My bro in law had the Whipple procedure done in 2008.
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Ever since then he has had serious issues with digestion. He has been back to the hospital several times. He has had chemo/radio a couple times. He now has stents in his intestines and elsewhere. Has been fed intravenously for the last few years. Every now then he attempts to eat a few bites of soft food and gets sick. His bilirubin numbers periodicaly go off the charts.
Last night he experienced severe neck/back pain and was hospitalized again. They gave him Vicodin and he immediately vomited. Finally gave him a morphine drip. They said he has a "slipped disc" and even discussed surgery (I'm not sure if it was disc replacement or fusion). My sister goes into crisis mode and does not communicate, but my older sister was asking me about my back pain issues.
All the RX I know might not work for him. NSAIDs would probably irritate his GI tract. Opioids also (they cause constipation). He was a high school athlete who always continued playing pick up basketball, but since his cancer diagnosis he has stopped and I've watched him become emaciated. I always think ,"He should be doing some strength work, PT or exercise," but I don't know how that would affect him in his weakened state.
Needless to say, in his condition the family was hyper vigilant during Covid and remains so to this day.
To those who might have had disc replacement or fusion, how intense is the surgery? And how difficult is the rehab? And do you ever prescribe strength work to cancer survivors with continuing complications?
Just a really sad and difficult situation. He's been very successful and is Art Director of Sponge Bob. Luckily he has been able to work from home.
Whipple procedure - Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.org
Ever since then he has had serious issues with digestion. He has been back to the hospital several times. He has had chemo/radio a couple times. He now has stents in his intestines and elsewhere. Has been fed intravenously for the last few years. Every now then he attempts to eat a few bites of soft food and gets sick. His bilirubin numbers periodicaly go off the charts.
Last night he experienced severe neck/back pain and was hospitalized again. They gave him Vicodin and he immediately vomited. Finally gave him a morphine drip. They said he has a "slipped disc" and even discussed surgery (I'm not sure if it was disc replacement or fusion). My sister goes into crisis mode and does not communicate, but my older sister was asking me about my back pain issues.
All the RX I know might not work for him. NSAIDs would probably irritate his GI tract. Opioids also (they cause constipation). He was a high school athlete who always continued playing pick up basketball, but since his cancer diagnosis he has stopped and I've watched him become emaciated. I always think ,"He should be doing some strength work, PT or exercise," but I don't know how that would affect him in his weakened state.
Needless to say, in his condition the family was hyper vigilant during Covid and remains so to this day.
To those who might have had disc replacement or fusion, how intense is the surgery? And how difficult is the rehab? And do you ever prescribe strength work to cancer survivors with continuing complications?
Just a really sad and difficult situation. He's been very successful and is Art Director of Sponge Bob. Luckily he has been able to work from home.
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