scans showed nothing unusual.
When I had an angiogram of the aortas, it showed
that there was a large accumulation of vessels
in the left upper quadrant of my abdomon (which
is where the pain was located). I, too, ended
up dibilitated by the pain but was not receiving
any pain medication...
only Lexapro and Nortriptolene (for the "headache"
in the abdomen, not the head, as Dr. Cai at
Emory Hospital told me. I finally was admitted
to Emory Hospital this past September and when
the docs came in to tell me there was nothing
they were "willing" to day, I told them I refused
to leave until SOMEONE had the intestinal
fortitude to help me or I'd have to find a media
outlet to help me with this. FINALLY, one of the
interns (Dr. Atta) took it upon himself to read
my chart and saw I had had endo. a longtime
ago, so he suggested a GYN be called in. Dr.
CARLA Roberts, OB/GYN Specialist and Professor
at Emory saw me and exclaimed "why didn't
anyone else go in and find out what was causing
this??!!" (uh, you think?) so she scheduled me
for surgery and found I had adhesions hanging from
my upper abdominal wall and which one had attached
itself to my small intesting and was blocking it
off, another was attached to my LIVER AND WAS
DRAGGING IT FROM MY MID ABDOMEN TO THE LEFT SIDE
AND AROUND MY WAIST!!!!!
Much relieved that I was not nuts!
once the surgery was over and after a much
needed mental and emotional break, I felt 100%.
HOWEVER, after about 3 months, the pain was
back and I was back in for surgery (both of
these were laproscopically performed). This
time, the adhesions were in different areas.
The worst was covered with a thick waxy
"plaque" and was (and still is) my Aorta,
which is attached to the left side of my
abdomen. I am now going to be seen by a
cardiological vascular specialist.
Important to know - these adhesions were
not caused by the endometrios, nor were they
in areas of prior surgeries. Also, if I come
across another doctor who wants to treat me
with metal health pills I vow to sue! Thanks
for letting me vent.
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