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From: Maria Nunez
Date: 09/04/00
Time: 03:03:55
I am a health care professional who has been suffering from both pelvic and abdominal adhesions for about 4 years now, as well as gastric reflux disease for 10 years--that has been resolved with medication. However, concerning the adhesions,following removal of my gall bladder by a laparascopic procedure, I hemmoraged and lost a great deal of blood. A second laparascopic procedure was performed about 12 hours later to stop the bleeding. Since then, I have had severe abdominal distention, anorexia, fever, and horrible pain around the navel and in the right lower quadrant. More recentely I have been experiencing rigors and fever. Every test known to medicine was performed to rule out any type of gastrointestinal disease, but even then, a specialist wanted to diagnose the symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome. I was continually asked if I was "stressed" or "depressed" and I tried to steer them away from a motility disorder (which was finally ruled out) and toward a mechanical problem. I explained that IBS doesn't come with fever and an elevated white cell count and that unmistakable "tugging and pulling" sensation in the abdomen, and finally,surgery was recommended. The surgeon with whom I had been consulting ultimately decided not to perform the procedure due to lack of experience with adhesions, and "not being sure of exactly what was in there (volvulus, etc.") Another more experienced surgeon will be doing the procedure soon, laparscopically I hope, and mentioned some new products that may help the adhesions. I am anxious about the surgery because of the possibility that (a) the adhesions may actually become worse and (b) I'll be left with a severely distended abdomen for life. Does anyone have any experience or advice concerning this situation? Are there new methods or products available which will help prevent adhesion reformation? I'd appreciate hearing from you. Thank you,
Maria