Pain relief for NCCP - Any suggestions?

May 16, 2012

Hi,

I joined this group recently to support my husband. He was diagnosed with E

about 25 years ago. Back then they cut the muscle close to his stomach and made

a new flap to prevent stomach acid coming back up. A few years later they cut

some other muscle to allow food to pass more easily into his stomach.

As these ops were carried out a long time ago, they went in through his chest

which has left lots of scar tissue which has prevented any further ops.

My H was told he was at end stage E in January this year and there was nothing

that could be done to help him. If he started losing weight then they would

have to look at removing his oesophagus replacing it with some of his intestine

and lifting his stomach but this would be as a last resort. Fortunately with a

combination of milkshakes for breakfast, soup for lunch and sloppy stuff for

dinner, supplemented by lots of chocolate and biscuits (cookies) he's been able

to maintain his weight for now. He also takes esomeprazole (Nexium)and gaviscon

extra.

The real issue is how he manages the severe pain that his experiences pretty

much every day relating to NCCP. Currently he's taking slow release morphine

twice a day at a fairly low dose (20mg in total) but it's not really helping.

His GP has contacted the Consultant to ask what other pain relief he could

suggest. The Consultant has said there isn't anything they can suggest and they

don't understand why H is getting so much pain. This is a consultant at a big

teching hospital (Addenbrokes in Cambridge UK) Our GP is looking at other pain

relief options but is struggling to know what to do.

Can anyone suggest anything? I have got some ideas from some other posts but I

thought I'd ask again if that's ok.

Thanks

Jane

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