Oesophageal stent

Hi Pepperpot, I hope your x-ray was successful in showing any problems with your stent, and if so they've been resolved, and your discomfort and nausea are easing, and good to hear how quickly the in-date cyclizine was prescribed and there helping so much, I do hope if you needed your stent adjusted, it went well, and without incident and things are  much better for you soon 

Eddie xx 

Hi Eddie how kind of you to think of me.AT last today I've managed to get Oramorph and Ondansetron and Soluble paracetamol.I am SO much more comfortable this evening than the last 6 days & nights.It has been really awful I've never experienced so much pain.

It's interesting isn't it that when ones isn't properly prepared it can totally throw you? It even made me question if I wanted to carry on with treatment ( not yet started Chemo & Herceptin) it made me realise that we all have different perceptions about " quality of life"  it's a very personal thing.I realised that for me Pain management is essential if my pain can't be controlled then for me I don't have quality of life.

But now pain is being managed and I've also found out whereas most of the internet and hospital guidance states, discomfort for 24-72hrs...in fact it can last 7-10 days .

So lovely of you to be in touch, I hope you are doing well? It's rather nice to have had rain isn't it everything was getting a bit crispy.xx

Hi Pepperpot, you are welcome my friend, and I'm glad to hear you have the pain relief you need to make you comfortable, and that you now know discomfort from a stent can last a week or more, that would have been nice to know in the first place.

I've had that should I, or shouldn't I carry on with treatment question in my head a couple of times, we walk on a tightrope on this journey of ours, and it's important to feel everyone is pulling for you, and only needs a poor judgement or ineffective meds, from those in charge of our care, to put these thoughts in your head, I  do hope yours have been put away.

I think quality of life is very important too, I was in healthcare for a long time. and did over 5 years in palliative care, and I'm 95% sure how my cancer will progress, and it's not something I'm prepared to live with my friend, so have my ReSPECT, DNR, POA, and Advance care plan in place, should my mental health mean I  can't  make  my wishes known when the time comes, anyway, life is ok at this time, so no more talk about that, how are you doing in yourself, are you managing to get about, sleep OK, and  how are you managing with eating and drinking, fingers crossed your on a smooth road for some time, take care 

Eddie xx 

Ah that’s so good to hear you have the pain under control, wishing you a restful sleep tonight 

Lucy xx 

Hi Eddie, although I absolutely agree with AD and have done for many years ( especially when I worked in Healthcare) I doubt the option is going to be available .I can't afford Dignitas ..crikey £15k and in reality 99%of the time I look around me at Nature, England, the sky at night and in daytime and think how lucky I am to be able to see it.So no worries my friend.

Overnight more sickness, odd but with all the medication I have I feel in an handle it now.This morning took my meds at 7am and promptly conked out till 11am the most amazingly deep sleep, really restful.

Am up now and what ho...with a stent I can eat fish fingers  so am cooking some.Over the weekend eating is almost normal so it IS worth this agony but I do think they need to be more honest about this procedure.

I cannot thank everyone on this forum enough for being here for me.x

Thankyou x

Hi Pepperpot, I too have a stent although it's in my heart, in the major artery down the left hand side, known as the Widowmaker. I remember having it inserted, I was conscious and it was the worst pain I ever had in my chest. 

I'm happy to read that your pain is being managed and you'll have a much better quality of life. That is most important. In a few days hopefully the pain/discomfort will be history.

Tvman x 

Thankyou TVman I'm much more comfortable than I was and " it's an improving picture" I hope to be feeling more myself in a couple of days.At least I'm already reaping the benefit which is to eat pretty much normally.L

Hi Pepperpot, sorry for the late reply, my friend lm all in favour of AD too, but not through Dignitas, I mean, you have to be well enough to get there by yourself, which if you can do that suggests your having to forfeit precious time to do so.

My wishes are just for treatment to stop when quality of life is poor, especially if I'm incapable of making my wishes known 

Enough of that, life's ok.

Absolutely Pepperpot, there are wonderful things to see and experience everyday, for which I am grateful, and I'm pleased to see you are as well, and you feel like you have some control back in your life, but wow, your meds pack a punch, but good sleep is priceless, and your able to get stuck into fishfinger, and why not, and I agree being able to eat normally is worth the pain, do you think the pain is easing any, I hope so.

I think they could be more honest about a lot of things my friend, I think sometimes they don't want to frighten us, or think we won't understand, but that should be our choice, not theirs.

Oooh not getting up till 11am fab 

Eddie xx 

Well my friend, you have a little catching up to do, I'm on 8 stents, and none of them with a general anaesthetic, and wide awake through every one.

Eddie xx