Pain question(s)

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Ginny_B
Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
in Esophageal Cancer #1
My mom who just had her first endoscope - no official biopsy results yet told me that during dinner she was hit with terrific pain in esophagus and then across under the breast. She had to stop eating and go to bed. The pain passed. She said it hit her again this morning about 30 minutes after eating oatmeal for breakfast.

Why is that happening? Is it normal?

Also, in some of the posts I've been reading I see many complaining of back pain. Why back pain? Is there something with EC that causes back pain? Nerves I'm thinking???

As yet, my mom is not on any drugs or treatment. I suspect that once we get the biopsy results (this Thursday), she will be referred to another doctor and then a regimen will start of something? At least the good GE doc removed a huge chunk of the tumor so she can swallow, but now she gets these pains.

I hope they can Rx something for her. Thanks everyone.


Ginny
caregiver to mom 84, blind, possible EC

Comments

  • LeeinLondon
    LeeinLondon Member Posts: 103
    #2
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    Hi Ginny
    The esophogeal pain that I get usually starts right in the center of my solar plexus and then travels in a straight line across my chest. At its worst it radiates into my back between my shoulder blades. The pain can can be quite severe.

    Could be residual pain from the endoscopy and will go away in a few days.

    Talk to the doc now rather than later.

    Hope this helps,

    Lee
  • jim2011
    jim2011 Member Posts: 115
    #3
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    pain
    I think getting the pain under control is very important. It is actually getting ahead of the pain and not so much reacting to the pain. My pain is in the center of my back right now but before chemo/radiation and surgery the pain was under my sternum and advil helped alot. Now the pain meds are quite a bit stronger for the back pain but i am going the physical therapy route to hopefully control it.
  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    #4
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    Back pain
    My best geuss at back pain is the physical location of the esophagus, in between the trachea and the spine. My husband didn't have back pain, but he had a cough that did not stop until the took out that old over radiated esophagus :)

    Hoping they can get your Mom's pain under control very soon.

    Niki
    Wife to Jeff T2N1M0
    dx 5/24/11
    IL 9/6/11
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #5
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    jim2011 said:

    pain
    I think getting the pain under control is very important. It is actually getting ahead of the pain and not so much reacting to the pain. My pain is in the center of my back right now but before chemo/radiation and surgery the pain was under my sternum and advil helped alot. Now the pain meds are quite a bit stronger for the back pain but i am going the physical therapy route to hopefully control it.

    Jim,
    Where you describe pain
    Jim,

    Where you describe pain under the sternum is probably where my mom's pain is.Why does it hurt there? I think her tumor was lower at the g-e junction.

    She called a bit ago and said she does not want to eat because she does not want that pain to come back.I told her to eat some Jell-O or pudding.She said she doesn't want the sugar.

    Getting her nutrition is probably going to be a big battle - I don't mean with her, but with this condition. I just hope we can learn more on Thursday when we get the biopsy results. Or at least referred to a cancer center or doctor.

    Mom said she's fine with whatever the biopsy shows. I want to be fine, but I don't know how I will react when I hear what I think he's going to say. I don't want my mom comforting ME!

    Thanks everyone for responding to all my questions. Hugs.

    Ginny
    Caregiver to mom (84) - no diagnosis until Thursday.
  • Callaloo
    Callaloo Member Posts: 135
    #6
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    Ginny_B said:

    Jim,
    Where you describe pain
    Jim,

    Where you describe pain under the sternum is probably where my mom's pain is.Why does it hurt there? I think her tumor was lower at the g-e junction.

    She called a bit ago and said she does not want to eat because she does not want that pain to come back.I told her to eat some Jell-O or pudding.She said she doesn't want the sugar.

    Getting her nutrition is probably going to be a big battle - I don't mean with her, but with this condition. I just hope we can learn more on Thursday when we get the biopsy results. Or at least referred to a cancer center or doctor.

    Mom said she's fine with whatever the biopsy shows. I want to be fine, but I don't know how I will react when I hear what I think he's going to say. I don't want my mom comforting ME!

    Thanks everyone for responding to all my questions. Hugs.

    Ginny
    Caregiver to mom (84) - no diagnosis until Thursday.

    Ginnie the pain is very common
    Mine would radiate accross my entire chest, sometimes causing shoulder pain. Nutrition (mostly calories at this point) is very important. My doctor prescribed liquid oxycodone and liquid Tylenol. I would take both about 30 minutes before eating. I made myself eat. The oxycodone also takes away appetite. It's often a circular battle. I never had a feeding tube. That would probably resolve the problem for your mom if they offer it.

    You have all my best thoughts.

    Lu
  • jim2011
    jim2011 Member Posts: 115
    #7
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    Ginny_B said:

    Jim,
    Where you describe pain
    Jim,

    Where you describe pain under the sternum is probably where my mom's pain is.Why does it hurt there? I think her tumor was lower at the g-e junction.

    She called a bit ago and said she does not want to eat because she does not want that pain to come back.I told her to eat some Jell-O or pudding.She said she doesn't want the sugar.

    Getting her nutrition is probably going to be a big battle - I don't mean with her, but with this condition. I just hope we can learn more on Thursday when we get the biopsy results. Or at least referred to a cancer center or doctor.

    Mom said she's fine with whatever the biopsy shows. I want to be fine, but I don't know how I will react when I hear what I think he's going to say. I don't want my mom comforting ME!

    Thanks everyone for responding to all my questions. Hugs.

    Ginny
    Caregiver to mom (84) - no diagnosis until Thursday.

    pain
    Why it hurt behind the sternum was also an unknown to me. My tumor was at the junction too. It wasn't like the pain you feel when you get pinched or cut or whatever. It is more a sensation of pain that is uncomfortable and comes on after eating. Hard to explain. Getting and staying ahead of expected pain is really important.
    This is hard to write but from my humble research, the odds of the biopsy coming back negative is slim. It is more or less just a confirmation of what the doctors have already seen. A positive reading gives you a battle line to defend. Its not the end of the story by a long shot. I personally developed a whole new level of love and friendship with my 3 grown children. I could go on and on and on about the positive things but you will discover them on your own.
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #8
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    jim2011 said:

    pain
    Why it hurt behind the sternum was also an unknown to me. My tumor was at the junction too. It wasn't like the pain you feel when you get pinched or cut or whatever. It is more a sensation of pain that is uncomfortable and comes on after eating. Hard to explain. Getting and staying ahead of expected pain is really important.
    This is hard to write but from my humble research, the odds of the biopsy coming back negative is slim. It is more or less just a confirmation of what the doctors have already seen. A positive reading gives you a battle line to defend. Its not the end of the story by a long shot. I personally developed a whole new level of love and friendship with my 3 grown children. I could go on and on and on about the positive things but you will discover them on your own.

    Thanks, Jim. Tomorrow is our
    Thanks, Jim. Tomorrow is our biopsy results day. I don't expect positive news, but I do expect a positive plan of attack. Mom and I are close and we are strong. This will be the biggest battle of all.

    I'm scared.
  • fredswilma
    fredswilma Member Posts: 185
    #9
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    Ginny_B said:

    Thanks, Jim. Tomorrow is our
    Thanks, Jim. Tomorrow is our biopsy results day. I don't expect positive news, but I do expect a positive plan of attack. Mom and I are close and we are strong. This will be the biggest battle of all.

    I'm scared.

    Hold strong Ginny, we will
    Hold strong Ginny, we will be thinking of you and hoping that you do get a positive plan of attack.
    Ann
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #10
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    Ginny_B said:

    Thanks, Jim. Tomorrow is our
    Thanks, Jim. Tomorrow is our biopsy results day. I don't expect positive news, but I do expect a positive plan of attack. Mom and I are close and we are strong. This will be the biggest battle of all.

    I'm scared.

    PAIN is nerves and vessels....
    Ginny,
    The tumor(s) get tangles into the vessels, and the NERVES mainly, in the area of the GE junction. THAT is where my pain in the sternum and back and shoulder blade areas comes from. The pain meds are a MUST for mom.

    My scans and endoscopes SHOW the entanglement and the nerves all the way to the spine that get PUSHED and hurt like hell. THAT is where the pain comes from. I can SEE it. Ug.

    Making make my stomach STRETCH by eating causes much pain but you cannot NOT eat so it is a constant balancing act to say the least. Your mom had a "chunk" cut out. I can ONLY imagine how that might hurt when she stretches her stomach by eating. Ouch.

    Please follow up and let us all know what happens. We all expect the bad news from the biopsy, but the plan of attack is something we would all like to know about.
    I will be praying or you both.
    God bless you and keep you strong for you and your mom!

    -Eric

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