Re: covered in adhesions
From: Mary (mccicm@adelphia.net)
Sun Nov 13 22:55:02 2005
Vicki,
I read your story and it sounds all too familiar. I have had 3
surgeries in the last 22 months due to stage 4 endometriosis, including
hysterectomy, removal of both tubes and ovaries and cervix. Most recent
surgery was this past May to remove my last tube and ovary along with a
9cm endometrial cyst and lysis of adhesions. My new gynocologist said
that he had not seen endo that bad before and was not prepared or
equipped to remove all of the endo that was on my bowel and bladder
safely. I did another round of Lupron to help with pain and he watched
me closely, but my pain never improved and my quality of life was
suffering. I had terrible pain with bowel movements and and generally
felt bound up and hurting all of the time, so he referred me to general
surgeon to have a colonoscopy. This couldn't be completed past the
lower part of my colon due to "sharp angulation".
He then referred me to a gynocological oncologist to have him review my
case.
He felt that I needed to have another surgery to excise the remaining
endometriosis (as you have to get all of it out or it will come back)
and then deal with any adhesions. Oncologists deal with much more
intricate surgeries to remove cancers and endo can act like a cancer.
I had sugery again in October with my own gynocologist and the
oncologist and they found that my colon was attached to my abdomen,endo
spots on bowel, multiple adhesions attached up to my hip area and other
areas of my pelvis, and adhesions had already wrapped around one of my
ureters since my surgery in May. The oncologist even found a piece of
my ovary left behind from my last surgery. This time however, the
oncologist was skilled in using the adhesion barrier (Seprafilm) and
they said that they used quite a lot of it. I am at my 3 week post op
mark and already feel better than I have in 5 years! I am still worried
about adhesions returning and endo coming back especially now that I
have to consider hormone treatment (I am only 38 years old and too young
for full menopause). You may want to ask about seeing a gynocological
oncologist to see if they can help you if you don't have anyone that
specializes in endometriosis exision.
Good luck to you
Mary
At Wed, 26 Oct 2005, vickifl05@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>Hello All, Well I went to my post op yesterday. I had a lap done on the
>10th and major surgery may 05. I have lots of bad news. Endometriosis
>is graded and it goes from 1 to 40 most of us know endo in stages well
>stage 4 is a 40.
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