Re: high hopes gone>>> Toni, you have choices!

From: toni welsh (twelsh1@webtv.com)
Wed Dec 1 06:50:31 1999


At Tue, 30 Nov 1999, Helen Dynda wrote: >
>I have inserted my comments within your letter, Toni.
>
>** At Tue, 30 Nov 1999, toni welsh wrote:
>
>>>>I just came from pain clinic, and she said he had just called my gyn,
>and they both think that another surgery is risky.
>
>Toni, another surgery is risky considering your particular case of
>adhesions!!
>
>>>>He has not called me yet, he has been in and out of town lately, I thought the way he talked a month ago, he was going to talk to general surgeon, and they were both going to go in and try to fix things.....
>
>Toni, I have the feeling that he cares too much about your welfare. He
>knows that you have gone through so much already - and he also knows
>that he isn't God and thus cannot make any guarantees (even with the
>help of a general surgeon) that would give you a better quality life.
>
>I know that you have a lot of confidence in your Gyn, but your Gyn is a
>human being too and has limitations as to what he is able to do. I am
>sure that he wishes that he would be able to help you, but his surgical
>expertise is not in treating adhesions.
>
>>>>....and use seprafilm, which is what Dr. Semertzides uses.
>
>Toni, it takes an expert to be able to use Seprafilm successfully. An
>expert adhesion surgeon specializes in doing surgery for adhesions. As
>a specialist he does not deliver babies! Because he has specialized in
>doing adhesion surgeries he has developed microsurgical techniques which
>cause less trauma and thus a lesser chance for adhesions to reform or
>develop de nova (new) adhesions.
>
>Toni, I mentioned this before that Seprafilm is very difficult for a
>surgeon to use - especially in areas where Seprafilm needs to be wrapped
>around an organ such as the bowel. Seprafilm looks like waxed paper. I
>have read that it is brittle and also that it has a tendency to stick to
>the surgeon's gloves. It works out well when used following a
>laparotomy - between the abdominal wall and the omentum.
>
>>>>But he does more than one surgery, I cannot figure out why he can do that and they are afraid of doing ONE more on me.
>
>Dr. Semertzides has specialized in doing surgery for adhesions - and as
>a specialist, he is aware of the problems connected with adhesions on
>the intestines and he has had experience in overcoming those problems.
>If the first surgery is not successful at ridding the body of adhesions,
>he follows it up with another surgery...and gradually over time he is
>able to be the victor over the adhesions...with God's help, that is.
>
>>>>So tired now, even went to mall and could not even stand the pain when walking, and my pain dr told me I NEED to accept it, and the counselor will teach me how to live with it.
>
>I would like to quote from a letter I received from a gentleman, "I
>totally agree with your understanding and experience of the best form of
>pain control, improved health and well being, comes from within one's
>inner strength. Finding that inner strength is the hardest part, as you
>know pain not only hurts physically, but brings you mentally, very
>down."
>
>By saying "my understanding and experience", he is referring to my firm
>belief in the "body-mind connection" - which did not happen for me
>overnight. It took many years before I was able to accept the
>"body-mind connection."
>
>The doctor, who helped me the most with the severe intractable chronic
>pain that had such a hold on me from 1970-1975, very patiently over time
>taught me about the "body-mind connection." He told me that the human
>brain contains many chemicals - such as endorphins, neurotransmitters,
>serotonin, etc. He also told me that the brain supplies the body with
>its own natural morphine - and that too much stress depletes this
>natural pain killer.
>
>>>>Here I thought they were going to try to help me....
>
>Unless you are ready and willing to be taught, this makes it difficult
>for them to help you. Have you heard of the expression: "Mind over
>matter"? Treating chronic pain is more than pills, more than surgery! It
>begins with learning techniques that can help you reduce the level of
>pain that you experience. This is not easy to accept - but acceptance
>is the beginning of real help.
>
>>>>I realize it IS a risk,as far as the more surgery they do, she said the risk for obstruction IS greater after each one. She said it is like flipping a coin, and if your're lucky it will work! I am REALLY confusd now, living on narcotics is NOT my cup of tea! HELP! I NEED advice, I am ready to see Semertzides at this point, but he DOES more than one if neded, and he does laparotomy,no matter what, I cannot get mine done laparoscopy anymore anyway, so it does not matter, I am about 40 minutes from him!
>
>Toni, it is not my purpose to give advice, because I am not a medical
>professional. I have just given you some things, things I have
>experienced and learned, to think about. You do have choices that only
>you can make, such as:
>
>1. Allow yourself to work "with the therapists" at the pain clinic -
>learn techniques to help reduce your level of pain, etc.
>
>2. Continue to wait for your Gyn and a general surgeon to help you.
>
>3. Contact Dr. Semertzides for an appointment and let him guide you
>regarding your treatment for adhesions.
>
>4. Wait for 6-8 months with the hope that Intergel, a gel adhesions
>barrier, will be approved by the FDA.
>
>Finally, Toni, best wishes to you as you make a decision as to what you
>plan to do!!
>
>** AS FOR ME, I PLAN TO WAIT FOR INTERGEL TO BE APPROVED. **
>
>--
>The 15th century proverb which summarizes the purpose of medicine is:
>* To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always. *
>

Thank you, helen for a very nice letter. You seem like such a smart lady. Idid finally tell my husband in a cry for help, and a day full of tears, that I am just plain tired, I am worn to frazel, and I cannot take no more. Last night the rope broke. Helen, I am so used to being very active, and there are still days I push myself till the days end, but the night before last I was in alot of pain, not knowing what I had done different, I was in bed at 7:00,and asleep by 8! I am so exhausted, and I cannot go on like this, not that I had to ell Dug this, he knew, but when I scream out like I did, in anger, I am just so very tired.

I agree with you and pain center, but I do not underrstand mind over matter, and how your mind controls your pain, I have alot to learn. Thanks, Toni


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