Helping my dad

Hi Jayne,

First of all I am so so sorry to hear about your dad.

Regarding reflux, try raising the head end of the bed using solid objects under the beds feet. Or use more pillows, but with this there is a tendency to slip down during sleep. With a raised bed there will always be that raised angle so the head is above the Oesophagus & that will make or at least help to keep the acid from rising up.

There is a med called Omeprazole which is used for reflux too, worth asking about.

The stent may open the blockage, but the reflux will find it easier with a wider passage to travel up. And as my mum had a stent fitted only 4 weeks ago i will tell you straight, it will hurt quite a lot for a few weeks. And you have to be careful with the type of foods you eat due to chance of getting caught & blocking the stent. 

As you live close by, can you give him something to record his visit with oncology. They won't mind. Maybe a mobile phone app would suffice. Or get someone to do this as you have your little boy to look after today.

But for now try to get the Omeprazole, get your dad to have his head in a raised position, maybe even 45 degrees from horizontal. And very importantly, ask for a good prescribed pain killer such as Oramorph, soluble paracetamol, fentanyl slow release patches, or Dexamethasone which along with the soluble paracetamol is a good anti inflammation med.

Please get him something to record his meeting though, then you can hear exactly what was said too.

I hope this helps a little,

Best wishes to you & dad,

Graeme. 

Hi Jayne2021

I am sorry for my late response to you here, how did it go with the Oncologist?

Lowe'