Awfully worried about pain in right side 3 years after Ivor Lewis op

[AlisonStobart]

Can anyone help me to not panic. 3.5 years ago Alan had an IL op to remove his oesophagus. All has gone better than we expected although getting shingles 4 months after his op didn’t help! He’s put on 8kg since the op, taking him up to 68kg, which is great. He was moved on to annual checkups and his last one in August was positive. 8 weeks ago he asked to see the consultant as he keeps getting pain in his right side. The pain is bad enough to merit paracetamol or codeine 3 times a day. The consultant told him that he looks well and that the pain is probably musculoskeletal. He said that he was fairly sure that it was ‘nothing sinister’. 2 weeks ago Alan had a CT scan to have a look at the area concerned. Yesterday we received a phone call from the hospital asking him to see the consultant tomorrow morning at 9am. I’ve been trying not to second-guess the outcome but we are now both very much on edge. Neither of us want to hear the dreaded words. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing the pain? Would the consultant still ask to see him if the prognosis was ok? Sorry, I’m just going into panic mode and night time is always worse for these things. I’m just dreading what we might be told in 12 hours time ...

[Fizzy35]

Hi Alison I understand your concern

My husband had IL in May

He continues to lose weight

He had severe pain across the operation site in August and a scan shows he had developed pancreatitis since the trauma to the stomach

Has anyone looked at this?

He now has enzymes to take before or during eating ANYTHING to aid digestion

Just a suggestion and please try and stay positive

It’s one of the most difficult times in your lives you are both going through

Just remember HE IS STILL HERE and take a little step at a time

This site is very supportive and I wish you both well ASAP

Fizzy35

[AlisonStobart in reply to Fizzy35]

Thankyou for your support. We are hoping that it’s anything but cancer returning to the same or different area.

[Helenmick]

Hi Alison, I know exactly how you are feeling I always looked on the negative side even though everyone said to stay positive until you know but that’s hard to do, luckily you haven’t had to wait long to see the consultant I am keeping everything crossed for you, sending all my love and positive thoughts , love Helen xxx

[AlisonStobart in reply to Helenmick]

Thanks Helen

[Mrs1972]

Hi Alison

Sorry you are going through this worrying time. I had total gastrectomy in January this year and I know how it feels to be constantly living in fear.

I’ve been having pain in my right side recently, not enough to cause major problems but it’s there stabbing and nightingale away, radiating to my back. I mentioned it to my team who have ordered an ultrasound as they think it may be gallstones as this is quite common in people who’ve had our type of surgery, on researching yesterday o found people who’d had a terrible time with pain until their gallbladder was removed and sometimes it needs to be done urgently.

I hope and pray there will be a simple explanation for your husbands pain. I will be thinking of you.

Louise x

[Mrs1972 in reply to Mrs1972]

I didn’t read that through, should be *niggling, blooming auto spell

[AlisonStobart in reply to Mrs1972]

Thanks Louise. We are hoping it's as simple as something like gallstones. Hope they sort you out soon. X

[Lab1]

I had I. L. 7 years ago and I have pain on right side under rib cage and goes to my back. Which is quite painful. They say it’s gull-stones but don’t want to operate after already having a big op. Hope all goes well at the hospital lab

[AlisonStobart]

We are just back from the hospital. The cancer has recurred, this time to the right of his spine, coming into his ribs. No underlying bone destruction. No lung or liver metastases. No other sites concerning for metastatic disease. Next step is a PET scan. He’s had a lung function test as the plan would be chemo/radiotherapy which goes through the lung. He is asthmatic so we are a bit worried about whether or not they’ll decide his lungs can cope. The doctor did emphasise that the cancer is local. If radio/chemo is possible they will attempt to ‘arrest the growth, maybe completely destroy the growth. They are looking at curative intent chemo/radio rather than palliative intent. Needless to say we will be crossing everything. I can’t quite believe that this is real. It’s as if the diagnosis is just words - if the words are uttered it’s true; if they’re not uttered it’s not true ...

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I know there are loads of people out there riddled with anxiety.

[Lab1 in reply to AlisonStobart]

So sorry to hear your news. Just hope they can sort it. Just horrible to have to go through more good luck thinking of you. Have not been on here for a while but will follow lab

[Mauser1905 in reply to AlisonStobart]

Thanks Alison for sharing your outcome and feelings on here. I am not sure which words to find to offer you comfort. Please stay strong together and stay in touch with us in the forum, if you feel ok.

[Mrs1972]

Sorry to hear that Alison, I can imagine how you must both be feeling, my heart goes out to you. It’s good to hear that it is local and looking at a curative path, I will be keeping everything crossed for you x

[AlisonStobart in reply to Mrs1972]

Thankyou so much. Trying to be positive and not think the worst.