Gabapentin

Hi Geraldine 

Just in case this helps, my husband had the operation in March ‘23 and about 6 months later staring getting what he described as sudden spasms usually along the belt line and mostly happening when he was quite relaxed. It took several months of GP, physio, oncologist, scans etc to confirm it was nerve pain and nothing sinister and he’s needed to retrain the muscles to relax as they’d become too tight. If he stops doing the exercises the physio gave him then it starts up again. He also gets a more general back ache when he’s tired or done too much which we know is pretty common. 

It’s always worth talking to the team if you’re worried though.

Regards

Jane 

Thanks Jane. Chris’s pain is upper back on a level and to the left of the incision scar. We discussed it with the surgeon who said it was known as post thoracotomy syndrome and caused by nerve damage from the op. His actual words in the discussion were ……. it’s a crap operation but it’s the only one we’ve got! …… black humour indeed  Feb CT scan was clear. He has started to feel better so I’m guessing he should nt have stopped suddenly ….. some people do ignore advice

Do I remember correctly your husband had his op at BRI or is it me with the confusion and not Chris? 
G x

Well remembered - yes BRI  and they were brilliant. The oncologist told us recently that the op is like doing a round of boxing and then getting hit by a double decker bus!! Then added that it’s amazing what the body can cope with 

Paul does have that upper back pain too but fortunately not too bad. We’re dealing with a recurrence atm so hoping the immunotherapy he’s now on can work some magic 

Jane xx

Hi Gerry just catching up ! Have no experience of Gabapentin so can’t help but hope he’s better soon ! do you have your appointment date for south Bristol yet ? X

Sorry to hear your husband has a reoccurrence but I know you’re in great hands at the BRI ! Tricia 

Hi Tricia ….. Chris is much better now thank you. I’m sure the gabapentin was the cause. Follow up with BRI team has been moved near to end of April but he’s not experiencing anything untoward apart from a bit of reflux now and then  so we are not too worried. The Feb scan  was ok so onward and upward. 
How are you? Are your chest pains any better ….. did you change your Gaviscon routine and has it helped? 
G xx

Totally agree the BRI team were great. Care in ITU was brilliant and the pre hab help before the op improved his fitness tremendously. Chemo had made him so ill that recovery from the surgery might have been very different without that improvement. We live in Somerset so surgery was at BRI and oncology is at Musgrove Park Taunton. 
I am so sorry you are dealing with recurrence ….. how are things now? Chris is eleven months post op but the post op histology wasn’t good so he is also at high risk of recurrence. 
Thinking of you and sending every good wish G  x

Yes chest pains seem to be related to wind !! If I’ve eaten late afternoon early evening it’s not too bad but if I’ve eaten later I seem to get this wind and can belch for England ! So that’s when I take the gaviscon which seems to help ! 
Sounds like they are under pressure re appointments I’m due my scan and endoscopy end of April hope that doesn’t get pushed back too far !!!

Chris’s CT scan at Musgrove was on time but there was an extra two week delay on results. I think there are lots more scans/tests being done which is good of course, but a shortage of radiologists etc to read them.

Thanks Tricia the op was BRI but the oncology team are RUH Bath and fortunately also wonderful. Paul’s doing ok atm, just finished the CAPOX (chemo) and now carrying on with the immunotherapy which he’s had been having alongside the chemo every 6 weeks. The tumour isn’t growing and the cancer is described as stable and so far hasn’t spread  

I’m hoping he will put a bit of weight back on once the horrible metallic taste goes away. His friends describe him as stoical! We’re doing ok I think and have several holidays planned this year! 
Jane x