Hope For Those Who Suffer From Adhesion Related Disorder.

Care About Your Care.Org

According to careaboutyourcare.org, Americans spend a whopping $700 billion a year on health care that does not improve one's health! $700 BILLION! If you've been a victim of this broken medical system, you are not surprised. Speaking from experience, my husband and I spent a small fortune trying to find help for our daughter who was gravely ill. We made appointment with one doctor after another, to no avail. We traveled by car and plane, from one city to the next, to no avail. Fourteen years into our search, we finally learned Melissa was suffering from adhesions. Two surgeries in the USA by two separate surgeons' failed her. Meeting with yet another US surgeon who reviewed Melissa's last surgical video, he explained why we should take her to Europe for treatment. Thankfully, we followed that advice. Today, eight years later, Melissa remains free from the pain that had ruled her life for years on end. 

Hopefully, Care About Your Care will prove to be a positive tool in the transformation of the US medical system that fails so many. I have my doubts, however, that we will see change for those who suffer from adhesions, as this particular illness has long been guarded by the medical community at large. Following is the link to care about your care:

CareAboutYourCare

Adhesions And Repeat Surgeries. The Risk For Frozen Abdomen.

Many ARD sufferers are unaware that repeat surgeries to remove adhesions can lead to a condition known as frozen abdomen. Recently, I heard from a woman who had undergone four surgeries over the course of three years. When the pain returned once again, she scheduled another surgery. This time, however, the surgeon who had performed the other surgeries aborted the fifth surgery after one hour. His explanation: frozen abdomen. As she questioned, he explained that previous surgeries have created excessive scar tissue. To continue the procedure would be technically impossible (his words) and much too risky. Frantic, she asked, "Now what?!" His answer, "I'm sorry." 

Sorry? Like many others, she trusted the surgeon and had no inkling that her quest for relief would eventually leave her in worse condition than she would have been had she just dealt with pain. 

Clearly, many people are uninformed of the consequences of repeat abdominal surgery. Since surgery is the number one cause of adhesions, each inadequately performed surgery can only cause more of the same. What is inadequate surgery? For adhesion sufferers, inadequate surgery is surgery that is performed without a proper barrier being placed between tissues to prevent the recurrence of adhesions. Further, surgeon skill and technique play a critical role in a positive surgical outcome. It is up to the patient to research the surgeon, procedure, and barrier that will be used prior to submitting to surgery. It may not be the way things should be, as we all expect the doctor to explain all risks prior to surgery, however, as the woman in the story above can attest, she was never informed. 

Adhesion Sufferers, YOU ARE LOVED!

Some days you just need a reason to smile. If you suffer in illness, smiles are sometimes hard to find. You want to be positive and upbeat, but illness often zaps the spirit within. At Karen Steward and this blog, we are working to bring this illness to the forefront of medicine and public awareness. Because we know the real pain and hopelessness this illness brings and how desperately a kind word is often needed, we have decided to do some fun giveaways to brighten your days! Please register to win a Discover gift card that can be used any way you please. All you need to do is comment below and leave your email address, or, if you prefer to remain private, send your name and contact info to karensteward@mac.com. We will draw the name two weeks from today and be mailing the gift out to some lucky participant!

Adhesions. Adhesion Related Disorder. September: Free Books and ARD Pins!

September is adhesions awareness month! To date, we have given away over 300 books to promote awareness of this painful, often misdiagnosed, and all too often, under-diagnosed disorder. We also give away ARD pins during the month of September, as well as making the pins available (any time) at a nominal cost for your fundraiser/ARD awareness promotion.

During the remainder of this month, we will ship free books to any USA library that makes a request. Yes, we will pay shipping costs as well. Please call your local library and ask them to mail a letter or postcard that simply states: "Please send free book." Please tell your library to write legibly and provide a complete ship to address, as well as a contact name and phone number. Mail the request to:

FREE ARD Awareness Book, P.O. Box 787, Weatherford Texas, 76086

If you would like a free ARD pin, send a self addressed stamped envelope to the same address.