Post-Surgical Adhesions???
From: Doug (Pinksdo@BOE.Richmond.K12.Ga.US)
Sat Apr 26 17:22:38 2003
This is my first time here and, although I am a guy, I am searching for
answers about the pain like so many of you that I have read about in
this forum. I probably don't belong in this group, but PLEASE hear me
out and offer ANY advice.
Last August, my family doctor sent me in for a CT scan to try and find
out about some recurring kidney stone problems. What he discovered
instead has turned my whole life upside down. I have bilateral renal
cell carcinoma (malignant tumors on both kidneys). The first urologist
and oncologist felt that it was inoperable. The tumor on the right side
was 4 inches in diameter and the left one was 6 inches and had spread
into the adrenal gland and some regional lymph nodes (stage IIIB
cancer). They referred me to a larger regional clinic, which was a
blessing from above. They did immediate surgery to remove the tumor and
about 1/3 of the right kidney. Six weeks later, they performed a
radical nephrectomy on the left side, removing the whole kidney, adrenal
gland, some lymph nodes, and some surrounding tissue. The surgeon then
put me under the care of an oncologist to deal with the possible further
spread of the cancer.
He is a great oncologist, but does not seem to understand why I have had
continuous sharp pain in my left side and abdomen for six months now.
Everything I have read on this website and in this forum sounds like my
pain. The doctor has me on two pain medications----one very strong one
that is designed for injured or damaged nerves and a "medium" one to
take the edge off during the daytime. I am working now, but do not like
feeling that I am constantly dazed, "clumsy", and exhausted all day. As
soon as I get home each day, I eat, take my evening dosages of pain meds
and go to sleep. I want to stop the pain and not take these
medications. They have done ultrasounds and CT scans and have found
nothing wrong. I have accepted my cancer plight and can deal with
that-----this constant pain, however, is a fight that I seem to be
losing.
I live in South Carolina and am in very good health, other than the
cancer and this pain problem (he said, tongue-in-cheek!!).
ANY HELP OR ADVICE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
--
Doug in SC
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