We spoke once before ......you were considering going to Reich at that time.Glad he has done you well!
-- Ronna> >Dear Friends >I am sharing my experience of surgery performed under Dr. Harry reich >of New York as a number of you asked about it in greater detail Please >keep in mind that this is MY surgery and that each one of us has a case >history unique to each of us. I also am stating MY interpretation of >how the body responds to and creates adhesions as I understand that >physiological proccess. > >Previous to consenting to Dr. Reich's adhesional lysis procedure, I >requested a copy of it so that I could determine for myself what was >being done differently then other adhesional lysis I had. I also >checked out his credentials with the AMA, all very outstanding >recommendations. I then asked for statistics of the surgery, and even >though he has not keep a following of his patience, he does have some >figures on it and it looked to be the higher % of success for non >reforming adhseions with his procedure. I also was put in contact with >a woman who had undergone his lysis last June. We talked at great >length ( e-mail ) and we continue to do so. She was a wealth of >information and encouragement for me...and you can be assured that I am >watching her case closely as it parellels my adhesional history very >close. Dr. Reich also video tapes his entire surgery for you. > >Dr. Riechs theory to non reforming adhesions is: " The solution to >polution is dilution! " And he stands by that phrase yet today. > >This procedure is done through minimally invasive route. One small >incision in the naval for camera, two 1" - 2" incions on each side of >the lower abdoman for instrument use. Dr. Reich is the only >ambidextrious surgeon in the United States and that is a plus for us! He >does a diagnostic look around upon entering the cavity. Looks for any >invasive pathology aside of adhesions. Evaluates the situation and then >determines his plan of treatment. In the event that there are dense >adhesions, he proceeds to dissect them ( seperate. ) This isnot an easy >process and very involved. I can understand why most DR's do NOt want >to challenge themselves during a lysis, dangerious and tedious as you >are working right up against and around the intestines etc....based on >Dr. Reichs vaste experience with laporscopic >surgery's, he has developed a technique like no other surgeon in the >world! That is why he has the reputation as the best laporoscopic >surgeon in the world! >It was the clean up at the end of his surgery that impressed me the most >and was also the reason that I chose to go to him and have this done! He >cleans out almost EVERY peice of clotted blod that is in, around, under >and virtually all over in the cavity following the surgery! He feels >that it is this residuel clotted blood that the anti-bodies in an >adhesion formers system respond to as a " foreign "y and thus creates an >adhesion over it to protect the internal organs! Now, this is exactly >how our bodies defense sysytem works! Think about you getting a sliver ( >externally of course ) What does our bodies defense sysytem do to that >foreign body? Sends out the luekocytes and creates and " infection " to >get rid of it, right? Internally, one of two types of defense systems >kick in when there is a problem, 1) if an appendix ruptures, we get >peritonitis ( an internal infection like pus or white blood cells that >spill into the cavity, those white cells are responding to an >inflamation in the appendix and built up and burst, but it WAS a defense >mechanism as well ) That can kill us as the body has no way to rid >itself of that infectious drainag and it infects the surrounding >internal organs as well. In defense our body sends the luekocytes ( >white cells ) to that area of " infectious drainage " 2) Because there >is an active infectiouse foreign body in the cavity, our bodiy will >atepmt to " CONTAIN " that poison to protect the other internal organs >from damage! These white cells form a material called," fibrin," ( it is >that sticky stuff in blood by the way ) this fibrin starts to cover the >infectious material and you have what is called an " ADHESION!" Now, >adhesion means...to stick together. And in a cavity filled with lots of >organs in very close proximity of one another, what do you think will >happen? Organs get attatched to one another...everywhere that the >drainage touched! >Lets look at that same reaction now using the clotted residual blood >following your internal surgery. Blood is found througout the cavity >from any area of surgery or ischemia ( areas scrapped or cut opening an >area that bleeds ) In the cavity, this blood dries very fast...VERY! >Now, 99.9% of surgeons DO NOT clean up the residual blood clots thus >leaving that in, around and under your internal organs. Your body see >this blood as a foriegn body and sends out the luekocytes and thus forms >adhesions wherever these clots are. Because fibrin is sticky, these >organs become attatched. With the peritoneum ( innermost tissue of the >abdominal wall,) some organs become attatched to it, thus causing the >pulling and inflamation at the attachment sites...thus PAIN, and >eventually a decrease in our physical mobility. That pain is from the >attatchment to the peritoneum. The other attatchment's, if any, ( organ >to organ ) doesn't cause us pain, but it can cause bowel obstructions, >painfull and difficult bowel movements and if some adhesions attatch the >bowel to the vaginal wall, painful intercourse as well. >Am I losing you? If I am, please let me know and I will be less medical. >( I sense that you are perfectly capable of understanding every word of >this! ) >Dr. Reich uses a procedure called " aqua " surgery. He is constantly >flushing the cavity with ringers lactate ( a type of compatible fluid to >the human body, like saline ) and finds the fibrin stings and removes >them! Bit by bit...wonderfull cleanup job, on my video, if someone would >have told me he could clean up that cavity as good as he did and I had >NOT seen him do it, I wouldn't believe them! So, if you want a copy of >my video, I'll send it to you! >His theory is that if the cavity is cleaned of the clotted blood, the >body's defense system wil have less to react to thus reducing and >possibly stopping reformation of PAINFULL and distructive adhesions. He >also leaves 3-4 liters of ringers in the abdoman following his surgery. >Takes about 48 hours to dissipate out of the body. ( Lots of peaing >goes on..:-) ) >I was not shaved, no urinary cathiter in place or gastric nasal tube >when i woke in recovery. 5 hours of surgery and I was back in our suite >in less then 4 hoursfollwing recovery room. Sure, I had surgery pain. >but I also had both ovary's removed and two tumors! Surprise DR.to the >Dr.! One very large and had attatched the right side of my colon to the >left side of my peritoneum...colon was totally twisted over and >attatched...no wonder I hurt and couldn't have a BM on my own! >How am I now, a tiny bit sore on the lower right, but that is from an >organ removal...NO ADHESION PAIN, NO BACK ACHES, NO PAIN PILLS and a >smile on my face that only a crow bar could remove! >I had been on pain medication, anti-inflamitory's ( which you need to be >on at LEAST 1500 MGS of a day if you are suffering adhesion pain, that >is to combat the inflamation from the pulling of the organ attatchment >site, you can bet you have something attatched to the peritoneum at this >time and it is pulling and doesnt like that! ) anti- acids ( from >irritation of the esophogus and stomach from years of drugs, slepp/pain >meds at night and last but not least...laxatives! ( and you know what >that was for! ) NO MORE....I take a 500 MG chewy for calcium and Vit. E >for heart muscle as I refuse to go on hormone replacement untill I >present with symptoms...and I have not yet! > >Dr. Riech will state that his procedure is NOT a sure thing, but >statistically, his lysis patients have shown a great reduction in >reforming adhesions following his lysis. >I discussed Dr. Reichs procedure with a local surgeon as well as a >pathologist who our son works with, before I agreed to have it done. I >also sent them my post operative reports that defined the locations of >previuosly lysed adhesions in both my abdoman and pelvic cavity. During >a routine autopsy, they instilled 3-4 liters of ringers lactate to raise >the abdominal wall away from the intestines to determine if in fact an >adhesion could reform and REACH the abdominal wall to attatch itself >from the intestine when there is that much ringers in the cavity. ( >that type of attatchment was the ONLY cause of my pain and when organ >attatchment involves the peritoneum you have pain! I had that in both >previous lysis.) It did raise the abdominal wall a good 3-4" and in all >probability, an adhesion would NOT be able to attatch. > >In the event you are interested in contacting Dr. reich, let me know >and I will assist with that as well. I also can give some pretty fresh >ideas in planning a trip to New York. ( without getting hit by a street >selling crook...like someone I know did! ) > >I hope this synopsis provides you with the information you asked me for. >If there is anything else I can do for you, please feel free to e-mail >me at: bnb@cybrzn.com >Please educate yourselves to all that you can about adhesion disorder >and then call for a SIT DOWN consultation with your DR. to discuss all >area of adhesion disorder. take him informatuon from Dr. Wiseman, the >woman surgical group and even from the International Pelvic Pain Society >under the direction of Dr. Perry. Many times the DR. is as scared and >frustrated as we are as what to do for you! >Also re evaluate your medications.....you MUST be atking an analgesic ( >pain med ) on a constistent basis for it to be effective in your system >to combat the pain. It is also imparative you have an anti-inflamitory. >As for an MRI, Cat Scan or any other high tech medical test for a person >with a history of adhesions, I feel it is a waste of money and time. A >simple ultra sound and abdominal x-ray will detect any abnormal >pathology in the abdoman. If you feel that you are sufferring from the >same type of pain in the same region as with your previous adhesion >problem, then you sure don't need anymore tests if an ultra sound proves >negative! Evrything else will too and your DR. STiLL cannot diagnose >your adhesions as the cause of your pain unless a diagnostic paoroscopic >surgery is performed. Your Dr. cannot say that your pain is caused by >your adhesions untill he sees them, but you can pretty much be assured >the apin is from your adhesions if you had that before and if your tests >show negative....you can say it is your adhesions and not have to worry >about getting sued...your DR. can't! He sure might think it is from >them, but he really, really cannot say it untill proven! BUT....as long >as all medical tests rule out abnormal pathology...you DO have CHRONIC >PELVIC PAIN and that IS recognized as a medical condition...so get on a >pain management routine and take it from there! A DR. HAS TOO respond >to your request for that! >There is also NOT any other effetive pain management for adhesions...no >message( the adhesions are located to deep within the cavity for " >breaking down etc..) and no type of linamints or balms will reach, nor >can they penetrate the peritoneum as that tissue is there to PROTECT >against invasion os things....that IS OUR problem to begin with! ) so >please be carefull folks with paying out bucks for things that sound >good...but WILL not work on the adhesions! Relaxation, messages and such >WILL help relax the adhesion sufferer and there is something to be said >for treating theemitional as well as the pschological self ..... in >fact it is imparative to do that! And therepy for the family >members...support, education and ideas as to how to live with one who is >sufferring this very painfull and debilitating disorder. The impact >that " Adhesion Disorder " places on a family is no different then a >diagnosis of cancer, Muscular Distophy, Multiple Sclerosis or any other >debilitating disorder....only ourdisorder is just begginning to be >focused on...and how much focus it gets is up to each one of us...so >learn about it, educate your DR.'s...don't be afraid of it as it can be >effectivly lived with...and there is HOPE..!