Hello,

I just signed up for this group today. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer of the tail of the pancreas in February 2024. He was a smoker about 15 years ago. He has blood clots in his lungs and recent plural effusion.

This month he started having ascites, and has needed paracentisis 4 times this month. He is severely constipated and between this, the ascites, dry heaving and throwing up, the complete lack of energy he is in very poor shape and does not want to eat. He has lost at least 30 pounds. He basically is sleeping all day.

He is working on a 3rd chemo regime. That he is likely to stop after the 3rd round because he is so miserable. After an ER visit Thursday, he is working on an intense program with numerous meds to try to get his bowels moving. It is the number 1 issue for him at the moment making him feel bloated and extremely uncomfortable which elevates into severe back and side pain.

Morphine has been helpful. He has fast acting. We can not find slow acting or any morphine to replace the fast acting prescription he is running out of. Apparently there is a morphine shortage and all manufactures are not producing the product anymore. Is there a reasonable substitute? Does Tramadol work? The morphine and chemo just intensify the constipation.

We tried for a clinical trial with MD Anderson in Texas, but they won't take him for 6 months because he we recently prescribed blood thinners for the blood clots in his lungs and his albumin lever needs to get to 3.0. It is 2.3 now. Just trying to figure out ways to address all these issues.

His situation seems to be too demanding for the cancer center that is 2 hours away. Thinking of looking for an internist / oncologist that may be more helpful sifting through these issues and getting them addressed. At this point we are thinking it may be time for hospice. He may be too far down the line to help. Not sure.

This maybe too long an introduction. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thank you,

Laurie A