I had a hysterectomy (TAH) in '95 and my overies removed (BSO) in '97. I had a lot of problems with the second surgery because of scar tissue from the TAH. My GYN told me he'd never seen anyone develope as much scar tissue as I had. In '99, I went back to the GYN because I had been cramping. He said it's because of more scar tissue, probably more than I had before. According to him, I was going to need another surgery in a couple years to remove it. But he said that surgery would probably produce even more. Now the cramping is almost constant and causing a lot more pain. Intercourse is painful too now. I don't want another surgery if I can avoid it. Especially if I'll need another one for the same thing later. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Springsunshine (I like that!), I am sorry I have no answers for you. Unfortunately it is a fairly common problem with abdominal surgery. I bought a book on Endometriosis--that is what caused me to have my hysterectomy after two unsuccessfull laparascopic surgeries--and there is a whole chapter in the book on the subject. Apparently is happens to a lot of women. I realize I probably have some scar tissue in my abdomen--particularly in cold damp weather my abdomen will hurt at the site of the surgical scar. Fortunately for me, though, the pain has not progressed to the point that I felt I had to do something about it. I hope you find answers soon. I'm sure some other ladies will be able to provide their helpful suggestions and/or experiences soon. Just wanted to reach out a hand of sympathy and understanding to you!

Good news Sunshine! There's a new GEL for us adhesion(scar tissue) sufferers.I don't know much about it but it's supposed to be much better than the sheets they have been using to keep the adhesions from attaching to the organs.The whole problem in leaving the adhesions unattended lies in the core reason for their existence in the first place.Adhesions are produced by the body as a defense mechanism. If the body gets the "message" that something is wrong, it makes adhesions to go contain the problem. Hence the massive adhesions that will happen in response to endometriosis.Hence probably the the reason a lot of us eventually wind up with an autoimmune disorder somewhere down the road.The endlessness of the adhesion cycle depends on many other factors.Most surely, surgery does trigger adhesions.However, then we have to judge by our own interpretation of the pain.Our interpretation might be all we have for a while because the destructivenss of adhesions usually can't be seen by imaging tests. It is a rare occurance for adhesions to show on either internal or external sonograms. CT scans barely detect them and even then it's >maybe< and, MRI's are a maybe too but a better maybe than the other methods.And then, we are still relying on the skill of the person reading the results to know what the heck they are looking at.In my case, the adhesions went on with pain I thought I could handle with herbs and exercise etc...for so long that I eventually came to the day that my pain became debilitating.And, by the time I finally had surgery, my colon was already suffering from the destructive damage adhesions on the outside of the colon will cause.I even had to have emergency surgery 20 days after my hysterectomy because the Colon just shut down from the adhesion trauma.I now live with an irritable bowel with which making sure I get a daily good BM is an accomplishment and a necessity.The colon surgeon told my husband that I was extremely lucky that he did not have to resection my bowel when he went in to save my gut.So, it's important to understand our adhesions and make the internal assessment with regards to what we can handle or not handle and the consiquences related to the bigger picture.My hysterectomy was just back in April.I had that emergency surgery 20 days after that , and I am going to be having another surgery in January that will remove the one ovary that was left in my body from the hysterectomy.The Doctor will also take a look at that time and see if there is any endometriosis still lingering in the pelvis.Apparently, all endo is not that easy to see. the implants range in color from clear to brown. It is my current surgeons opinion, from reading the pathology report of the hysterectomy that the other surgeon didn't exactly know what she she was looking at.It happens.We do not have the easiest of conditions to deal with.So we are doing the removal and cleanup process and the Gel will be used and hopefully things will turn out okay.I'm worried too, but the current status of what ever is going on with my innards is now causing for heart trouble and it is not a good option to sit it out for me.So definately, we have to always weigh our individual need and risk.But, we do have that Gel now so at least it makes our chances better.It only hit the medical market like sometime in the last couple of months.Kamie

Hi Lynchmob & Kamie!!thanks for your replies!! And thanks for the info Kamie! I'm going to ask my doctor about it. It 's good to know there are options!!!thanks again......~bunches of hugs!!~

Ssunshine, Good to see you hopeful. Keep the hope and the uplifting thoughts clar and always remember, that no hard the path, there is a way to get to the other side of healing.Happy Holidays!Kamie