Hope For Those Who Suffer From Adhesion Related Disorder.

Breaking Free From Adhesion Related Disorder!

Author, Karen Steward. Copy Editor, Jill Ronsley. Doctors: Bound by Secrecy? Victims: Bound by Pain! is the inspirational, true story of a mother and daughter's 14-year journey for a cure to an agonizing and often misdiagnosed, debilitating disease known as adhesions. Melissa Steward was like any other happy, bubbly teen before illness struck at the age of 13. Doctors gave a diagnosis of Crohn's disease and prescribed corticosteroids as treatment. However, the powerful drugs proved futile against the constant pain, nausea and vomiting that tortured the teen day after day. Believing her daughter had been misdiagnosed, Karen set out on her never-ending quest for an answer. Karen relates the riveting tale of their desperate cry for help and ultimate triumphant journey transversing the globe. Along the way, she provides a glimpse into the inner sanctum and frustrating maze of modern medicine. Doctors: Bound By Secrecy? Victims: Bound By Pain! unravels the mystery behind adhesions. Since adhesions don't show up on standard medical tests, victims are often misdiagnosed, treated for illnesses they do not have, labeled as depressed-and left to suffer-often in crippling pain. Surgery is the leading cause of adhesion formation, yet patients rarely are informed of the risk. Most ARD sufferers will spend seven to ten years wandering from one doctor to the next in an effort to find someone who will validate their pain and help put an end to the suffering. Doctors: Bound By Secrecy? Victims: Bound By Pain! is a heartrending story, told with a sense of humor and wit, of a mother trying to find hope and healing for her beloved, ailing daughter. It is an inspiring story of perseverance-against all medical odds-and the final triumph over an incapacitating illness. The writing of Melissa's trying journey opens the windows of knowledge to adhesion related disorder, (ARD), forever unmasking this prevalent, yet medically hushed condition. 

*Doctors: Bound By Secrecy? Victims: Bound By Pain! can be purchased at this blog or at Amazon:

BOOK

Can't afford the book? Ask your local library to order a copy! Karen will send a copy of the book to any library in the USA for a $10 fee which covers the cost of shipping and handling!

Send $10 to: ELM Publishing, Inc. PO Box 787, Weatherford Texas 76086. *Note: this offer is for libraries only. Checks must be from a legitimate public library. Thank you!

Crohn's. Don't Call The Doc! Call This Teen!

This story should inspire others to do their own research.

Crohn's

Adhesions-What A Pain!

Adhesions-What A Pain!

Cheers to Rose!

Letter dated 5/23/09:

Hello Karen,

I am writing you as a happy "Canadian" who just had adhesions surgery with Dr. Kruschinski in Germany. I woke up feeling already so much better. The understanding of this disease from your daughter's story gave me so much courage to take this step forward.

At the same time, I want my fellow Canadians to know there is help and not to suffer in silence like I did for the past several years.

Unfortunately for us (North Americans), we have to travel miles away from our homes to get  helped. Especially Canada who claims to have one of the best medical coverage funded by our governments. So sad.

Last comments from my Canadian doctors were: "I suffer from chronic depression.....this was all in my head...." just as you have explained in your book.

Thank you very much for your help. Remember, people today are much more educated and seeking more opinions before trusting their own doctors!!!!!!

Rose

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway. © 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

Adhesions Are Similar To The Ant. Sneaky Little Devils!

Q. What do adhesions and fire ants have in common? A. They're both sneaky and painful little devils! 

Who hasn't known the pain inflicted by the lowly fire ant? Once you feel the pain, you know what has hold of you even before you look down. If only the pain of adhesions were so easily identified!

How many times have you been caught off guard by a mob of frenzied, angry fire ants? 

OUCH! The pain of it all! 

It seems these pesky little packages of dynamite always have a plan of attack. They sneak onto your feet, some taking position around each and every toe, while many others surround the top of the foot and ankle. While this mean little army strategically takes position, you're sitting there sipping iced tea, bird watching-thoroughly enjoying your day-oblivious to the fact that you will soon be in pain. Sadly, you have NO idea that these itsy, bitsy demons are now part of your lower limbs and this little army of "meaner than a junkyard dog" insects are now waiting the signal from their commanding officer who, on the count of three, intends to make you pay dearly for setting your big foot on or near the precious mound he calls home. (Yes, it seems they always sting in unison)! 

OWWWWWW! 

Have you ever noticed how determined the little devils are? You jump up, searing pain at each area of infliction, yet you find the little fiends crouched in a fetal position, seemingly determined to pack a little more punch into an already successful attack! It's enough to make a grown man beg for mercy. And phone the Orkin Man. 

Adhesions are just as sneaky. You go in for hernia repair, hysterectomy, abdominal surgery, gastric bypass, c-section, or other surgery, yet you have no idea that injury-surgical injury-can result in adhesions. Painful adhesions. Debilitating adhesions. And often this debilitating condition occurs because you wanted to get well from another condition! Maddening, isn't it? 

Q. Why didn't you know this prior to surgery? A. Because many surgeons are like the fire ant who built his home under your favorite lawn chair without asking you if it was okay and without informing you that you could get stung. 

*Note: Surgery is the number one cause of adhesions, thus this problematic and often debilitating disorder has long remained hushed in the medical world. Adhesions are foremost known to be an iatrogenic disorder, though inflammation or infection in the body, as well as a blow to the abdomen, even radiation treatment, can also cause adhesions (scar tissue) to form. Patients who have had surgery often report to their doctor that they believe new pain and problems are the result of a surgical procedure. However, many doctors quickly dispute the argument, never mention the possibility that the pain/problems could be from adhesion formation, but rather steer the patient toward IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or another vague probability. Are doctors that sneaky? Of course. Not. **Abdominal adhesions are a common complication of surgery, occurring in up to 93% of people who undergo abdominal or pelvic surgery. Abdominal adhesions also occur in 10.4% of people who have never had surgery. Adhesions cause 60%-70% of small bowel obstructions in adults and are believed to contribute to the development of chronic pelvic pain. **Source: EndoGyn

This article can also be found at Ezine Articles:

Adhesions-Ouch!

Spring Is Here!

Adhesions.....Revealed!

*Adhesions were first documented in 1872.....yes, 1872.....when Thomas Bryant reported a fatality due to adhesion-related bowel obstruction after gynecologic surgery. The SepraFilm website informs the reader: Over the next 130 years, adhesions have maintained prominence in the medical literature, both as a study topic and as a factor influencing various treatments and outcomes. Health care providers often consider only a few of the ways adhesions impact surgery and patient care.

Though adhesions may have maintained prominence in medical literature as a study topic and a factor that influences various treatments and outcomes, adhesions have, for the most part, remained dormant to the public at large. In other words, doctors may be studying, but they ain't talking! So, when a person is suffering from this dread disorder, it is the last thing on the list that a doctor will mention as a plausible cause of the pain and problems within the body. Of course, what many doctors know but do not tell sends the American sufferer roaming the beautiful USA in search of a doctor who gives a big rat's whisker about their condition. 

Well, lo and behold, our daughter beame ill at age 13. We were told she had Crohn's disease. When we challenged that diagnosis, some of the best doc's we "visited" then said she had IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). When we balked at that idea, they threw out the possibility of spastic colon, lupus, etc., and ultimately labeled her a hypochondriac and/or "depressed." What they didn't do was help her, nor did a single one ever say the dread word 'adhesions.' 

But, we did not give up! It only took 14 years to uncover the TRUTH behind her illness: adhesions! 

Today Melissa is well, married, has two children and is currently busy starting a new business. Her newfound health was not easily attained. Two surgeries in the USA (performed by different surgeons) left her in worse condition than she was prior to surgery. Since surgery is the #1 cause of adhesions, a catch 22 dilemma occurs. Yes, surgery is both cause and treatment of this dread disorder. The third surgery (third time's the charm!) was the key to Melissa regaining her life and her health. 

And, when truth is revealed, there will always be someone who will be busy trying to hide that truth, cover it over....make it into a lie. After all, Thomas Bryant knew there was an illness called adhesions in 1872, yet since that surgery caused the death of a woman.....hmmmmm...well we'll just document that one and use it for study purposes.

*Bryant T. Clinical lectures on intestinal obstruction. Med Tim Gaz 1872;1:363-5.

Six Years....Thanks to Dr. Daniel Kruschinski, Germany

Easter is a celebration indeed for our entire family! On Easter day, in 2003, Melissa and I were far from home, for we had traveled to Germany with great hope that Melissa's life would somehow be changed for the better. She had suffered many long years in debilitating stomach pain. Two surgeries in the USA had, unbelievably, left her in worse condition than she was prior to the surgeries. Desperate for an answer, I came across Dr. Daniel Kruschinski in Germany. He had a unique method of adhesiolysis and it was working! After contacting Dr. Kruschinski, we were on our way.

And, as is often said, the rest is history. Though we were away from our family on that Easter holiday, we were celebrating, as were our loved ones at home. Not only had Melissa's surgery been a success, the many pains had stopped and she was finally able to eat without doubling over in agony.

Easter, 2009 marks six years since Melissa was freed from her once debilitating and painful condition of adhesion related disorder. Melissa and our entire family continue to rejoice at the miraculous turnaround that was made in her life due to this special surgeon. Dr. Kruschinski's many successes over this debilitating illness gives testament to his method of lift-laparoscopy. After all, how many doctors (surgeons) encourage those who are sick to contact his former patients? No doubt, Dr. Kruschinski has raised the bar of excellence when it comes to "treating" a patient. See: Patient List

Thanks Dr. Kruschinski. Our daughter has regained her life due to your brilliance, commitment and compassion for those who suffer from this dread disorder. My husband and I, and Melissa's siblings, can never thank you enough for the beautiful gift you have given us--our daughter and sister is well!

And now, Melissa's husband can thank you too! In addition, the two children who have been born as a result of this union are a constant reminder of how ONE person in this huge world can make a difference in the life of someone who, at one time and for years on end, had no hope at all. It is an Easter miracle story indeed, in more ways than one, for our family.

May your life be richly blessed and may you continue on with your unique manner by which you accomplish the tedious task of adhesion removal. Your superb knowledge, surgical skill, and gifted talent set you apart from the many surgeons who continue to scratch their heads in regards to this baffling and painful disorder.

Adhesions. Pain After Childbirth?

When childbirth delivers up more than your bundle of joy. See article:

Adhesions: Pain After Childbirth?

Could Adhesions Be The Cause of Pain?

Adhesions and Doctors: The Ugly, The Bad, The Good

Adhesions. The Uphill Journey

The Uphill Journey

The Faces of American Medicine?

Unfortunately for ARD sufferers, the faces above are all too telling of the tiring and wearisome journey that is often encountered at the hands of American doctors. Though it is often said that doctors are as aggravated (and stumped) as the patient when it comes to adhesion related disorder, this is of little comfort to the person whose life has come to a standstill due to the painful, perplexing and infuriating disorder of adhesions.

Recently, I received a letter from a woman who is on that "what's wrong with me?" medical merry-go-round.....and, she is quite weary of it all. 

Here is a portion of her letter: 

Karen, thank you for your quick response.  Yes, I have read my op notes and adhesions; scar tissue and endometriosis are common words describing findings within me.  I have also had PID which I know is another cause of adhesions.  I too believe in my heart that the back pain which I experience is related to ARD also.  Symptoms I currently experience are; abdominal pain-dull and sharp pains periodically, back pain, nausea, headaches, leg pain radiating from my low abdomen, stomach pain, & painful bowel movements.  Emotionally, I feel hopeless, defeated, totally frustrated and at times have wanted to take that kitchen knife and repeatedly stab my abdomen wanting the pain to stop, of course we KNOW that is NOT the solution.  I don't care to speak to another Doctor here in the US, that doesn’t understand what I am talking about...it is a waste of my $$$ and time and chips away at the person I am.....

 

Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD)

Kindle Edition Available!

Doctors: Bound By Secrecy? Victims: Bound By Pain! is available on Kindle. Click Here...Kindle Edition

Hope For Those Who Suffer From Adhesions.

The Medical Spin

Endometriosis.

Finding the ME in Endometriosis

Crohn's Disease and Adhesions.

See Article: Crohn's Disease and Adhesions.

Thanks, TypePad!

September is ARD Awareness Month

September is here! With it comes the opportunity for you to do your part in promoting ARD awareness. We continue to offer free ARD awareness pins. All you need to do is send a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) to: 

ARD Awareness

 PO Box 787 

                                         Weatherford, Texas                                        

76086

©2008 KarenSteward All Rights Reserved

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