gerbil runner Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Mom (bellringer) is in the hospital. Since her stent removal on Tuesday, she's had severe pain for which no concrete reason can be found. CT scan, blood work and urinalysis show nothing abnormal. Dad took her in yesterday afternoon for pain management . She's getting morphine in the hospital, but is still in a lot of pain. Still has a wry sense of humor - "It only hurts when I move or breathe". There is no evidence of infection, blood clot, tumor, gallstone or anything else. Just a whole lot of drug-resistant pain. After almost 4 days of this, Mom is getting frustrated and we're all worried. What is it, and when will it stop? Please send prayers and good thought out for my mom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betplace Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Prayers being prayed for her and for you sweetie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haylee_38 Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Jen, My thoughts are with you and a prayer being said for mom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Jen. Sorry to hear that. Hope they resolve the pain issue quickly. Prayers for mom and you. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnodel Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Hope that they can find out what is causing the pain and stop it. Your mother sounds incredible -- how plucky can you get? Thinking of and hoping the best for her and all of you, Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Prayers comin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fall54 Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Jen, Your Mom and family are in my prayers. It must be so awful to see your Mom in such pain that she needed to be hospitalized and not even know why. My heart breaks for you. God Bless you all, Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debi Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Jen, I can't believe in the year 2004, they can't figure out where your mom's pain is coming from!! I'm hoping that it gets under control soon, and that she can get out of the hospital and come home where she belongs!!! My thoughts are with all of you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyCW Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Jen, I'm so sorry to hear this,. I hope and pray they do figure it out and get her back home and out of pain very soon. BeckyCW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 I am with Debi, in an age of pain managment clinics...why can't they figure out her pain? And really...even if they can't figure it out..why can't they at least control it? Tell your mom we are thinking of her and wishing her well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Hoping they get the pain under control soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Jen, I'm so sorry to hear about Mom. She still has her sense of humor! Hope they get it under control, fast. How does she describe the pain? Dull, sharp, throbbing. You've had great medical care so far, hope they come thru for you on this one. Thinking of you both. Nancy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmek Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Jen: I am so sorry to hear your Mom is having such bad pain. My mom has been doing the EXACT same thing since Sunday. We have spent an entire week having all sorts of tests and blood work only to find NO real answer for the pain.Could be any number of things, but at least pretty much everything serious as been ruled out. Her ct scan even showed NED!! so we know its not cancer spreading. The only realistic thing we can think of is gas and constipation. I dont know if your mom has any troubles in that area, but mom sure does and it mnost defietly will cause some of the worst pain in the abdomen and back as well as everytime she breathes,coughs, and moves it feels like she is being jabbed to death. Pain pills only seem to take to edge off. Mom has been sicker this week from this pain then since June when she started treatment and they cannot even say its from chemo or radiation any more. If we learn anything in the days to come I will pm you and in the mean time I will be praying for your Mom's pain to go away just simply go away, we dont need any additional problems. God Bless you and your family Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted October 31, 2004 Author Share Posted October 31, 2004 Hi, all. Just got off the phone with my dad, and I'm really, totally PO'd. Some nurse suggested to my dad that the dr's might be looking for a recurrance of cancer. He called me all shook up over this. How could there possibly be a tumor big enough to cause such pain yet not visible on CT scan? When mom was first diagnosed almost a year ago, she had a tumor (met) on her pancreas which was clearly visible on x-ray, yet had MUCH MUCH LESS pain. After hunting around on the 'net, I'm thinking chronic pancreatitis. Mom has been on low levels of pain medication ever since diagnosis due to pain in the abdomen where the met was. She had a whole lot of radiation to the pancreas. Cisplatin can cause pancreatitis, as can steroids (which she is taking for pneumonitis). Then of course the stent removal procedure, which started the whole thing, can cause pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can also cause shortness of breath due to irritation of the diaphram, and mom is on low levels of o2 due to SOB. The problem is, acute pancreatitis is indicated in part by high enzyme levels, which mom does not have. However, if the pancreas is already damaged, high levels of enzymes cannot be produced and do not show up in tests. Usually this happens during prior attacks of pancreatitis. But I'm sure everyone here who has experience with radiation will understand why I feel her irradiated pancreas may be previously damaged. So if mom has pancreatitis, she has taken an unusual route to get to it, and therefore would be difficult to diagnose. Pancreatitis is most often due to alcohol abuse or gallstones (mom had her gallbladder out 36 years ago). It's like LC in a non-smoker with no cough. It seems to me that my mom's history gives a whole shopping list of reasons that her pancreas may have chronic damage. The original tumor. The radiation. The chemo. Her chronic pain in the area would be consistent with chronic pancreatitis. When the stent was removed, some stones were found. Gee, doesn't irritation from the stones seem more likely that an invisible, suddenly painful tumor? The CT scan was one of the first things they did to rule out cancer due to her history! There's nothing there! I'm upset that my dad has been given a suggestion of recurring cancer to worry about. Why even bring it up? Maybe it's another case of "You have cancer. What else is there to worry about?" Maybe if we could find a hundred people who have survived a year out from a met to the pancreas, we'd find a high incidence of pancreatitis. Sorry for the rant. I don't want to think about the beast coming back, either. But I honestly don't see how it could make sense. I hope the doctors aren't ignoring the other possibilities just because mom has had cancer. Thanks for your prayers and well-wishes. It means a lot to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted October 31, 2004 Share Posted October 31, 2004 Jen, I totally understand your frustration... it is so hard watching a parent suffer. What is really sad is when we have to try to find the answers, because the medicals don't seem to be. I pray that the doctors will be able to find the source of her pain now and get her some relief. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdaru Posted October 31, 2004 Share Posted October 31, 2004 You've given the issue a lot of thought, and you know your mother's history well. Why not talk to her MDs and ask them about the possibility of pancreatitis in a burnt-out pancreas, especially since the whole mess seems to have started with the stent removal? Or maybe the guy that took out the stent should take another look, make sure the duct is still open? Maybe you'll give them some ideas. Prayers for you and your family. It's hard when YOU have to flog the doctors to get good care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted October 31, 2004 Share Posted October 31, 2004 What you're saying regarding the pancreatitis makes a lot of sense. I have heard that it is extremely painful. Sometimes blood work isn't always a reliable indicator...the reasons you state make perfect sense. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O Posted October 31, 2004 Share Posted October 31, 2004 I am also praying for her. Is there a gastroenterologist involved? Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted November 1, 2004 Author Share Posted November 1, 2004 Well, now it's been 5 days of unrelenting pain. The gastroenterologist does not feel pancreatitis is likely because eating does not make it worse. No infection, nothing turning up in bloodwork, nothing on CT scan or xrays...Mom's on enough medication to stun a buffalo and is getting seriously loopy. She's still in pain. Dad and I are upset, frustrated, and worried. We're hoping that tomorrow will bring some answers and relief. Thank you all for your prayers. I'll update tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fall54 Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 Ohhh Jen I am so sorry you have to see your Mom in so much pain and that she has to be that way!! I am praying for all of you. God Bless, Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay A. Posted November 1, 2004 Share Posted November 1, 2004 Jen, I just read this. I am so sorry your Mom is going through such an awful time. Can you and your Dad call in a Pain Management Specialist? Hoping your Mom is out of pain very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 My best thoughts and wishes coming your way. Hang in there. Hopefully it will be resolved quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addie Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 Jen~~ Your mom has had such a great attitude throughout, it must be especially difficult for you to see her in so much unrelenting pain and not have a reason for it. I'm sending my most positive thoughts her and your way...hoping for answers soon and relief from the pain, even sooner! Please let us know how she's doing, when you can...and let her know we're all pulling for her to get some relief soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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