Living with Adhesions
From: IAS Admin (tracy.joslin@adhesions.org)
Wed Feb 6 17:52:23 2008
From: adhesions@adhesions.org [mailto:adhesions@adhesions.org] On Behalf Of
ASH TRUETT
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: Living with Adhesions
I could never figure out why my stomach was sooo big!! I had a "Clean up"
about 2 years ago now and two days after the surgery......keeping in mind my
Dr said make sure to have some stretchy clothes because you will be puffy. I
was wearing clothes 2 sizes smaller than I was two days prior. I looked like
I had gone on some kind of super weight loss. I even had a friend ask me if
I had a tummy tuck!!! That was how much difference there was.
I bloating drives me crazy....I never know from day to day what will fit.
So I can definitly sympathize with you all!!!
Ashley
"IAS Admin (Tracy)" <tracy.joslin@adhesions.org> wrote:
Sender: weesielis@aol.com (Lis:)
Subject: Living with Adhesions
Hi,
I am seated in my recliner looking like I'm ready to give birth any day
now. The sad part of this equation is, it's a normal occurrence in my
life. I'm 46 and had a total hysterectomy at 28 because of severe endo
and even more severe adhesions. And like so many of you, I've spent the
better part of my life looking for that one magic surgery to cure me.
I learned to live with the pain a long time ago once I came to realize
that no matter how many times somebody went in and "cleaned me up", it
wasn't going to take long before I needed another tidy up. And,unless
you've got a doctor willing to operate on you over and over again, who's
been inside your body and knows the condition beforehand, it's VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE to convince another one to do so. And, though it saddens me
to say it,I've come to the conclusion after seven abdominal
surgeries,"surgery" really isn't the answer, anyway. As a matter of
fact, it's almost a cruel thing we do to ourselves. We have those few
months virtually pain free and just when we begin to believe that we've
finally had the "magical surgery" or found a doctor who really did know
how to fix us, that familiar tug comes back. As the weeks progress, it
pulls harder and deeper, and starts to stab again, too. Just when our
clothes are beginning to fit better our tummies start to balloon up
again. For us,adhesions may hibernate...but they always find a way to
wake up.
In my experience which includes four states and the country of New
Zealand, the reactions fall between "I don't believe adhesions cause
pain or distention unless they are directly responsible for an
obstruction. Or, "I don't doubt that adhesions are the root of your
condition, but I don't touch them. "Personally, I respect the latter
opinion more,though it does nothing for my physical pain, at least my
integrity has not been wounded. As a side note, don't bother bringing
your previous records, in an attempt to "prove" adhesions exist. Most
"new doctors" in my experience, anyway, act as if they're offended by
your evidence.
My problem merits a rather unusual scenario,in that I'm petite and
normally in good physical condition.(5'1" and around 110 pounds) When I
get distended, I look very abnormal. Now, when this first started
happening, it seemed like a good thing as I had an external symptom.
But, I learned quickly, however, NOT TO visit the ER in this condition
as they took one look and automatically assumed I had a bowel
obstruction or a tumor. So, I would endure the same tests over and
over...and over again. Or even worse, the decision would be made to
insert an NG tube to "decompress". (FYI, if you've not had an NG tube
and find yourself with the possibility, MAKE SURE you need it before you
endure this horrible ordeal!)
So, here I am, grossly distended without relief for three full weeks
now. I am scheduled for CT tomorrow after having an obstruction series
done last week. Those x-rays were normal,as I said they would be and
the CT will be normal, too. (My thoughts were just interrupted by a
call from hospital to confirm my appt. and to make sure I could pay the
$200.00 registration fee required to have the test performed. Why AM I
paying for this to be done again?!)
My new doctor had put me on a powerful round of antibiotics. I've been
given yet another IBS wonder drug. And, to his credit, he offered pain
killer without my having to ask. (But, than again, how effective are
the pills when you've got this kind of pain?) He's been gracious and
agreed not to admit me into hospital yet since I spent 10 days
hospitalized in another state this time last year with no surgery and no
diagnosis. Again, I will credit him for that. I do see a bit of
compassion in his eyes which somehow makes me feel better, in a weird
way.
But,I know what will happen when I have the follow-up exam. My skin
will clear up thanks to the antibiotic. I won't get quite as
constipated,thanks to Miralax,Dulcolax suppositories and the toast of
the town at the moment, Amitiza. Hel'll offer more Vicodin and I'll
accept. After all,if somebody in the house has a toothache, it's nice
to have on hand.
I'll walk out with an appointment card to remind me to come back in a
few weeks to see how I'm getting along. But, I'll have no plans to
return. I will probably still be distended with my ever present ghost
child. I'll still be in pain. As always, I'll aggravate my adhesions
with every move I make.
At Mon, 31 Dec 2007, IAS Admin wrote:
>
>From: adhesions@adhesions.org [mailto:adhesions@adhesions.org] On Behalf Of
>JMoore4877@aol.com
>Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 1:38 PM
>Subject: Re: adhesions and fibromyalgia
>
>Wendy,
>
>My abdomen looks like a pregnant lady, even though I spend half the time on
>a liquid diet and crackers. My clothes get baggy in the but, but wont
>button. The scales goes up and people say I look like I have lost weight
in
>my arms, face, etc.. I dont get it either. My abdomen feels like a rock.
>Going up the stairs I feel like I need to carry my belly. Maternity
clothes
>seem to fit the best, isn't that something to feel good about!!! I dont
get
>it.
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