Wendy,
I live near the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. I am employed full-time and have what I call fairly good insurance- not an HMO and I have the freedom pretty much to make apppointments with 'most' specialists without a referral. However, per my recent post I called 'HYPE!!' you can see that in my 25 years with this I have been totally unsuccessful in locating a physician who will even acknowledge the issue of adhesions- I've been to Mayo and been pretty much brushed off just like everywhere else.
So, if either one of us ever manages to find a doc in our area we must be sure to let the other know about it. After my disaster last week, I am currently 'boycotting' the medical system (again!) and have no idea of how to search for a doc who would even remotely consider the issue of adhesions. Only people who will talk about them are physical therapists- who interestingly can feel them immediately upon abdominal examination- apparently no laparoscopy is needed for them to recognize adhesions! Also the interpreting physician of my last CT and MRI suggested adhesions- of course that makes sense because he is a radiologist and doesn't have to deal with the patient in addressing/solving them so it makes sense that he would have no problem being honest.
-- jetstamp > >========Original Message======== Subj: Re: Let's talk about symptoms! >Date: 2/20/2009 10:23:27 P.M. Central Standard Time From: >_klmurray_61@msn.com_ (mailto:klmurray_61@msn.com) To: _adhesions@mail.obgyn.net_ >(mailto:adhesions@mail.obgyn.net) Sent on: > >I know what you mean. How do we know if it is a life or death situation. >Remember the BeeGee brother died from a blockage and it seems like someone >else that was famous did. >Some times I think maybe I better go and get it checked out but do not want >to go and it ends up passing. >I am not in awe of any dr. anymore. I realize they don't sit higher then we >do. >>>>----- Original Message ----- >From: _BBLDEB@aol.com_ (mailto:BBLDEB@aol.com) >To: _Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS_ >(mailto:adhesions@mail.obgyn.net) >Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 8:07 PM >Subject: Re: Let's talk about symptoms! > >Kelly, > I too have blockages. Most of the time I can go up to 3 weeks or more >before having a bowel movement. Needless to say, that explains why I have so >much nausea and vomiting. And for the most part, I go up to 3 or more days >at a time without eating. And when I do try, other than a teaspoon, maybe a >tablespoon, it usually comes back up. My question to my surgeon was "how >long do I have to go without having a bowel movement before you consider it to >be a blockage?" To this day, no doctor has ever answered that question. They >know I am full of adhesions, (28 abdominal surgeries to date) and now they >tell me the only way they will operate again is if I have a blockage. Well, >if 3 weeks is not a blockage, then I have no clue what is! And what is so bad >about it, I am very knowledgeable in medical /prescription areas. > It is unbelievable what some doctor's will say in order to rid of a >patient that they can't figure out or can't help or have no clue on how to treat. > I am sorry, but to me, if they are a surgeon, then this is something they >"ALL" should be able to deal with. They cause them every time they do >surgery! (Venting for a moment, sorry). > The worst part is they know about my blockages, but the doctor says that >he wants it to be a "Life or Death" situation before he will do anything. >Well, to me, going 3 weeks in that kind of pain is "DEATH" every day for the >most part. When gas passes, that is the only relief for a blockage, when a >doctor won't do anything at all. I have 4 kinks in my bowel from the adhesions >(that I know of). > Good luck to all of us and hopefully we will find help soon. > >Sincerely, >Debbie > >____________________________________ >Need a job? _Find an employment agency near you_ >____________________________________ > >-- >____________________________________ >(http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=employment_agencies&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000003) . >____________________________________ > >%3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62) >