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Today my Mom went in to have the stent placed between liver and pancreas. Unfortunatley it was not successful as the tumor is blocking and inflammed, she will need to go to a different hospital next week to have it hopefully placed. She needed a breathing tube this time and did not a couple weeks ago when they did the upper endoscopy for the biopsy. The doctor today was surprised at how quickly she is getting jaundice, something we have noticed this passed week. She is gettig weaker and I am getting so scared. I unfortuantley do not have a job that is flexible to go to all of her appointments but I was wondering what your opinion would be about the appointment for the stent next week, I don't want something bad to happen and not have been there but it is just a procedure. What are your thoughts on that?
Replies to "Today my Mom went in to have the stent placed between liver and pancreas. Unfortunatley it..."
My tumor was found as a result of it blocking off my bile duct. It first closed the pancreatic duct and I was having diarrhea. Then later it blocked my bile duct. By the time my bile duct was blocked I had blown all my vitamin K out and the pancreatic enzymes were not breaking down food for vitamin K. I am on blood thinners for blood clots in my leg. My target range for my blood thinning is 2-3. Normal is 0-1. I go in for checks every so often. The machine would not put out a number May 30th when I went in for a check. My number was 9 and I was sent to the ER and admitted for IV vitamin K to bring it down. Now getting to your question. blood work was done in the ER and my Bilirubin was 10. Normal again is 0-1. They did an ultrasound and found the ducts in my liver bowed out and something with the head of my pancreas. I developed jaundice in the hospital. Each day my Bilirubin increased by 2. 12, 14, 16, 18, and finally 20. My stint worked the first time, but I was told there was a chance it could not be placed. As old blood cells are broken down by the liver the pieces are expelled through the bile duct and into the small intestine. When the bile duct is blocked as mine and your moms is the Bilirubin goes into the blood stream and this will result in jaundice. As happened to me and your mom. Once the stint is in place so the bile duct is open the bilirubin will drop, and the jaundice will go away. Most likely pancreatic enzymes will still be needed to process fat for the nutrients we need from them and waxy vegetables.
I do not have any information on the second stint placement as the first worked for me. Your mom should feel better after they get the stint placed. Do you know what your moms Bilirubin number is? I was in the hospital, and they were not going to let me out until they could get my count to stop climbing. My stint was placed around 6pm and the next morning my Bilirubin was down, and they sent me home.
Wishing only the best for you and your mother and everyone dealing with cancer,
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I appreciate your update, @lovemymom1. Whenever I have had an endoscopy procedure, I always have a canula (for extra oxygen) put on my face, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Was she sent home with oxygen as well?
I can understand your concern about the jaundice. I hope that the procedure next week will help that. I don't personally have any experience with a stent, but I hope that one of our other members might be able to address your concerns about that. Do you have any specific questions?
I can understand your fears for your mom, that is natural. You are doing a great service for your mom, by being with her and helping her through each step of this process.
Will you keep in touch and let me know how she (and you) is doing?