Maybe an ulcer?

I will just copy what I wrote to Loretta (I am tired an too lazy to start all over again)
Here is what we found out today about Don's pain:

Hi Loretta:
I am going to write this reply in word because it might be lengthy and lately I’ve had issues with writing something then having it go into the big black hole never to be found again.
Don has his scans at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall, MI where we live. The reason for not getting the results right away on the scan taken on the 22nd was because our medical oncologist was on vacation. And, we were okay for a change on waiting for the results – I think we both dreaded the thought of hearing bad news.

Anyway, as you know, we had to leave and go to North Carolina to take care of mom and dad – it was just before then that Don started having these ‘stabbing’ pains occasionally in his belly area. We knew if it was cancer it would show up on the scan but we were thinking it could be scar tissue also.

Then last Sunday, the bottom fell out for Don and his was in a great deal of pain – he wouldn’t go to the emergency room, so we waited until Monday and I called the office of the medical oncologist and told them that I knew he was out, but someone needed to read the report to us because the pain Don was having was quite bad. Another doc read it and said there was nothing showing that would cause any pain and for us to call the surgeon at UofM. We did and he said it was too long after surgery to be anything going on from that and to call our primary care doc. We did and he got Don in Monday afternoon – he ordered an ultrasound of the gallbladder to be done Tuesday. Due to the July 4 holiday we did not get the results until yesterday – doc called first thing in the morning. Nothing showed up there either so he sent Don for another CT scan this morning.

We had the appointment with the med onc this afternoon and he called for the results of the second CT scan performed this morning. Again –nothing shows up. He is thinking this could be a gastric ulcer so he is sending Don for another endoscope. We do not want to go back to the gastroenterologist we had in November because we felt that him and his staff did not have any sense of urgency with this cancer. Our med onc is referring us to one he personally knows of in Kalamazoo – Don will of course need a new patient workup so the endoscope won’t be done right away.

He also has Don on prevacid and carafate (which Don had left over from chemo and radiation treatment, but really didn’t need to use). So this afternoon when we got home –he began taking that. The endoscope will show if it is an ulcer or ulcers or if there is a local recurrence going on. I asked him if it was cancer wouldn’t it show up on the CT scan and he said if it is big enough it would show. I am really hoping and praying that this is an ulcer and by taking the meds it will heal up.
The next CT scan will be in October, unless of course any issues pop up that require attention before then. Geez oh Pete – when someone wrote on the board to hang on because you are about to get on the rollercoaster ride from hell ~ they weren’t kidding.

Hoping things are going as good as can be for you and William – you sure have had a platter full of things to deal with. If you are in this awful heat wave we are having, I hope you have good working air conditioning. I recently saw a picture of a marine stationed in what could be Afghanistan, standing next to a thermometer that was reading upwards of 130 degrees F – and the caption read “Sorry you’re hot but at least you are carrying 70 lbs. of things while dressed in full gear and chances are good that you won’t worry about stepping on a bomb today.” That sure puts the weather in perspective for me. No matter the troubles we encounter, it seems there is always someone else struggling with even more.
So, we don’t have a definitive answer yet, but it looks as though we getting closer – CT scans clear, not the gallbladder – could be an ulcer – worse case would be a local recurrence but signs are indicative of an ulcer.

Of course, we’ll keep you posted and thank you for checking in on us.
Love, hugs and FEC,
Judy