Adhesions

[dave]

In 1992, I went into surgery for what the doctors thought was going to be an appendectomy.  Upon further examination during the operation, it was revealed that I had a diverticulum sac that had ruptured and was leaking on my appendix causing the appendix to react.  The appendix was removed and the "offending" piece of intestine was removed and the two ends were sewn up.



I spent 7 days in the hospital (most of which spent with an NG tube...I really dislike that) and was released.  About 18 months later, I started suffering from stomach cramps much the same kind I experienced before the initial operation.  After going into the emergency room and discussing my condition with a gastroenterologist on call, I found out I had adhesions from the original scarring that occurred after the initial operation.  These adhesions were described to me and I understood that some of them had a tendency to squeeze off the small intestine causing a partial blockage.  After seeing 3 specialists over the last 7 years, the basic idea they conveyed to me was I just had to live with it.



I read some posts in this forum about other experiences back in 1998 and the responses are pretty much consistent with what I've been told personally.  My questions......



1.  Can I expect these adhesions to multiply?

2.  Will the situation gradually get worse?

3.  Any guidance on the foods I can safely eat?

I found out that lettuce, carrots, popcorn, and peanuts are definitely detrimental to me because they do not digest fully and will not pass through the bowel easily.  I'll do ANYTHING to avoid that NG tube one more time.



I'm 46 years old.  I went into the hospital weighing 220lbs and over the last 7 years I'm down to 165lbs because I eat and eliminate almost immediately thereafter.  The initial weight loss was over the first 3 years.  I've seem to hit a tableau.



Thanking you in advance for any advice or suggestions.



Dave

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear Dave,

Scarring in the abdomen occurs after inflammation, infevtion and surgery.  For most people, there are no clinical consequences of the scarring.  For some, however, the scarring causes a blockage of the intestine leading to attacks of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.  Although, adhesions due to previous inflammation is an obviouis consideration to explain you rsymptoms, it is necessary to exclude other conditions.  For example, Crohn's disease and tumor must be considered in the appropiatwe clinical setting.  You do not provide details regarding your age, previous tests etc so it is impossible to suggest whether you should be evaluated for other conditions.



people with adhesions do not have ongoing frequent symptoms.  Usually, the obstruction is intermittent.  Those with continuous or frequent symptoms of obstruction are often sent for surgery.  Even though there is the risk of additional adhesions, it is often observed that the symptoms of pain resolve 9 I guess this means that the new adhesions do not necessarily cause obstruction).  It is impossible to predict whether your adhesions will progress and your symptoms worsen.



There are no specific suggestions regarding food.  Only by trial and error will you be able to identify problematic foods.  If you have to eliminate many different foods, then surgery becomes a more likely consideration.



Best of luck.



If yiou wishh a second opinion, we wouild be happy to see you at the Division of gastroenterology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.  You can arranger an appoinment with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in gastrointestinal disease by calling our offices at [phone].

[TRAC]

Hi Dave,  I am a 38 year old female.   I too have had Diverticulitis and had several surgeries to remove the diseased portions of the large intestine.  LOL... I too HATE the ng tube!!!  I am currently recouping from the last surgery,(3 weeks ago) which removed the left and upper quadrant of my intestine.  My Doctor was able to save about 8 inches of the intestine and reconnect it.  The surgery originally was supposed to take around 3 hours but ended up taking 8 hours due to the huge amount of adhesions they found when they got me open.  It was explained to me that the adhesions can be like a catch 22.  The more you go in and remove the more chance of scar tissue again.....  I too would love to have any suggestions on diet and or lifestyle to prevent further dammage.  I know that nuts, seeds, raw veggies are all on my tabu list.  I have also found that I have a hard time digesting beef versus chicken or fish.  My fingers are crossed that this last surgery will have done the trick....

I would love to hear from any one else who has suffered with diverticular disease to compare coping methods.

Trac

***@****

[Diverticular Disease]

help!! any comments??

[Lorna]

Hi My name is Lorna and I too suffer from Adhesions, I had my large bowel (total collectomy) removed in 1990 only to have complications and ended up having one of my tubes and ovaries removed a week later due to a large abscess.



Then I had a anal Fisular repairs and then developed Gastroparesis, due to all the surgery, then I had to have a division of adhesion which lasted 6 hrs, this time they trapped some stomache mouscle when the sewed me back together, I had to stay in hospital 7 weeks..



The 18 months ago I was in terrible pain again and I went bak to hospital and was rushed to thearter, I had to have a full hysterectomy & divison of adhesion at the same time.



I too still suffer from pain everyday which I have been told I will have to learn to live with.. I have been under the pain clinic and I'm on pain medication everday to help ease the pain, but I get small bowell obstructions every 2 or 3 months which I end up in hospital on a IV fluids.



I have found that I can't eat apples, lettuce, nuts, seeds, a lot of food with skin.  I have just started a Gluten Free diet to see if this will help.  I will keep you informed.



If you want to talk more you can get me at ***@****



Good luck.

[sid]

I found this site very informative. I am male and 57 years old. I was operated to remove a colon cancer in 1988.  Acute small intestine obstructions caused by adhesions and scar tissue required surgery 6 months later.  An obstruction in 1989 was resolved by NG tube and rest.  Hospitalization for multiple fractures (auto accident) in 1991 caused a reoccurence of the obstructions.  These obstructions also were resolved with surgery.  I have had 3 other acute obstuction episodes with the last 3 years (spaced 10 - 12 months apart.  Most recent episode last week. All of these were resolved by NG tube and rest.



Question:  Aside from avoiding nuts, corn, and lettuce and drinking large quantities (64 ounces) are there any other diet restrictions or changes in life style to assist in prevention of reoccurences?



Aside:  The NG tube was invented by a GI doctor with a cruel sence of humor bent on inflicting maximum discomfort on a disliked patient.



Thank you, Sid

[Jodee]

Hello.



I am 29 years old and have just been diagnosed with Diverticular disease, by way of the Barrium Enema test.



My doctor was not only surprised to see this disease in someone my age (last year she just assumed I had IBS), but said it was the worst case she has ever seen in someone of my age (apparently the diverticuli are all the way around my colon, not just on one side).



I get cramps, diarrea (diarrhea), constipation, and heartburn, but these symptoms have been relieved some since changing to a high fibre diet (and I have been successfully trying to lose weight).



I have been told that I am to see a specialist, and they may want to do a colonoscopy to make sure there is nothing else going on. Can cancer be related to Diverticular Disease?  Is it common to have to have surgery for this disease?  It sound like a very unpleasant surgery and I am not in any major pain (I haven't had any stomache cramps in about 3 weeks).  The heartburn also troubles me.  It can be most uncomfortable, and can last for weeks, but whenever I lose weight, the heartburn goes away.



When I have bowel movements, I also notice black spots.  My doctor did do an occult blood test and the results were negative, but if it is not blood, what else could it be.  This symptom scares me the most, and it takes 4 months to get in to see the specialist (all part of that great Canadian Health Care system).



If anyone has had similar experiences and can offer any advice or insight I would appreciate it.



- Jodee

[bill]

can meckels diverticulum re-occur 6 years after operation to remove it ?. colonoscopy/gastroscopy after severe blood loss has failed to locate source of bleeding.



many thanks

bill

united kingdom

[Elaine]

Me too.  Two months after removal of an ovary due to a benign cyst, I returned to the hospital with many of the same symptoms as the first time (vomiting), and was operated on again for adhesions.  The next few bouts (one caused by too much wheat bran, which made a bolsa in my intestine!) were resolved with rest, the tube, and IV, the then a new operation by laparoscopy -- a good solution for us adhesion-prone unfortunates.   I haven't had an attack for a while, which may be due to luck or maybe I've really found a way to deal with it.???  If I give up salad and raw fruit entirely I find I become constipated. I've switched from wheat bran (insoluble) to oat bran (soluble).  I eat fruit, mostly peeled, but am careful to mix it with cereal.

I eat salad with dinner, too, but always being careful (what a drag) to alternate with bites of fish or pasta or other non-fibrous foods, or at lunch on a sandwich.  So far so good.  My doctor tells me some women have their own ng tube at home and have learned to insert it themselves when they get an attack!  Wow.  

It's really helpful for us to be able to exchange experiences like this.  (I wrote to one site and the doctor emailed me to "eat more fruits and vegetables".)

Elaine

[Robert]

I had a hernia operation about 15 years ago.  I have now developed the same symptoms and have had a cat scan and 2 exams, all negative.  Was told it could possibly be scar tissue.  Any one else have knowledge of this.  Could scar tissue occur so long after an operation?

[robyn]

I am a 41 year old women with severs adhesions. I have had 4 surguries to remove the adhesions but unfortunately they keep coming back. I have had a complete hysterectomy and my gall bladder removed. I just recently under gone a CT Scan of the abdomin (abdomen). They found a 3cm. mass in the lower left portion. The radiologist thought it was a problem with my overy. After I said that was impossible, I was then told it could be a loop of intestine. I am now told to come back and have an ulrasound and a barium enema so they can get a better look. I have been through these test before and suffered severe cramping from both. I would like to hear from others who know anything about this condition who can help me decide if I should go through the pain of the test again or should I search other medical advise. Please Help!!!!!!!!!!

[Rick]

WOW! This all sounds much like my wife.  She has confusing problems as follows.  Maybe someone could help us.  We'd also like to know more about diverticulitis as all her docs say she doesn't have it, tests say she doesn't have it, but the doc who did the lap surgery which was followed by complications of perforated bowel and purulent peritonitis says she has to have it although he didn't see any evidence of diverticulitis while he was in there.  Matter of fact he claimed it was a thermal burn and something called an iatrogenic injury up until two years ago when we asked him what to do because the colostomy supplies are not covered by insurance and she's too scared to have a reanastamosis.  She leaks everywhere.

Wife has thick dense vascular adhesions so bad uterus cannot be removed and bladder is problematic now

Excellent home town doc says she can't have lap surgery or she'll have perforated bowel

Doc in new town claim to be expert..insists she has to have lap surgery or he won't provide her with meds to control horrific pain.  We warned doc that she'd suffer perf bowel.  He laughs.

He does surgery wife is in tears and terified. four days later she goes to clinic and is given mega doses of IV antibiotics and narcotics.  Goes home with same.  Feels slightly better for two days then wham...stomach becomes huge, vomitting, 104 fever, all kinds of stuff...can't walk.  Doc keeps calling meds to pharmacy. tells her to get some sleep and call office in AM.  I take wife to ER.  has surgery surgeon says she has perforated bowel from a thermal burn does colostomy and has serious peritonitis.  No one mentions diverticulitis at all not in med records...nowhere...!!!???  Two months later doc insists wife nees last ovary removed.  We want more children...he insists...she submits.  24 hours later she calls him with extreme weakness, diziness, cannot even hold head up, headache, pulse of 120, shaking if tries to stand, chest pounding, can feel pulse in head.  He says he will call in valium.  I take her to hospital where she has blood count of under 4 and requires transfusions.  She is placed in cancer unit (???has no cancer though) and told she has an ulcer (????no tests are done...no xrays, ct scans, blood tests, nothing).  We keep asking...Where is the blood?  For two weeks she walks around in severe pain with an 18 cm hematoma and peritonitis with the doc insisting she has an ulcer and telling her to take tagament, iron, vitamin c and valiums, and pain pills.  We are released to take our children on a much needed vacation.  Wife in wheel chair.  Spends all her time laying in van moaning.  We stop at a dozen hospitals and they all call her doctor and he says it's just a little ulcer send her on her way.  We finally go to one and scream:please do a ct scan she has an abcess (abscess).  She is critically ill again...down for the count for months...34 years old...

What gives?  This doc is now saying she had diverticulitis but never referred her, never mentioned it, nothing....no sign of it now....what is diverticulitis?  She had ovarian cysts...never had intestine problems or ulcers...nothing like that...Could someone explain diverticulitis.  Her doc thinks now that she somehow managed to get a fistula between her intestines and her bladder...that the blood probably came from the outer bladder wall or some such deal...?????  She wakes me up at night tossing and turning and moaning in pain...she finally gets up and paces til it's back under control and tries to go back to sleep...lots of daily pain...Any help out there?  What is going on with her?  Will she always suffer?  We have children...really good children

[TRAC]

Hi, back again.  Was hoping that last surgery was going to take care of the diverticulitis, but unfortunately I never really got better.  I am still on Darvocet and percocet for pain and the following meds: Bentyl, lomotil, xanac, axcid, imipramine, ambien and celebrex and now the Dr has started me on a 6 month dos of tetracyline for 14 days on and ten days off.  They did another colonoscopy and have now decided to add Crohns Disease, IBS, Colitis and still Diverticulitis (even though they removed all but 8 inches of my colon) The colonoscopy still showed diverticuli in the remaining part.  Most of the pain they still feel is from extensive adhesions.  But, I am still plagued with severe abdominal cramps, constant diareaha, on again and off again low grade fevers and occasional bleeding.  I am to the point with all of the meds that I am on there is no way that I feel I can go back to work.... and LOL....our government has kindly denied me disability.  I am getting ready to actually try some holistic healing and it has been suggested by a friend to seek out some Asian healers, they sometimes have more luck than the DRs with controlling pain.  If anyone  has any suggestions on how to cope with this I would really appreciate hearing from them!!  Thanks

Trac

***@****

[delta]

My Doctor told me that I have adhesion diease a couple of months

ago. She showed me a ultrasound picture of what it looks like.

It's all around my female organs.I've had two tubal pregnacies

and eventually had to have a tubaligation done. I've had alot of

problems with cramping during periods. My doctor wants to do a hysterectomy. One thing is I don't have the insurance or money to

have it done.Can someone give me more infomation on this and what

causes it to cause so much pain?

[robyn]

I too have adhesions. I am rather surprised that your doctor said she saw these on the ultrasound. The only way to see adhesions is to surgically look. I have had adhesions for over 20 years and I am about to have surgery to remove a mass and to cut away some of the adhesions. I have been told by six different doctors that I have the worst adhesions they had ever seen. As for the hystorectomy I'm not to sure I would do this. My adhesions were always wrapped around my female organs and removed five times by excellent surgeons. The only problem I had was that my tubes became blocked because of all the twisting. With the help of invitro-fertilization I was able to conceive and give birth to my daughter and then to twin girls. The adhesions do not interfere with pregnancy, actually the pregnancy helps to break them as the baby grows. I truely believe you need to see another doctor. This doctor wants to take the easy way out and thinks that your cramps will end. I can tell you from experience since I had a complete hysterectomy four years ago and the pain is back and that is why they are going to cut them again. Please seek a second opinion. Has anyone done any bowel studies on you? There are so many different things that could be adding to your pain. Also if you can get insuance do it. If you can't check with your local state agency and see if you quilify for assistance. DON'T GIVE UP!

[TRAC]

Hi, Back again.  Unfortunately, everything I have been told about adhessions is that they are a catch 22.  The more you have, the more pain you have, the more they operate to remove them, the more adhesions they create.  No win situation.  I was basically told plan on being on pain killers and all of those other fun meds for the rest of my life.

Due to still having active diverticultis, I am on a no bran diet.  Unfortunately, this does not help make ones insides feel any better as well.  God, how I would love to have a crispy salad, but, man, when I cheat just a little bit, I am down big time and back on the heavy pain killers.  

Ps. The only way to know for sure that One has adhessions is to surgically go in there and see them.  Last surgery to remove left and transverse sections of intestine was supposed to last 2 hours or so, they were in there for over 8 1/2 hours cleaning up adhessions.  

Just seems like a no win situation.  Sorry not to be brighter about it.  Will stay in touch.

Trac

[jean]

Hi

I wonder if some could describe the pain of adhesions?  

I posted last Fall and my doctor and I are still trying to find the source of acute intermittent abdominal pain attacks which start when bending, reaching, twisting, coughing, sneezing, laughing etc etc.  Lying down completely flat slightly calms them but they do not stop unless I eat first, then lie down completely flat. If I go more than 4 hours without eating, they restart again.  They are acute, intermittent and seem to start like a muscular spasm and if I don't respond (as above), they start to take over my whole torso (front and back)..like a full-body charley horse.  This is very limiting as I cannot stray very far from my home (food and bed), not to mention the pain .  



Complicated recent history of subclinical infection (which became an acute entero infection) which might have migrated into the peritoneum (via a hole, from a rejecting implant, under the bladder, rejecting into the vaginal vault..longterm situation.).

I was not aware, until found on an anatomy site, that the female peritoneum is not a closed system (as in males).  



These acute pain attacks started around the same time as the acute infection.  I am also plagued with intermittent abdominal bloating for which no cause has been found. (some of the signs that led me to believe that my pancreas had been affected ..earlier post..have disappeared but some remain...constant low-grade pain out the mid-back (worsens when I lie down)..intermittent bloating..bleeding after eating something sweet..

Sequence is: twist/bend/pain, huge bloat/hard abdomen, eat lie down/sleep/ wake up, am fine but bleeding (not associated with "female" issues.)



Doc favors the "adhesion" theory, from the infection. Originally I thought "wandering spleen" but since I realized the food connection around Christmas, I favored the porphyria (AIP) theory triggered and complicated by the mesh rejection and subsequent infections.



Bowels are now fine, no IBS, excessive gas etc.. No sign of upper GI problems. (just about everything known to man has been eliminated).  Ct scan in Fall revealed no more signs of infection, no abnormality of the spleen nor pancreas (lesions, infection, inflammation, positional , etc)



Currently no bacteria growth in urine but continuous presence of red and white blood cells and a discharge which they can't figure out either.  Don't know what it is, not sure whether it's vag/urethral or possibly both.



If any physicians are reading this, I also wonder what the implications on organs in the peritoneum would be after having a sub-clinical, then acute infection there (it was also in my bladder and kidneys).  



Also unclear how adhesions are located and/or diagnosed since it appears that they are difficult to find in standard testing?  Is this something that can be found by palpating the abdomen or?  The reason for concern is that I've had 3 different surgeries and don't esp want someone going in and just looking everywhere, without knowing where the adhesions are.



Also is it possible that adhesions to organs (other than the bowel) such as spleen/pancreas can cause the kind of chaos that I am experiencing?



I'm going to be tested soon for porphyria.  I'd never heard of it until a year ago but after reading up on it and comparing to my history since childhood and parentage, it is possible that I've had this (latent) since childhood.



I've been told that I will probably have to be on/off antibiotics for the duration because of the mesh (unless it can be removed). I'm on a long wait list to see a uro/gynae, originally to discuss removal of the mesh (installed 15 years ago and now embroiled in strong muscle tissue that other uro/gynaes refuse to contemplate removing) but now Doc wants me to ask the uro/gynae about the possibility of adhesions.



The reason I am asking is that if adhesions can be eliminated now by comparing descriptions of pain, and the porphyria test is negative, I will press my Doc NOW to look for other areas (gastroenterolgy or neuro-muscular) and not wait two more months unnecessarily for the uro/gynae.



I'm 50 years old and was relatively healthy until the mesh mess started 3 years ago.  Too young to be so disabled by this complicated situation and I would like to be able to go back to work some day and have a more normal life.



Sorry for the long post.

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Regards

J

[jean]

Hi

I wonder if some could describe the pain of adhesions?  

I posted last Fall and my doctor and I are still trying to find the source of acute intermittent abdominal pain attacks which start when bending, reaching, twisting, coughing, sneezing, laughing etc etc.  Lying down completely flat slightly calms them but they do not stop unless I eat first, then lie down completely flat. If I go more than 4 hours without eating, they restart again.  They are acute, intermittent and seem to start like a muscular spasm and if I don't respond (as above), they start to take over my whole torso (front and back)..like a full-body charley horse.  This is very limiting as I cannot stray very far from my home (food and bed), not to mention the pain .  



Complicated recent history of subclinical infection (which became an acute entero infection) which might have migrated into the peritoneum (via a hole, from a rejecting implant, under the bladder, rejecting into the vaginal vault..longterm situation.).

I was not aware, until found on an anatomy site, that the female peritoneum is not a closed system (as in males).  



These acute pain attacks started around the same time as the acute infection.  I am also plagued with intermittent abdominal bloating for which no cause has been found. (some of the signs that led me to believe that my pancreas had been affected ..earlier post..have disappeared but some remain...constant low-grade pain out the mid-back (worsens when I lie down)..intermittent bloating..bleeding after eating something sweet..

Sequence is: twist/bend/pain, huge bloat/hard abdomen, eat lie down/sleep/ wake up, am fine but bleeding (not associated with "female" issues.)



Doc favors the "adhesion" theory, from the infection. Originally I thought "wandering spleen" but since I realized the food connection around Christmas, I favored the porphyria (AIP) theory triggered and complicated by the mesh rejection and subsequent infections.



Bowels are now fine, no IBS, excessive gas etc.. No sign of upper GI problems. (just about everything known to man has been eliminated).  Ct scan in Fall revealed no more signs of infection, no abnormality of the spleen nor pancreas (lesions, infection, inflammation, positional , etc)



Currently no bacteria growth in urine but continuous presence of red and white blood cells and a discharge which they can't figure out either.  Don't know what it is, not sure whether it's vag/urethral or possibly both.



If any physicians are reading this, I also wonder what the implications on organs in the peritoneum would be after having a sub-clinical, then acute infection there (it was also in my bladder and kidneys).  



Also unclear how adhesions are located and/or diagnosed since it appears that they are difficult to find in standard testing?  Is this something that can be found by palpating the abdomen or?  The reason for concern is that I've had 3 different surgeries and don't esp want someone going in and just looking everywhere, without knowing where the adhesions are.



Also is it possible that adhesions to organs (other than the bowel) such as spleen/pancreas can cause the kind of chaos that I am experiencing?



I'm going to be tested soon for porphyria.  I'd never heard of it until a year ago but after reading up on it and comparing to my history since childhood and parentage, it is possible that I've had this (latent) since childhood.



I've been told that I will probably have to be on/off antibiotics for the duration because of the mesh (unless it can be removed). I'm on a long wait list to see a uro/gynae, originally to discuss removal of the mesh (installed 15 years ago and now embroiled in strong muscle tissue that other uro/gynaes refuse to contemplate removing) but now Doc wants me to ask the uro/gynae about the possibility of adhesions.



The reason I am asking is that if adhesions can be eliminated now by comparing descriptions of pain, and the porphyria test is negative, I will press my Doc NOW to look for other areas (gastroenterolgy or neuro-muscular) and not wait two more months unnecessarily for the uro/gynae.



I'm 50 years old and was relatively healthy until the mesh mess started 3 years ago.  Too young to be so disabled by this complicated situation and I would like to be able to go back to work some day and have a more normal life.



Sorry for the long post.

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Regards

J

[jean]

Hi

I wonder if some could describe the pain of adhesions?  

I posted last Fall and my doctor and I are still trying to find the source of acute intermittent abdominal pain attacks which start when bending, reaching, twisting, coughing, sneezing, laughing etc etc.  Lying down completely flat slightly calms them but they do not stop unless I eat first, then lie down completely flat. If I go more than 4 hours without eating, they restart again.  They are acute, intermittent and seem to start like a muscular spasm and if I don't respond (as above), they start to take over my whole torso (front and back)..like a full-body charley horse.  This is very limiting as I cannot stray very far from my home (food and bed), not to mention the pain .  



Complicated recent history of subclinical infection (which became an acute entero infection) which might have migrated into the peritoneum (via a hole, from a rejecting implant, under the bladder, rejecting into the vaginal vault..longterm situation.).

I was not aware, until found on an anatomy site, that the female peritoneum is not a closed system (as in males).  



These acute pain attacks started around the same time as the acute infection.  I am also plagued with intermittent abdominal bloating for which no cause has been found. (some of the signs that led me to believe that my pancreas had been affected ..earlier post..have disappeared but some remain...constant low-grade pain out the mid-back (worsens when I lie down)..intermittent bloating..bleeding after eating something sweet..

Sequence is: twist/bend/pain, huge bloat/hard abdomen, eat lie down/sleep/ wake up, am fine but bleeding (not associated with "female" issues.)



Doc favors the "adhesion" theory, from the infection. Originally I thought "wandering spleen" but since I realized the food connection around Christmas, I favored the porphyria (AIP) theory triggered and complicated by the mesh rejection and subsequent infections.



Bowels are now fine, no IBS, excessive gas etc.. No sign of upper GI problems. (just about everything known to man has been eliminated).  Ct scan in Fall revealed no more signs of infection, no abnormality of the spleen nor pancreas (lesions, infection, inflammation, positional , etc)



Currently no bacteria growth in urine but continuous presence of red and white blood cells and a discharge which they can't figure out either.  Don't know what it is, not sure whether it's vag/urethral or possibly both.



If any physicians are reading this, I also wonder what the implications on organs in the peritoneum would be after having a sub-clinical, then acute infection there (it was also in my bladder and kidneys).  



Also unclear how adhesions are located and/or diagnosed since it appears that they are difficult to find in standard testing?  Is this something that can be found by palpating the abdomen or?  The reason for concern is that I've had 3 different surgeries and don't esp want someone going in and just looking everywhere, without knowing where the adhesions are.



Also is it possible that adhesions to organs (other than the bowel) such as spleen/pancreas can cause the kind of chaos that I am experiencing?



I'm going to be tested soon for porphyria.  I'd never heard of it until a year ago but after reading up on it and comparing to my history since childhood and parentage, it is possible that I've had this (latent) since childhood.



I've been told that I will probably have to be on/off antibiotics for the duration because of the mesh (unless it can be removed). I'm on a long wait list to see a uro/gynae, originally to discuss removal of the mesh (installed 15 years ago and now embroiled in strong muscle tissue that other uro/gynaes refuse to contemplate removing) but now Doc wants me to ask the uro/gynae about the possibility of adhesions.



The reason I am asking is that if adhesions can be eliminated now by comparing descriptions of pain, and the porphyria test is negative, I will press my Doc NOW to look for other areas (gastroenterolgy or neuro-muscular) and not wait two more months unnecessarily for the uro/gynae.



I'm 50 years old and was relatively healthy until the mesh mess started 3 years ago.  Too young to be so disabled by this complicated situation and I would like to be able to go back to work some day and have a more normal life.



Sorry for the long post.

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Regards

J