Alternative treatments

I have had three opinions regarding my hyst. All three agree TAH/BSO is necessary for treatment of my severe adhesions and cyst on left ovary. My ovaries and tubes have folded down underneath/behind my uterus and have become cemented to just about everything - including my bowel and bladder. There was no endo present, just all the adhesions. I haven't been able to find any other way to treat this situation. Has anyone heard of possible alternative treatments? I'm only 38 - I'm not real sure I want to go through that Hormone Jungle at this age. I'm quite apprehensive regarding possible negative outcomes from this surgery. I have pain now, but am not incapacitated as many women are. I'm considering waiting a while longer, but Doc has told me that the adhesions can eventually begin to interfere with my bowel function - may have already.

Anyway, if anyone has heard anything regarding alternative treatments for adhesions, I'd be very pleased to hear them.

FYI - I'm not looking for medical advice, just a hint on what else to look for!

Thanks!

Dear Oddie,

Hyster Sisters has a Resource Database that contains links to hysterectomy options and alternatives, but it sounds as if, since you've already had three opinions, and they all agree with each other, that your surgery is probably necessary.

I read through your earlier posts, and in November you also mentioned endometriosis and a prolapsed uterus. Did the doctors rule that out since then? I don't know that much about adhesions, but hope that others will come along soon who can give you more information.

If there is an alternative, I hope that you will be a candidate for it, but it really sounds as if you will be taking a chance with your future good health if you put it off.

S

Hi Oddie,

There is a surgical procedure called adhesiolysis for removal of adhesions. I don't know if you are a good candidate for this or not ... or if this can be performed without doing a hyst (and possibly ovary removal too) since it sounds like your organs are fused together. Not a good situation, that's for sure.

Although (((Karen))) provided a link to our resources area, I thought I'd point you speicfically to the section with websites about adhesions and adhesiolysis. Here is that link:

Links for Adhesion Information

Please keep in mind that anytime you have abdominal surgery, for any reason, you run the risk of forming adhesions. So it will be very important that you have a highly skilled surgeon, if you do go the surgery route. Please make sure you get a VERY good doctor - if you have the hyst, a gyn oncologist would be a good option. Keep us posted on how you are doing and what you decide. Sending hugs your way.

Beth

Hi ((Oddie)),
I'm a suffer of some pretty extensive Adhesions also & know the pain & complications they can cause My situation is the opposite as yours being all my problems intensified by first my TAH done in Jan 2000. During my recovery instead of my pain levels improving they worsened exp in my right side of my pelvic region. After almost 3 months, my Surgeon ordered some tests to see if something was going on in there. They revealed my right Ovary to be very enlarged, covered in multiple blood-filled cysts & home to a large mass
Not knowing the nature or origin of the mass my Gyn encouraged me to undergo a Lap along with the removal of that Ovary thinking it to be the source of my continuing pain. The surgerey went well...the mass turned out to be a large amount of Adhesions that had formed on my Ovary, as a result of the surgery, an had it adherred to my Vaginal cuff...he felt confident that this would resolve my pain. Unfortunately, it didnt...it worsened :cry: About a month later I wound up in the ER with a severe pain, in the same area but it was more sharp & extreme. After a long night of test after test I was dx'd with Total Bowel Obstruction in 3 places. I was in need of emergency surgery to release the Obstructions....the culprit? Adhesions...they were everywhere. There was a great amount of overlying Adhesions that made it tough to get in, then they were seen gluing all my organs to various places in my Abdomen & pelvic region. They had things located where they didnt belong.....my intestines were pulled out to ensure all obstructions were free & there were no more that were where they could cause further problems. It was a long, hard surgery that left me in the hospital for 3 weeks. My entire digestive system refused to function, I was prepped for more surgery twice...luckily, they held off both times & things resolved on their own. I also developed Pnemmonia then thrush in my mouth & throat from all the Antibiotics <sigh> it was quite an ordeal!!
I thot for sure the pain would subside after all that but it didnt...like the 2 previous sugreies it worsened. I sought out the advice of several Surgeons & Specialists, I was now desperate for some relief! Each one shared a little more insight into my situation but they all advised the samething, "no more surgery unless it is life-threatening. Surgery is the cause for the scarring & damage...more surgery in my sitation would probably leave mr with more pain. I was told of the visicious cycle Adhesion patients often fall into of more surgery = more Adhesion =more pain & over & over until the area is soo bad from the amount of scarring that access along with visability to differenciate one organ from the next is impossible...that alone increases the chance of some major damage."
I was referred to a Pain Mgmt group & have been under their care since. For me, it has been a life-saver!! I still have pain but the levels arent at the point where they control my every thot & movement as they were. I can do what I need to w.o planning <for the most part anyway> my life around the pain :-)

I share this ((Oddie)) not to scare you or encourage you not to have the surgery but to share the possibilities that can occur with this or any surgery for that matter.
Adhesions are tricky..not alot is known about them nor is there a *good* method used for prevention. They are our body's natural defense mechanism when it endures trauma, surgery, infection or Endometriosis....it's protecting itself from substaining further damage. There are several products available on the market that were designed to be used during surgery to help reduce the amount of Adhesions that reform. Unfortunately, they dont have a high success rate & there is not alot of Surgeons versed in the proper use of them <sigh>
As ((Beth)) stated about the need to have a SKILLED Surgeon perform these surgeries, it takes one that is skilled to be able to place these products where they need to be with the smallest amount of access they can, preferrably for most Laproscopicaly.
I've looked into some alrternative therapies in treating Adhesions & found one that seems to be the most successful & the least risky...it is Abdominal Manipulation
I'm gonna list a few links detailing this that I thot might be of some help to you:

Manipulative Therapy

	Quote:
Abdominal adhesions are the result of internal scar tissue that can develop after abdominal or pelvic surgery and are a frequent cause of chronic abdominal pain in people who have had such operations. Although adhesions are quite common and are the leading cause of obstruction in the small bowel, we still don't know how to prevent or treat them. You might try abdominal manipulation, done by an osteopathic physician or a chiropractor who has experience in this area. Problems related to internal scarring can develop years after an otherwise successful surgery. Any kind of abdominal surgery increases your risk of developing more troublesome scarring. So you can find yourself caught in a vicious circle of requiring surgery to eliminate adhesions but risking more adhesions with each additional procedure. http://www.drweil.com/app/cda/drw_cd...uestionId=3607

Abdominal Manipulation

Manipulative Medicine and the Postoperative Abdominal Surgery

I hope this is of some help to you Oddie....from the above sites I listed along with the Forums ((Karen & Beth)) shared, I'm sure other Options will be shown also!!
Good Luck with everything...my prayers will be with you that you may find some answers & relief to the pain & symptoms you suffer
Pls keep us posted on how things are going..........(((((hugs))))))

Thanks to all of you for replying regarding adhesions. After all I've read on hysts, I was becoming more and more apprehensive about such a momentous surgery and whether it's right for me. I'm fortunate in that my pain has not been incapacitating, and I feel I have the luxury of time in finding the best possible solution to my problem. Thank you thank you thank you for affirming my need to research this more thoroughly!

Best to all,

Oddie