Pain question to Bert

[Guest guest]

First off let me say how very very happy I am that you have found the

right team of docs at the right time. What a God send. I am so glad

that you are feeling better. But I am cuious and if you already posted

this and I missed it I apologize. But exaclty what kind of pain and

discomfort were you experienceing prior to going to that ER? I have

been having a lot of difficulties of late and wonder if we may be in

the same boat. So if you could please describe to me how you were

feeling it may be of some help if I spoke to my own surgeon about

this. He has offered several different options of late and each time I

talk with him its something new. I trust him completely, he's a great

guy. I just want all this to end as soon as physically possible. I am

pacing the cage, if you know what I mean.

Well I do hope you continue to feel well and it last forever. Please

keep me posted on how you are faring. I can be reached at

cdrrn@... if you like. Chapel hill is not that far from here so

it is always an option if I choose to make it one.

Warmly and the best to your wife.

(SC)

[Guest guest]

,

In the hopes it may help you or someone I have no problems talking

about my pain history.

My entire history starts in November of 1999. I had an attack of

Gallstone Pancreatitis. Given bad advice and remained with the

gallbladder intact. In Feb. of 2000 I had another attack of Gallstone

Pancreatitis. Then my gallbladder was removed but because of the

recent pancreatitis they were afraid to do a cholyangiagram (sp) and

maybe all that way that far back is where these stones come from. But

anyhow, even after a gallbladder removal I continued to have pain and

recurrent acute pancreatitis. It got worse over years, and finally in

May 2003 I have the total pancreatectomy and islet cell

autotransplant. Even after that surgery I continued to have pain. This

is the kind of pain I have was still reporting and what I reported

this trip to Chapel Hill. Primarily epigastric pain, radiates a bit to

the left and to the right sides as well, and drills straight deep into

my back. Very much like the pain of gallstones. And some what like the

kind of pain I would have when I would have pancreatitis. I had the

surgery in May of 2003. I had frequent instense pain for at least a

year after. Then the pain changed and become less frequent with long

periods of time in between flare ups. But the flare ups would be very

bad. They often included throwing up and nausea. Sometimes diahrea.

Bad stuff. On my pain threshold the pain was often a 7 or even an 8

out of 1 - 10. Sometimes higher.

This time when I went to UNC Chapel Hill I reported a pain of 8 out of

10, epigrastric, some right and left upper quadrant pain, and pain

that drills into my back. They worked harder than anytime that has

medicated me before, to treat me effectively. They did lots of

surveys, lots of examinations. They put me on 4 mg dilaudid IV every 4

hours at first and then gradually lowered the pain medicine as the

pain improved. Then started me onto methadone and gradually titrated

the dose up. They were great at taking care of the pain and worked

hard at it.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Thanks,

Bert/NC

>

> First off let me say how very very happy I am that you have found the

> right team of docs at the right time. What a God send. I am so glad

> that you are feeling better. But I am cuious and if you already posted

> this and I missed it I apologize. But exaclty what kind of pain and

> discomfort were you experienceing prior to going to that ER? I have

> been having a lot of difficulties of late and wonder if we may be in

> the same boat. So if you could please describe to me how you were

> feeling it may be of some help if I spoke to my own surgeon about

> this. He has offered several different options of late and each time I

> talk with him its something new. I trust him completely, he's a great

> guy. I just want all this to end as soon as physically possible. I am

> pacing the cage, if you know what I mean.

>

> Well I do hope you continue to feel well and it last forever. Please

> keep me posted on how you are faring. I can be reached at

> cdrrn@c... if you like. Chapel hill is not that far from here so

> it is always an option if I choose to make it one.

>

> Warmly and the best to your wife.

> (SC)

>