Question
Hello Merrida. I had to chuckle a little about your post regarding your interest in the body systems and how you try to determine the source of pain,etc. with some success. I am the very same. I am a nurse, so I am in a position to discuss the various aspects of the human body daily and read a lot to figure things out for my patients when the MD's won't try hard enough. Are you in the medical field? If not, perhaps you should be, we need more who have a passion for knowledge of the body systems!
In response to your question about possible causes for cramping: One possibility is adhesions. I had this cramping sensation that got worse over time and eventually resulted in a total hysterectomy because the MD's I sought answers from just didn't know... My surgeon told me that I had Pelvic Adhesive Disease, meaning I was more susceptable to adhesions and that I would probably have to have lasar surgery every 5 years to keep the adhesions under control. I had it from my liver to my cervix at that time. It has been 5 years since my hyst and I do have lower abdominal cramping that feels like pre-menstrual cramping. I know it is the adhesions, but I won't have the surgery until it gets intolerable! I control the pain with mild analgesics at this point.
There are many possible causes for this type of cramping, and sometimes the only way to find the source of your pain is through an exploratory laparoscopy. I hope this helps in some way, if only to express camaraderie. Anni
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If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got...
[This message has been edited by anniNangst (edited 02-13-2003).]
Answer
hereubb/rolleyes.gif
My surgeon told me that I had Pelvic Adhesive Disease, meaning I was more susceptable to adhesions and that I would probably have to have lasar surgery every 5 years to keep the adhesions under control. I had it from my liver to my cervix at that time. It has been 5 years since my hyst and I do have lower abdominal cramping that feels like pre-menstrual cramping. I know it is the adhesions, but I won't have the surgery until it gets intolerable! I control the pain with mild analgesics at this point.
There are many possible causes for this type of cramping, and sometimes the only way to find the source of your pain is through an exploratory laparoscopy. I hope this helps in some way, if only to express camaraderie. My surgeon told me that I had Pelvic Adhesive Disease, meaning I was more susceptable to adhesions and that I would probably have to have lasar surgery every 5 years to keep the adhesions under control. I had it from my liver to my cervix at that time. It has been 5 years since my hyst and I do have lower abdominal cramping that feels like pre-menstrual cramping. I know it is the adhesions, but I won't have the surgery until it gets intolerable! I control the pain with mild analgesics at this point.
There are many possible causes for this type of cramping, and sometimes the only way to find the source of your pain is through an exploratory laparoscopy. I hope this helps in some way, if only to express camaraderie. Anni
------------------
If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got...
[This message has been edited by anniNangst (edited 02-13-2003).]
Answer
hereubb/smile.gif
Anni
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If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got...
[This message has been edited by anniNangst (edited 02-13-2003).]
Answer
What type of diagnostics were done to determine that you had adhesions? Is a lap the only way to determine this? Do you know what "caused" it?
My "perception" of symptoms tends to be pretty accurate, although I don't always know "what" is going on.
I am completely fascinated with the human body, from all different aspects. It's so funny to think about now because I used to get sick in Science class every day in grade school whenever we discussed the human body.
Gosh, how life changes, eh? Anni
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If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got...
[This message has been edited by anniNangst (edited 02-13-2003).]
Answer
What type of diagnostics were done to determine that you had adhesions? Is a lap the only way to determine this? Do you know what "caused" it?
My "perception" of symptoms tends to be pretty accurate, although I don't always know "what" is going on.
I am completely fascinated with the human body, from all different aspects. It's so funny to think about now because I used to get sick in Science class every day in grade school whenever we discussed the human body.
Gosh, how life changes, eh?
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Life isn't what happens to you -- it's how you react to it!
Thoughts don't make us who we are -- Actions do.
Answer
hereubb/smile.gif
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Life isn't what happens to you -- it's how you react to it!
Thoughts don't make us who we are -- Actions do.
Answer
I am not sure, but I think that the Lap is the only way to diagnose the adhesions. It looks like a clear glue substance, so I think it would be hard to detect any other way. The original cause of the adhesions in my case was probably due to the trauma that occurred during the birth of my son. He was a big baby and I am a small woman, I had him in this podunk hospital and the Physician let me give birth naturally when he knew better. He told me while I was giving birth that we should have done a cesarean, but it was too late then. My labor was hard and fast with the aid of Pitocin, so the trauma was worse that it would have been had I gone through the stages of labor. I had inadequate post-partum care and the scarring grew worse over the years.
Answer
Can anything be done to treat adhesions?
I have a client with adhesions which she developed after multiple surgical procedures in the same area, and subsequent surgeries for their removal, and over the years, it's been discovered she has adhesions in multiple areas of her body, from a hysterectomy to her elbow and several places in between.
It seems certain people might be predisposed to forming adhesions from traumatized tissue -- what causes this, what makes them more predisposed than others, and do you know what kind of "treatments" are available to address them, or how advanced this can become?
I'm trying to understand not only how they form, but also where in the body (like what parts and how, technically).
I haven't been diagnosed so am not assuming this is my particular problem. For all I know this could be a different kind of gas!
I feel like someone is sucking on my navel from the inside, on a straw connected to the inside of my bellybutton down to my uterus. Yeah, pretty strange description or perception but that's the closest way I can think of to describe some of the sensation (aside from cramping, that odd "sucking" or "drawing" sensation accompanies it).
This is fascinating...
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Life isn't what happens to you -- it's how you react to it!
Thoughts don't make us who we are -- Actions do.
Answer
How about aspartame?
The Hubby made a comment about how we've been drinking a diet drink containing aspartame the past few months (more than usual). Usually we both only drink water. This drink does have some caffeine in it, but not much.
I'm wondering if that might be a factor...
I know the only way to find out is to stop drinking it and see if these cramps dissipate, but in general I'm asking -- anyone know if there's a connection or theoretical link?
[This message has been edited by Merrida (edited 02-16-2003).]
