Hello, sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. The last couple days have been some of my "bad" days where it hurts to mave an I sleep alot because I have to take pain pills about every 4 hours. But anyway, to answer your questions. First about Dr. Semertzedes, I have been to several doctors about my endo and the adhesions. I even went to New Orleans to see a pelvic pain specialist. I had been diagnosed with Endo here so we had no idea that the adhesions were the problem until the dr. in New Orleans did his first surgery which was #' 20 in June 98, and the second surgery in Oct. 98. Which were a laparotomy and a laparoscopy. During both surgeries I had extensive adhesions, they had already reformed and obstructed both my bowel and bladder just from June to Oct. By Feb. of this year I was back in unbearable pain. seeing a chiropractor and pain dr. Since we knew that it was most likely adhesions that was causing the pain not the endo anymore I spoke to the dr. in New Orleans & My hubby & I decided we couldn't afford to go back to New Orleans again, not matter how much I wasnted to and trusted that dr. I actually kind of stumbled upon Dr. S. I had been to see him in Oct. 97 for what we thought before the surgery was a Umbilical Hernia, which turned out to be endometriosis implants in the wall of my stomach. He removed them and referred me back to my gyn. Who referred me to a Reproductive Endocrinologist. I went to see a dr Sanford Osher, he sent me to see DrS. and Dr. Mickey Karram who is a URo-Gyn. THe first thing Dr. S did was test my galbladder, I didn't have gallstones but my galbladder was slow to function so Dr. S. decided it wopuld be best to remove it first before we started on adhesion surgeries. I went off on short term dis from work in Feb. They removed my galbladder in April, then starting in June I went to Dr. JKarram he did a cystoscopy and thought that the bladder looked like it was ok there were no abnormalities on the inside of the bladder. Then he and Dr. S met and went over the video of the galbladder surgery. While Dr S. was in there he did a look-see and found a large mass of tissue that was near the bladder. He was not sure exactly what organs were involved in the mass but they decided to do the surgery together. But during all of this I was laid off from work. So Dr. S. wanted me off work until He was done. He sasy that most adhesions suirgeries is a 5 or more procedure treatment over 2 years. He goes in and does the first surgery lyeses the adhesions, wraps everything he can in Seprafilm then uses a liquid protein (dotn know the name) on top of the Sepafilm. Then u heal and wait. Most times the adhesions can reoccur within 20 minutes after the surgery, the next time he goes in and does the same. that is why I applied for SSI, I have had 5 of my surgeries in less then 24 months and since I have been pretty much couch bound for the last 9 months, I have lost alot of the muscle tone and have gained about 40 lbs. Since my last surgery that was Sept 10th, I still experience my good days and bad days. the only way to explain it is - after the surgery you have to good healing pain, but then it stops getting better, then I start having more bad days. Which usually means that the adhesions have reoccured and another surgery is soon. But anyway, since I was laid off & my long term dis. wont kick in until Jan 2000 (because of pre-existing clause) we decided if I could get SSI it would be better. Even though I am on Cobra as long as I am still being treated for the same illness I believe I should be able to continue my insurance coverage. But Dr. S. didnt want me going back to work in between surgeies then have the same pre-existing clause with new insurance at a new employer. Back to the adhesions --- I unfortunately was not told about the complicatiosn from having multiple procedures - so starting in 1989 I had the first of my surgeries for endo (5 within 12 months) then a procedure every year for the next 4 years. I went 5 years with no surgeries for endo until 1997. then all of this began. After seeing several doctors thru the years of being repeatedly treated for endo and now the adhesions Dr. Semertzedes is the second dr that actually believes that I am in pain. the only other Dr. that agreed that I was in pain was the Dr. In New Orleans.
More about Dr. Semertzedes -
he is board certified with the American Board of Surgery Fellowship - American College of Surgeons Memberships : American College of Surgeons,American Association of Physicians and Surgeons, Society of Laparoedoscopic Surgeons, Ohio State Medical Association. Research - Protocol for the surgical treatment of chronic bowel obstruction for adhesions, resulting on ONE U.S. patent. Surgical Consultant - Istrument and laparoscopic suture design, resulting in issuance of ONE U.S. patent. Pioneer - Instructor of surgeons in the use of lasers and laparoscopic techniques in the U.S. and abroad.
My family dr. told me that he is one of the physicians that helped to develope Seprafilm.
I hope this answers everyones questions about Dr. Semertzedes and his treatment of adhesons. I can honestly tell you he cares about each individual patient he has. I have met other women theat have gone to see him and they have had nothing but GOOD things to say about him. I have been in his waiting toom and other women who suffer from adhesions have been there and he has ask me talk to them about what he ahs done for me. His phone # is 513-232-9739. His office is located in Anderson township. He also has a office in Lawrenceburg Indiana.
God Bless,
LouAnn