ERCP and Stent Failure follow-up

[Guest guest]

Well I am ashamed to say, I did the rum thing - but not the

oxycodone mix. I really hate alcohol, rarely drink if ever....but I

needed to prove that I was still in charge, that I could do what I

want and not have the stupid pancreas go to pieces. I guess I

needed to prove that I wasn't fragile and sick and a basket case

and that I CAN cope without the security blanket of a stent. But I

am still afraid to eat, have started to chew on ice chips though,

so I think I can come out of this funk.

My understanding from what I can get out of my husband (his

comment to me is that he doesn't have time to make sure what

the doctor told him makes sense) is that the doctor removed the

stent and did a dilatation of the duct which is everything that he

can do (I had a sphincterotomy when he put in the first stent last

September) He said that either this worked or it didn't but that

there was no need to go on, nothing more he can do - no more

stents ever again.

So I am going to wait a few weeks to make sure my medical

records are complete then get a copy to go over and then figure

out what I should do now (if anything). I am concerned about

's story about needing a stent in less than two weeks

after it's removal: I was told that it was nearly impossible for the

duct to close up again (I have no masses or anything that would

obstruct - just the stenotic minor papilla along with pancreas

divisum).

I also think that hit the nail on the head with the

depression linked to our ups and downs with HOPE. I didn't

realize how much I was counting on this doctor and these stents

until they were taken away from me. That was the first thought

that crossed my mind when I was told he gave up " it's now totally

hopeless, I have no where else to go from here " . So I guess I

am in the bigtime phase of mourning the loss of hope (I working

towards acceptance it seems).

And to Kaye: My main problem is the stenotic minor papilla with

pancreas divisum. I was treated earlier this year for SOD with a

sphincterotomy of the common bile duct but this was at a

hospital that didn't believe in pancreas divisum, so I am not sure

if my diagnosis of SOD is accurate (although the biliary colic has

gone away since then). I would love for my doctor to know that I

wont give up, but he isn't one for communicating - in fact I have

never talked to him since my initial evaluation when he was still

speculating about the problem (Sept 19th). And now I am on

PRN status which we all know what that means (don't bother me

unless you are dying).

So my plan for the immediate future is to go home tonight, crawl

into bed and drug myself into oblivion for the next 10 days or so.

Maybe when my head clears, I will have come up with a plan (or

the pain will have miraculously disappeared).

Thanks all for your thoughts and comfort. I will be out of touch

until Jan 5th so don't be alarmed.

Laurie