Oesophageal stent advice

Hi Lorraine,

I have no answer for you on this, its just that I'm thinking going down the stent route. I've had 2 throat stretches but it soon shrinks back down, how many throat stretches has your husband had before? When did he have his operation?

I hope you get some answers on here so we can both learn something.

Best wishes.

Pete

Hello Pete,

Thanks for replying. Rod couldn't have surgery because his OC is advanced and spread too far. He hasn't had any stretches, with the oncologist going straight for the stent option. It was that or a stomach peg and Rod definitely doesn't want to have that. He sees that as another giant step towards the end, rightly or wrongly. 

Let's hope someone can share some sound advice.

Happy Saturday!

Lorraine

Morning, my husband Steve had a stent two weeks ago, He could not have a PEG because of the position of the cancer, He was offered a stent the same day we were told all treatment had stopped, all we heard was the negative side and the risks, so he declined. Moving on we decided that if he could have the stent it would help to get nutrition into him as he was literary starving to death. The procedure went well for him on the day, we even came home with no hospital stay. The days that followed were awful, sickness and awful pain, he wished he never had it done. The nurses, came to monitor pain relief and a syringe driver was fitted, and still is now. He still is not eating anymore than before, still wasting away. Gets spasms where the stent is, almost as if his body is rejecting the invader. We tried feel it has not solved any thing for us, but it might for you.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Bb. The oncologist told Rod they will keep a bed for him from today if he still isn't drinking enough. They don't have one available yet though and advised him to go to A&E if it gets critical. He has managed about half a pint of liquid so far, including some soluble paracetamol and a fortisip. If the paracetamol is insufficient to manage his abdominal pain they said he should use the morphine he was given to help with the mouth soreness before. Happily, the mucositis has almost cleared up now he's not had chemo since 30th Jan.

How is Steve today? 

Xxx

Hi Lorraine, 

I just read your update, and can see here that Rod has been advised to go to A&E if things get critical, if you don't mind me saying I think it is already critical enough. I don't understand why Rod needs a bed to have an IV infusion to assist with fluids and pain management, this can easily be done sitting in a chair.  

The quicker Rod can feel as if he beginning to manage the way he is feeling rather than feeling out of control, the quicker it will benefit him.  

Just wanted  you to know that I am thinking of you both and sending strength to you both x 

Lowe'

Hi Lowe,

Just checking in to see how Dal is doing? Tony is on 2nd line chemo of paclitaxel now nearly had 2 rounds now, this round has been a bit tougher he is tired and has had leg and knee pain, which they said is a side effect of the chemo. He is still swallowing good at the moment so that's a blessing.

We all keep fighting

Angie xx

Hi Lorraine,

Sorry to hear Rod has to have a stent fitted, I'm sure it will help with the swallowing

Tony is due to finish round 2 of paclitaxel next week, this round has been tougher, he has been tired and has leg and knee pain which they said is a side effect. He is still swallowing food which is good.

Every day is a new battle with this horrendous disease but we remain positive  

Take care

Angie xxx

Thanks for your update and supportive message, Angie. It's good to read that Tony is swallowing okay. How is his pain management going? Any relief in his back?

Rod has made a real effort to up his liquid intake today and there's been an improvement in how he feels generally. He took his blood pressure and, for the first time in our 27 years together, it was lower than mine. This is a miracle given that I have quite low bp and he's on meds for high bp. He realises how dehydrated he must be now. To minimise the risk of any food blockage or regurgitation he hasn't tried solids today. 

Many on here have recommended small steps and that seems to be the way forward. 

Keep on going, everyone.

Each day is a bonus xxx

The palliative nurses put him on some nerve tablets for his back and they are keeping the pain under control, it's just gone from his back to his leg and knee, this disease just keeps on giving.

He is doing well though and 14 months on this is the best he has felt since diagnosis.

Tony always had high BP and was on medication  for years but since losing all his weight his BP has been the best it has ever been.

I suppose some good comes out of all this.

I hope Rod has the stent fitted soon and he can get back to eating solids again, it's awful when they are on a liquid diet.

Stay strong 

Angie x

Morning, he has had hiccups for 3 days, they have put medication into syringe driver but it is not working, will see what they do today. He occasionally has a huge spasm which takes his breathe away and literary stops him breathing, it sounds horrible, as if he is going to die. It is horrible to hear. Last night he was sick everywhere, hope that has cleared the feeling of congestion in his throat. He seems so confused, which I feel is dehydration, although he is drinking lots of water, his pee is very strong and struggles to go, can't stand long enough to pee, very unstable so for now until we get a pee bottle a jug is our friend. I am running on empty really exhausted, can't remember when I last had a decent nights sleep. Today will be laundry day and formulating a plan to make space for hospital bed.