Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

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alanams
Posts: 242
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:26 am
Location: East Newark, NJ

Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby alanams » Tue May 06, 2014 11:52 am

Good afternoon everyone,

It has been a week since I had the ERCP procedure to implant 2 metal stents in the biliary tree. From my readings prior to surgery, it sounded to be a simple procedure, with quick recovery.

Well, it has been a painful recovery, which continues. I suppose the resolution of the jaundice (slow) impacts the gall bladder, as well as other related symptoms. I am going very easy on the oxycodone, to minimize constipation. Aches in the bacl, shoulders, and during coughing make lying in bed very painful, so I continu to sleep in a recliner in the living room. The itching from the bilirubin is not too bad, and I take cholestyramine 2x daily to break down the bilirubin.

It's demoralizing that when this is behind me, I have to start a new regimen of chemotherapy, to inlude Erbitux, among other things.

Any perspectives or information would be most welcome.

Best to all,

Alan
51 M, Stage IVb CRC; Colon bypass surgery 7/12. Mets to liver, lungs and lymph nodes; 12 sessions of Folfox 4/13 & 12 with Folfiri & Avastin 2/14. Biliary blockage delays chemo treatments; ERCP with 3 stents, and 2 biliary catheters (7/14).

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby Lee » Tue May 06, 2014 6:10 pm

I don't have any words of wisdom. But you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I am recovery from a surgery and sometimes it difficult because I want to do the things I was doing the days before this surgery.

One day at a time, one foot in front of the other.

Thinking of you,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

alanams
Posts: 242
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:26 am
Location: East Newark, NJ

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby alanams » Thu May 08, 2014 10:50 am

Good morning everyone,

I am happy to report that there waa impeovement this week. I walked to Walmart yesterday, and the trip took 4 hours, overall. I was concerned with swelling around the ankles, and a little push was neeed. I plan to continue such walking trips , daily. THe pshycologological effects of the oxycocone may have caused me to confuse attitude, emotion and physical progrresss.''

I suppose it'a a one day at a time challenge, and physical objectives will be part of it.

Thanks everyone for helping me speak through the issue.Best to all, Alan

By the way, my prior positing of this morning was a fragment and should be deleted,. Thanks so much, Alan

(( deleted as requested my friend .... Cheers and best wishes -CRguy ))
51 M, Stage IVb CRC; Colon bypass surgery 7/12. Mets to liver, lungs and lymph nodes; 12 sessions of Folfox 4/13 & 12 with Folfiri & Avastin 2/14. Biliary blockage delays chemo treatments; ERCP with 3 stents, and 2 biliary catheters (7/14).

NWgirl
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Facebook Username: Belle Piazza
Location: Battle Ground, Washington

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby NWgirl » Thu May 08, 2014 11:01 am

Small steps Alan, small steps. I'm glad you are feeling a little better. You've been through a lot.

For what it's worth, I found Erbitux to be one of the easier chemo's (technically it's not chemo) to deal with. There is the rash which can be horrible - but if you get a dermatologist involved from day one, it can be managed and lived with quite easily - at least for most people.
Belle - "Don't Retreat - Reload"DX 10/07 Stage III Rectal
Surgery 11/07; 27 of 38 nodes
Perm Colostomy 8/11
12/10 recurrence lungs & LN's
VATS Jan 2011
Radiation Oct 2013
Chemo for Life
2012 Colondar Model

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raym
Posts: 1263
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:08 am
Location: South Central PA

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby raym » Thu May 08, 2014 2:24 pm

Sorry you are facing more :( Hoping you recover well from your recent surgery!
3/11 IIIC +/FOLFOX
4/12 HIPEC
6/12 Chmo/Rad
9/12 XELIRI+Avast/Zltra
9/13 Plvic Absc,stpd chemo
11/13 Tumr rmvd frm Lap Port incis
12/13 Xeloda
1/14 Cardiac Issue no Xeloda/5FU
3/14 Irinotecan
6/14 Stopped chemo
8/14 Clin Trial
9/14 Infectn - Stpd Trial

alanams
Posts: 242
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:26 am
Location: East Newark, NJ

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby alanams » Thu May 08, 2014 7:49 pm

Good evening everyone,

Tomorrow, I'm going to the infusion center to get my port flushed. The nurse practitioner knows me since 2012, and is closely connected with my oncologist. I know that my presentation will not be the best, swelling aroung the ankles, still yellowing of skin, etc.

I just intend to take one day a a time. I still cannot lay flat in bed, my lounger is the only way to get some sleep. Goodness, how much bilirubin is there to fluch out?

I was at the supermarket earlier, and it wasn't a very enjoyable experience. I was indifferent about buying anything, even my favoraite foods. Everytime, someone passed me in the aisles, it made me upset. I believe the oxycodone is depressing me. I will speak with thee NP tomorrow about any suggestions. If I were able to lie in bed, I would begin cutting back on the Oxycodone (I only take 5mg every 6 hrs), and substituting Ibuprofen.

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and suggestions, as well as warm thoughts.

Best to all, Alan
51 M, Stage IVb CRC; Colon bypass surgery 7/12. Mets to liver, lungs and lymph nodes; 12 sessions of Folfox 4/13 & 12 with Folfiri & Avastin 2/14. Biliary blockage delays chemo treatments; ERCP with 3 stents, and 2 biliary catheters (7/14).

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vilca11
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:19 am
Location: Moscow, Russia; Baltimore, USA 1992; Vilcabamba, Ecuador 2012

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby vilca11 » Thu May 08, 2014 9:16 pm

Sending good thoughts to you, Alan - I am so glad you are walking on such a long trips already! More power to you, amazed by your strength to endure and go thru such a hard journey, keep it going, dear! You are in the thoughts of many, hang in.

Big Hugs, Vilca
11/2005 CC stage 1, F,50yo@dx
Mod dif adenocar, MSS, APC, TP53, CEAs1.6-4.8
1/12 1met liver@Vena Cava, RFA, 3oxi,11 5FU
8/13 2 mets same place,SBRT
4/14 2 Xeliri+Avastin
5/14 Nano Knife liver same 2 mets
6/14 2 Xeliri, ADAPT
4/15 PET, 2 same mets,Cryo Liver
5/15 MJ Oil, Herbs, Suppl, ADAPT
10/15 PET, same area, doubled in size, high SUV
10/15 RH, HAI, visceral involv., no LN
2/16 red FF, 50% red dose FUDR, CEA trends up
3/16 CT, PET, MRI L.Lobe all in small tumors
4/16 No acceptable options, going home

livingbyfaith
Posts: 430
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:06 pm

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby livingbyfaith » Fri May 09, 2014 12:19 am

My husband had stents and did well with them, they saved his life when he got sepsis. You are young, fight, you might be just a day away from a cure. The cancer did not take my husband, it was two hernia surgeries in two months and complications. He had swelling off and on of his feet, keep them propped up. He also took Same for depressing and it helped a lot. My husbands gall bladder did go bad and he had that removed too. I would suggest being open to new ideas by changing doctors and hospitals.
Hubby 72 cc
Resctn colon 07 stage 3/11 15 cm liver met CEA 3000+
CPT 11, 12 xelox kras wild gall blddr rem 7-12 & abltn
liver stents bi-mo gilbert lng mets , cpt-11 3-13, 2 hernia surgeries2013 & liver abltn went to heaven 10-24-13

livingbyfaith
Posts: 430
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:06 pm

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby livingbyfaith » Fri May 09, 2014 12:21 am

My husband took Avemar, I think that was a big help to him.
Hubby 72 cc
Resctn colon 07 stage 3/11 15 cm liver met CEA 3000+
CPT 11, 12 xelox kras wild gall blddr rem 7-12 & abltn
liver stents bi-mo gilbert lng mets , cpt-11 3-13, 2 hernia surgeries2013 & liver abltn went to heaven 10-24-13

alanams
Posts: 242
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:26 am
Location: East Newark, NJ

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby alanams » Sun May 11, 2014 7:50 am

Goood morning evryone, I feel very good about disconttinuning the oxycontin pain medicatioon ..... 10 mg pills split int 5 mgs or less, Yesterday, I took myy last oxycodone fragment in the morning about 2.5 grams. And so, no more of those, and no analgesics.
51 M, Stage IVb CRC; Colon bypass surgery 7/12. Mets to liver, lungs and lymph nodes; 12 sessions of Folfox 4/13 & 12 with Folfiri & Avastin 2/14. Biliary blockage delays chemo treatments; ERCP with 3 stents, and 2 biliary catheters (7/14).

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Maia
Posts: 2443
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:00 am

Re: Slow recovery from ERCP Surgery, following jaundice

Postby Maia » Sun May 11, 2014 8:04 am

Happy to hear you're better, Alan! Slowly, slowly and sure : )
Best to you!
xoxoxo


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