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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
need answers for dying mom
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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need answers for dying mom
by Diane, Feb 27, 2000 12:00AM
My mom has small cell lung cancer. She had much stomach pain and I thought it was the lung cancer spreading. A visiting nurse came to the home and said it was something else. We rushed her to the hospital. They said she had pancreatitus. They ran some tests and her enzyme levels were high. They then said she had pancreatic cancer. They based it on the fact that: A. She was not a diabetic, B. She did not drink alcohol, C. She had her gallbladder out 2 years ago, therefore it must be D. Pancreatic Cancer. They did not find any tumors with a CAT scan.
My mom’s ideal weight was 90 lbs. She was down to 75 pounds when she entered the hospital. They did not allow her to eat or drink for 4 days. They sent her home 12 days ago and said there wasn’t anything they could do.
Is there really nothing I can do? Should I not feed her anything fatty? What should I feed her? Is there any antibiotic I may be able to give her? I know nothing about this disease other than what I read on the Internet. (Unfortunately I don’t have much time because I am at her home most of the time taking care of her.) She was not in bad shape until the pancreatic pain hit her bad. She has always had stomach pain very bad. She took a lot of Darvon’s and other painkillers when she was about 35 years old for this stomach pain. No one was ever able to pinpoint the reason for her pain. I just wonder if she always had this pancreatitus her whole life. We found out about her lung cancer when we took her to a Digestive Disorder Center for her stomach pains in Oct. 98. The first thing the Doctor did was take a CAT scan and called her with the lung cancer results and we never went back to him.
She also is on the Duragesic patch for the pain. It is the lowest dose, and it has drugged her up so much she doesn’t speak and is very lifeless. I talked to the manufacture of this patch and they felt that she should be on a different pain medication especially because of her low weight. Because she is so drugged up, I don’t think I could get her to take any pills at this point.
She is my mother and best friend and I love her very much and want to do anything I can for her. I’m sure she will die any day now if I can’t come up with anything. Her Primary care physician has given up and doesn’t like me bugging him anymore.
My mom’s ideal weight was 90 lbs. She was down to 75 pounds when she entered the hospital. They did not allow her to eat or drink for 4 days. They sent her home 12 days ago and said there wasn’t anything they could do.
Is there really nothing I can do? Should I not feed her anything fatty? What should I feed her? Is there any antibiotic I may be able to give her? I know nothing about this disease other than what I read on the Internet. (Unfortunately I don’t have much time because I am at her home most of the time taking care of her.) She was not in bad shape until the pancreatic pain hit her bad. She has always had stomach pain very bad. She took a lot of Darvon’s and other painkillers when she was about 35 years old for this stomach pain. No one was ever able to pinpoint the reason for her pain. I just wonder if she always had this pancreatitus her whole life. We found out about her lung cancer when we took her to a Digestive Disorder Center for her stomach pains in Oct. 98. The first thing the Doctor did was take a CAT scan and called her with the lung cancer results and we never went back to him.
She also is on the Duragesic patch for the pain. It is the lowest dose, and it has drugged her up so much she doesn’t speak and is very lifeless. I talked to the manufacture of this patch and they felt that she should be on a different pain medication especially because of her low weight. Because she is so drugged up, I don’t think I could get her to take any pills at this point.
She is my mother and best friend and I love her very much and want to do anything I can for her. I’m sure she will die any day now if I can’t come up with anything. Her Primary care physician has given up and doesn’t like me bugging him anymore.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf, Mar 16, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Diane,
I was saddened to read your posting regarding your mother's illness. Pancreatitis can occur in patients who do not drink alcohol and who have had the gall bladder removed. Possible causes for the pancreatitis include medications and the result of other ilness. Often, however, we do not identify the cause for the pain.
Usually, the pancreatitis is limited in duration and does not cause indefinite symptoms. From your posting, I am uncertain how the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was made. Although patients can have 2 different cancers this result is not common. You should ask your mom's doctor to explain whether the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is confirmed or merely presumptive.
AS mentioned , the pain of pancreatitis usually subsides. Narcotics like Duragesic are used when the pain persists.
I was saddened to read your posting regarding your mother's illness. Pancreatitis can occur in patients who do not drink alcohol and who have had the gall bladder removed. Possible causes for the pancreatitis include medications and the result of other ilness. Often, however, we do not identify the cause for the pain.
Usually, the pancreatitis is limited in duration and does not cause indefinite symptoms. From your posting, I am uncertain how the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was made. Although patients can have 2 different cancers this result is not common. You should ask your mom's doctor to explain whether the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is confirmed or merely presumptive.
AS mentioned , the pain of pancreatitis usually subsides. Narcotics like Duragesic are used when the pain persists.
I was a pancreatitis sufferer. NO you do not need to be diabetic, etc. to have pancreatitis. I was born without the main common duct and did not have problems until my early 40's. Please take a few minutes to read my story - I think you will find it helpful with your mom's case. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have. You will need to type in the web address to access my story. I ended up having my pancreas removed to get rid of the pain and stop malnutrition. It's been over 2 years now and I am not a diabetic nor do I have chronic pain anymore.
www.insulin-free.org/stories/rebello.htm
email: ***@****
God Bless your mom - I know the severe pain she is living with.
Sue
If you'd like to e-mail me directly, there is an excellent herbal product which will allow you to get some badly needed nutrients into your Mom.
Pls. let me know if I can help.
Best wishes,
Wendell < ***@**** >
IF HE WONT HELP GET A NEW DOCTOR THAT CARES WHEN YOU
FIND ONE HE WILL HELP AND BE HAPPT TO
I urge you strongly to purchase from your local health store a product named ESSIAC. This product has been curing cancers, even in the late stages since the 1920's. It is prepared in the form of a tea and is easy to prepare and take.Please, please, check this substance out by punching in the words ESSIAC or RENE CAISSE CANCER CURE into your internet search engine. Read everything you can and then BUY SOME! It will at the very least ease some of your mothers symptoms and/or pain. Also check into OXYGEN THERAPIES. The time has come to forget traditional Western medicine - it has certainly forgotten your poor mother.
My life was saved by a wonderful Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dr. David Bo Jhong, in Vancouver, Canada. Acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs and other therapies can indeed save lives, even in cases of cancer, and will at least alleviate suffering. Forget your so called "doctors" - you need alternative health care very quickly:
1. Purchase Essiac - begin TODAY
2. Find a good natural health practioner - I suggest a Doctor of Chinese Medicine who will do home visits. Begin acupuncture etc.
3. Get out your Yellow Pages and call health stores for advice. They may have good advice and some will certainly be able to recommend suitable local practioners.
4. Purchase or pick up free (often) copies of alternative health magazines for information, advice and local contacts.
5. Consider some form of Spiritual Healing as back up.
6. Search the internet for info.
7. Pray, because it really helps.
You could probably arrange most of this in one day. I wish you fortune and God Bless you and your mother.